Genres: Alternative/Indie,Rap/Hip Hop,SoundtracksClarence Greenwood was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Washington, DC. In 1993, he picked up a new name: Citizen Cope. He made cameo appearances on Maryland rap artist Basehead's albums, Not in Kansas Anymore in 1993 and Faith in 1996. In 1997, he lent his talents to hip hop artist Lazy K's Life in One Day.
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Citizen Cope
There are no really rules in songwriting to how I do it. It's just a method of putting your heart into something and drawing on the experiences you've had in your life, people you've met and their experiences, the people you've been close to.
Breaking into Music
Clarence Greenwood was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Washington, DC. In 1993, he picked up a new name: Citizen Cope. He made cameo appearances on Maryland rap artist Basehead's albums, Not in Kansas Anymore in 1993 and Faith in 1996. In 1997, he lent his talents to hip hop artist Lazy K's Life in One Day.
Throughout the 1990's, Greenwood was slowly and quietly building a name for himself, contributing work to compilation albums, like 1997's Settling the DC Score and 1999's Anti-Racist Action Benefit. He also contributed work to various soundtracks, including Eat Me and Clubland.
Building His Name
In 2002, Citizen Cope released his own self-named album on the Dreamworks label. Disappointed in Dreamworks handling of the release, he bought out his contract with Dreamworks and signed with Arista, who re-released the album under the name, The Clarence Greenwood Recordings, this time with more success. His single, Son's Gonna Rise,received some airplay and was used in a GM commercial. Citizen Cope became the name of his band, and no longer simply his pseudonym.
His next album, Every Waking Moment, was released in 2004, brought back his bluesy rock vibes with the hip hop overtones that captured listeners' attention with his first album. This would be his last album with Arista; he decided to produce albums on his own without a label. Greenwood believed that no record company could accurately represent his work, because they did not share his vision of what his music was or how it should be presented and promoted.
Staking his Claim
Any doubt that Greenwood and Citizen Cope had built a fan base was eradicated with the success of his 2008 national tour. Album sales were only part of the equation. Citizen Cope had gained a following on line as well, fans who were watching his videos and seeking out his singles. Citizen Cope's music is available in the form of mp3 downloads on his website and at various other music websites as well.
Citizen Cope's most recent album, Rainwater LP, was released digitally on Amazon mp3 this year, independent of any record label. The band has been on tour, promoting this album across the United States. The physical cd is due to be released in March of this year.
Did you know . . .
- Clarence Greenwood acted as executive producer on two movies: Were the World Mine and Beautiful Daughters.
- Citizen Cope's songs have been featured in multiple commercials and television episodes, including an epsiode of the situation comedy, Scrubs, and episodes of crime dramas Criminal Minds and Cold Case. Commercials have included Pontiac, HBO/Cinemax, and Acura.
- In 2002 The Washington Post named Greenwood "the city's most soulful export since Marvin Gaye."
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