Chupacabra

Imani Coppola

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 28, 1997)
• Original Release Date: October 28, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002C28
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,223 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The first two songs on this New York college sophomore's debut album are the best, layering happy funk on the sampled foundations of the Doors' "Soul Kitchen" and Donovan's "Sunshine Superman." Coppola, a chanter, rapper, and singer from Long Island, New York, affixes a cow picture to her album sleeve, poses in kinky hair like Coolio, names the album for a Spanish phrase meaning "goat sucker," and creates catchy melodies to complement all this playfulness. "I'm a Tree" is a summer single worthy of the Jackson 5's "ABC" or Hanson's "MMMBop," and Coppola's DJ complexity occasionally aspires to the level of Beck or M.C. 900 Ft. Jesus. --Steve Knopper

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something For Everyone, April 30, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Boise, Idaho) - See all my reviews

So what's a 48 year-old, middleclass white guy doing listening to this CD? Having a ball, that's what! Like one of the other online reviewers, I saw Imani on Sessions at West 54th. I was blown away by the creativity and joy of her music, and her totally unaffected performance style. I ran out and bought Chupacabra and have played it extensively. In my humble opinion, there isn't a clinker in the whole CD. Her mix of hip hop, jazz, and samples from folks like the Doors and Donovan is a gas, while her lyrics are smart and funny. This is great summer music with a really funky urban vibe -- something one appreciates when living in Boise, Idaho! Imani, I'm a fan!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Doesn't "Suck", March 13, 2001

By	Sybil C "asiabrew" (My Mammy) - See all my reviews

Why Imani named her debut album after the infamous goat sucker is anyone's guess but Imani's, thankfully the CD is not a "sucker". I had already heard of "Legend of a Cowgirl" (which features a sample of Donovan Leitch's "Sunshine Superman") thanks to the massive airplay it recieved in my city, however it wasn't enough to actually get me out and buy the CD, that is until I saw her perfrom on Sessions at West 54th. Her performance was captivating as well as hysterical. I immediately became obsessed with getting this CD.

The only drawback I can think of that this CD might posses is simply the fact that it does not even begin to capture the raw and vibrant enegergy Imani injects into her live performances, but still on its own the CD does quite well.

Imani fuses styles folk, funk and hip-hop like it "ain't no thing like a chicken wing", the grooves are slick and funky with a light air that passes through tracks like "I'm a Tree" amd "Its All About Me, Me and Me" and then breaks out with just straight up funk like "Karma and the Blizzard" (a personal favorite of mine from her Sessions performance) however on "One of These Days" Imani really lets her skills shine through and her lyrics as well as her vocals will have you singing along out loud with the girl.

If you are on the look out for an artist with a fun style as well as a great sense of humor about herself and her craft then I could not recommend anyone better than Ms. Coppola. She does not disappoint.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must buy for children (I think), February 26, 2006

By	Jonathan Boyce (Fairfied, CT) - See all my reviews

Ok. This CD is now ten years old and me, now 48, shouldn't be writing about a 20 year old's debut effort. But this CD is still fun, imaginative, and the girl's got a great voice.

There's a lot of wonder in this effort and I think children will immediately take to it (say, those in the 8-12 year old range). But what do I know? I'm not a parent. This is fun stuff: have a summer barbecue, put this on, and let the good times roll. She's a winner.