If you were glued to MTV in the early 2000s, you remember the cheesecake. You remember the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. And you definitely remember the high-pitched, energetic kid from New Orleans who seemed like he was about to become the next Lil Wayne.
Kevin "Chopper" Barnes (also known as Young City) was the breakout personality of Making the Band 2. He had the charisma. He had the "Choppa Style" dance that everyone was trying to mimic in their living rooms. He was the one Diddy actually seemed to like—or at least, the one Diddy saw the most dollar signs in.
But then, the cameras stopped rolling. The group Da Band dissolved. And for most fans, Chopper just... disappeared into the hazy memory of reality TV past.
The Bad Boy South "Trap"
Honestly, the biggest misconception is that Chopper just failed. It’s more complicated. When Diddy disbanded Da Band on national television, he didn't let everyone go. He kept the "standouts." Chopper was signed to Bad Boy South, a new imprint meant to compete with the likes of Cash Money and No Limit.
He was supposed to be the flagship artist. He even released a single called "Lil' Daddy" that got some rotation. But as many Bad Boy artists eventually learned, being "signed" and being "successful" are two very different things under Sean Combs.
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Chopper later admitted in interviews—most notably on VladTV and RealLyfe Street Starz—that he felt creatively stifled. He wanted to do "street" music; Diddy wanted him to do "pop" rap. There was a major clash over his debut album, which was supposed to be titled New Jack City.
"Puff was trying to tell me to do it like this and do it like that. I’m like, 'Man, fuck naw!'" — Chopper on his time at Bad Boy.
Eventually, Chopper had to get Birdman of Cash Money Records to literally buy him out of his contract. Imagine that. You're so stuck in a deal that you need the "No. 1 Stunna" to come through with a check just to get your freedom.
The Downward Spiral and Legal Troubles
The mid-2010s were quiet for Chopper, but the 2020s brought him back into the news for all the wrong reasons. In April 2022, the headlines shifted from music to crime. Kevin Barnes was arrested in Maryland on a felony sex trafficking warrant issued out of Las Vegas.
The allegations were heavy. Police claimed he was using his social media following to recruit women into a lifestyle they didn't sign up for. He reportedly bragged about his "wealth" and his status as a "pimp" to an undercover officer. It was a far cry from the energetic kid who just wanted to make it out of the Magnolia Projects.
He’s spent the last couple of years fighting these cases and dealing with the fallout of a reputation that shifted from "star" to "cautionary tale."
Why He’s Talking Now
If you’ve seen Chopper on your IG feed or YouTube lately, he’s in a different mode. With the massive legal storm currently surrounding Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2025 and 2026, Chopper has become one of the most vocal former artists sharing "the truth" about the Bad Boy era.
He hasn't held back. He’s talked about:
- The "slave contracts" that kept artists broke while the label looked rich.
- The psychological games played during the filming of Making the Band.
- Allegations of "secret romances" and behind-the-scenes chaos that MTV’s editors scrubbed.
It’s a bit of a surreal full-circle moment. The man who was once Diddy's "chosen one" is now one of the loudest voices dissecting the mogul's downfall.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often confuse him with Darwin Turner, the other New Orleans rapper who went by "Choppa" and had the hit song "Choppa Style." While the Making the Band Chopper definitely used that energy, they are two different people. Our Chopper (Kevin Barnes) went by Young City for a large chunk of his career to try and distance himself from the confusion, though the "Chopper" moniker always stuck.
Where is he today?
As of early 2026, Chopper is still active on social media, often going live to discuss the music industry and his past. He recently released a project titled City Limits through UnitedMasters, attempting to reclaim his spot as a solo artist.
The music is more mature, but the industry has changed. He’s no longer the teenager from the 12th Ward. He’s a man who has seen the highest highs of celebrity and the lowest lows of the legal system.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story:
- Check the Sources: If you want the unfiltered version of his story, watch his long-form interviews on RealLyfe Street Starz. He goes into detail about the Cash Money vs. Bad Boy contract negotiations that you won't find in the MTV archives.
- Verify the "Chopper" Name: If you're searching for his new music, use the name Chopper Young City. Searching just "Choppa" will likely lead you to NLE Choppa or the "Choppa Style" artist, which will just confuse your playlist.
- Watch the Diddy Timeline: As more former Bad Boy artists come forward in the wake of recent federal investigations, Chopper’s older interviews are being used as "receipts" for how the label operated. Keep an eye on his Instagram for updates regarding any potential class-action or legal testimonies involving former Da Band members.
The story of Chopper isn't just about a rapper who didn't blow up. It’s a blueprint for how the reality TV machine can build you up and leave you completely unprepared for the actual business of music.