Morgan Cooper was born in 1991, a year afterThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airpremiered on NBC.
EW spoke to Cooper about the culture that defined him and continues to drive him.
Check out a few of his inspirations below.
Will Smith, Morgan Cooper, and Jabari Banks.Eric Charbonneau/Peacock
The pureness of that movie and the craftsmanship of it is incredible.
It’s so authentic.
It really mattered to me and the guys I was running with.
Island World/Kobal/Shutterstock
Donuts(2006) J Dilla
Incredible album.
Joy, pain, sorrow, catharsis, love, just everything.
It embodies the full emotional spectrum all through instrumental hip-hop.
Stones Throw Records
It was Dilla’s last piece of art that he created before he left this earth.
Madvillainy(2004) Madvillain
That album literally changed my life.
I think people say that a lot, but that albumchanged my life.
Stones Throw Records
It changed the way I view art.
There’s actually an MF Doom Easter egg inBel-Air R.I.P.
MF Doom, damn.
Kerry Hayes
But yeah,Madvillainy, I’d never heard hip-hop like that before.
I grew up on Dipset, Cam’ron, Roc-A-Fella, Freeway, Peedi Crakk, State Property, Beans.
I was just like,It’s really interesting.
Roc A Fella
It changed the way I view art because it challenged convention.
It has a narrative throughout that is unbelievable.
I can’t say enough about that album.
One of my favorite albums of all time.
And I think the incredible thing aboutSpotlightis that it was attacking a very sensitive subject with the Catholic Church.
It was done so artistically and the acting and performances are so well done.
The College Dropout(2004) Kanye West
The College Dropoutleft a huge mark on me.
I mean, it’s a one of one record.
Just like bars on bars on bars for days.
I could listen to that album over and over on repeat because the artistry is so there.
you’re free to feel the hunger on that tape.
Really, really deep.
Same thing with Coltrane’s as well.
Miles and Coltrane’s autobiographies would absolutely recommend.
Really special books from brilliant masters of their instruments.
Bel-Airis streaming on Peacock.
