Che Pope

Christopher Pope (born May 3, 1970) is an American record executive and record producer from Boston, Massachusetts. Pope served as co-executive producer on Kanye West's album Yeezus, and co-producer on Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). He was president and chief operating officer (COO) of West's record label GOOD Music from 2012 to 2015, and won Album of the Year at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards for his work on the latter album.

Pope was credited with co-production on West's Grammy-nominated 2013 single "Bound 2", and executive production on GOOD Music's compilation album Cruel Summer (2012). He is also the founder of Wrkshp Media.

Career

Pope entered the music industry in 1994 upon signing to Teddy Riley, after Riley was introduced to Pope's instrumentals via a mutual friend. In 1995, Pope relocated to New York where he began producing for Wyclef Jean and his group, the Fugees. He also contributed to Jean's production works, which included the hit singles "No, No, No Part 2" by Destiny's Child, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" by Pras, and "Gone Til November" by Jean himself. While working with Jean, Pope was introduced to Lauryn Hill, who invited him to produce and write with her on several projects including Aretha Franklin's "A Rose Is Still A Rose", Carlos Santana's "Do You Like The Way", The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and more. Pope's production on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill earned him his first Grammy win. Due to improper crediting and compensation, several lawsuits stemmed from the project. Pope and his then co-producer opted not involve themselves in the ongoing litigation surrounding the album, but parted ways with the production team to pursue independent efforts.

After his time working with Hill, Pope produced projects in both domestic and foreign markets. In 1999, he became Vice President of A&R at Warner Bros. Records.

In 2012, Pope joined GOOD Music as a partner, as well as head of A&R. In addition to his administrative work for the label, Pope continued to produce for the label's signed artists. In 2014, he was named Chief Operations Officer of the label. Pope also established the initial collaborative relationship between West and apparel company Adidas, the then-distributor of the Yeezy clothing line. and the Weeknd's single "Tell Your Friends" that same year, which appears on the latter's Beauty Behind the Madness. Both songs were co-produced with West.

Production credits

1990s

1997

Wyclef Jean - The Carnival M People - Fresco Destiny's Child - "No, No, No Part 2"

1998

Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Aretha Franklin - A Rose is Still a Rose Pras - Ghetto Supastar

1999

Santana - Supernatural Mary J. Blige - Mary

2000's

2002

Beverly Knight - Who I Am

2004

Eminem - Encore Eminem - "Ass Like That" Eminem - "Just Lose It"

2005

The Game - "Hate It or Love It" The Game - The Documentary 50 Cent - The Massacre Vivian Green - Vivian

2006

Mobb Deep - Blood Money Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang Jay-Z - Kingdom Come India.Arie - Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship

2008 Bishop Lamont - The Confessional RZA (as Bobby Digital) - Digi Snacks

2009

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II

2010s

2010 Stat Quo - Statlanta

2011 Game - Purp & Patron Game - Hoodmorning (No Typo): Candy Coronas

2012 G.O.O.D. Music - Kanye West Presents: G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer exec prod responsible for "Mercy"

2013

Pusha T - My Name is My Name Kanye West - Yeezus exec prod Kanye West - "Bound 2"

2014

Teyana Taylor - VII

2015

The Weeknd - Beauty Behind the Madness A$AP Rocky - At. Long. Last. A$AP. Pusha T - King Push — Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude Kanye West - "All Day"

2018

Christina Aguilera - Liberation Teyana Taylor - K.T.S.E. Kanye West - Ye Nas - Nasir

2020s

2022 Brent Faiyaz - WASTELAND - FYTB

2024 ¥$ - Vultures 1 Future - Mixtape Pluto

2025 The Weeknd - Hurry Up Tomorrow Kanye West - Cuck (unreleased) King Combs - Never Stop (uncredited)

2026 Kanye West - Bully (uncredited)

Awards

Grammy Awards