Member Since: 05/12/2006
Band Members:
Tha Pope, born Tommy Pope Jr., was born on February 7, 1986 in Rome, Georgia and grew up in the small town of Cave Spring in Northwest Georgia.: It was not the broken home seen far too many times in society, Tha Pope’s household had both parents along with his two older siblings. From the very beginning Tommy was natural athlete, during his childhood he began to play baseball. The following year he branched off into playing basketball. As time went on he progressed to star status in his region and was the high school sports headline of every local newspaper article. Whether he was making the play at the shortstop position or scoring a buzzer-beater to lead his team to victory, Tha Pope was always the star.
: : : At the age of sixteen, the lyrics and influence of Tupac Shakur and Cash Money Records led him to pen his own rhymes. He joind a local hip-hop label called Dead Tight Music, under the moniker Lil Gia, a name inspired by his older brother.: During these years with Dead Tight Music he performed alongside T.I., B.G., Soulja Slim, and other southern rap legends. In order to maintain himself financially and further push his music, he began to hustle everything from clothing to CDs and DVDs. Always well known and well liked in the neighborhoods, street fame had a positive effect on his notoriety as an up and coming rap artist. Infatuation with the lifestyle of a hustler, he continued to thrive in the streets and peruse his music career as opposed to attending college. Failure was not an option, his older brother and sister had already went on and secured great careers for themselves. As the youngest child in the Pope family, Tommy had to make his mark. His love for music along with his undying drive both greatly helped set his talent as an artist and producer aside from the rest of his peers.
: : : In 2004, he began to collaborate with other local artists, this collaborative effort eventually turned into Mobstyle Entertainment. : Now known as Tha Pope, he released his first five mixtapes and began establishing himself as a major player in the underground rap circuit. It was clear that rap was no longer a hobby--it was a business.
: : : During these years Tha Pope stayed on stage. Many times he shared the spotlight with superstars such as T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Trina, Young Buck, D4L, Young Jeezy, Field Mob, Yo Gotti, Gucci Mane, Nivea, and many others. : Along with performing as an opening act, he attended numerous open-mic events throughout metro Atlanta. Promotion was not limited to only the state of Georgia-- he ventured all throughout the southeastern region. Not realizing the scope of his efforts, it was now apparent that hard work was paying off for Tha Pope. Individuals from out of state would already know his songs and recognize him from mixtapes. Now well on his way to attaining his dreams of superstardom, making the most of each opportunity will further establish himself in the music industry. : : : :