Nacido en Holguin, ciudad hubicada en la parte oriental de Cuba. Dedico toda su vida hasta los 24 anos al deporte de basketball, integrando el Equipo Nacional juvenil de basket Cubano integrando posteriormente el equipo de adultos.
En un viaje para los juegos de Buena voluntad en Australia la delegacion cubana tenia que pasar por Los Angeles, CA y decidio desertar para tratar de convertirse en un jugador profesional de basketball
Debido a las circumstancias de la vida, su destino cambio y se vio metido en el arte. Se convirtio en un instructor de salsa aerobica creando el grupo danzario "Estrellas Cubanas".
Posteriormente, creo el grupo Saoco que produce una mezcla de reggaeton con ritmos cubanos. Leyder es el director, productor, coreografo y cantante principal de Saoco.
Leyder Chapman Bio
Leyder "Dos Four" Chapman was born in Holguín, Eastern Cuba and raised in Havana. He left his family and career as a professional basketball player on the Cuban National Basketball team to pursue the "American Dream." In 2001, bound for the Goodwill Games in Australia with a layover in Los Angeles, he chose to remain in the U.S., knowing he would not be able to see his family or country for at least five years in exchange for the freedom to pursue a life of his own choosing.
Chapman's talent for performing started at a young age. Even though he excelled in athletics, he was always dedicated to his love for music and dance, and he continued to develop his skills as a lyricist and composer. At the age of nine, he began performing in various talent groups in and out of school: dance troops; theater clubs; chorus; and playing percussion. He wrote his first song, "Yo Te Amo Verdad," at age fourteen.
Not until Chapman arrived in Oakland, CA was he able to fully commit his time to creating music and choreographing dance. His entrepreneurial spirit drove him first to become a professional dance instructor teaching casino-style salsa classes and rueda workshops. He quickly developed a large following throughout the Bay Area because of his unique, highly energetic teaching style and dynamically infectious performance spirit. He is the founder of the "Estrellas Cubanas" dance group and in 2004, he founded SAOCO, a band specializing in the fusion of Cuban rhythms with popular reggaeton. He also established Elegua Music, his own recording company. His first CD, "La Farandula" was realesed in late 2005, and he is currently working on his second SAOCO album scheduled for release in late 2006.
Chapman is SAOCO'S lead rapper/singer as well as composer, arranger, producer, lyricist, percussionist and choreographer. He has been inspired by David Calzado, La Charanga Habanera, Beny Moré, Candido Fabré, Los Van Van and Tego Calderon. Creating Cuban style music is Leyder's way of honoring and staying connected to his country and family. He enjoys sharing with his American fans and friends his love and passion for his culture and for creating music in the United States. He is dedicated to his roots by composing Cuban reggaeton music using traditional Cuban rhythms. SAOCO is the only reggaeton group which arranges it's music focusing on Cuban rhythms.
