Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Miami rapper’s ode to Turnover Chain is a hit among fans
Give the “Turn Over Chain” song a listen and the words will get stuck in your head the same way images of Miami Hurricanes defenders rocking the gold chain have haunted opponents.
The jewelrycelebrating, Hurricanesswagger-embracing viral anthem by Miami rapper SoLo D under his Miami Sports Music brand has the words “Turnover Chain” in the lyrics 43 times — 21 in each of the two choruses and once more to kick off the verse in between.
“You can either think it’s annoying or you love it, but you’re going to remember it,” says SoLo D, whose real name is Delonte Copeland. “This is an epic time in Miami. This is a historic time. This chain will be remembered for years. Every epic moment needs its own theme song.”
Two weeks since its original release, it has already surpassed 200,000 views on YouTube. The song has received airplay on local radio stations, ESPN all last week leading up to UM’s top-10 clash with Notre Dame and is available on Spotify, iTunes and Google Play.
While the base audience is Hurricanes fans, SoLo says it’s even growing on rival fans who may already know him from his 130-plus songs about the Dolphins.
“I got Gators fans telling me, ‘As much as I hate y’all, I love this song. I’m not going to lie. I wish we had it,’ ” he says.
SoLo D came up with the idea watching highlights from the Syracuse game on his phone while running on the treadmill. The home victory over the Orange was the first in a run of four consecutive games of four turnovers forced in each contest.
Watching turnover after turnover and Cuban-link gold chain-donning celebration after celebration had him repeatedly saying, “Turnover Chain, Turnover Chain, Turnover Chain” in his head. He came up with the lyrics a capella but then started to relate it to the rhythm of a 2013 song from Georgia-based hip-hop group Migos.
As he does with his weekly Dolphins-themed songs, he wrote up the lyrics and placed them over a beat to an already popular song — in this case, Migos’ “Hannah Montana.” He can do this legally because he doesn’t seek to profit off his Miami Sports Music songs, which are strictly for the enjoyment of the fans.
The song was released prior to the Virginia Tech game. It didn’t do big numbers at first, but SoLo D attributes a push from former UM linebacker D.J. Williams, now the owner and CEO of clothing line Dyme Lyfe, following the 28-10 win over the Hokies to getting the song to take off.
When he saw the song’s popularity grow exponentially, he knew he had to make an original that he could monetize. So he worked with his producer/ musical engineer, DC of Dollaz N Dealz Ent., to put their own beat over the lyrics and re-release it as an original.
Unlike his Dolphins songs, “Turn Over Chain” doesn’t make references to current players and coaches or upcoming matchups this season. SoLo D was looking for something that could last.