South Side producer helps others through music

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - This isn’t “Empire” and his name isn’t Lucious.

Sean Santana Cooper is a real Chicago music producer. Birthed at the crossroads of skill and ambition, Cooper understands the sacrifices and tenacity required to even exist in this world.

But this is his kingdom, and from its walls comes music.

And that’s the sound of success.

Welcome to “The Boiler Room,” a recording studio constructed entirely by hand in the basement of a home on the South Side. In it, you’ll find Sean Santana Cooper, a man who has dedicated his life to the world of music.

From Snoop Dogg and Jamie Foxx, to Ruben Studdard and Big Sean, the gold and platinum albums on the studio walls speak to the Chicago music scene and what it takes to survive in it.

But forget about the glamorous drama portrayed in “Empire” – for Cooper, this world is about remembering where he came from and giving back.

Cooper often invites kids of the community into his studio to record for free, keeping them off the streets and out of trouble while proving to them that anything is possible.

For now, Cooper is busy recording a local gospel group Ev3, and after hearing them, it’s hard to deny that he knows what he’s doing.

Every day, these walls reverberate the sounds of artists who could very well be the next big thing. Because Sean Santana Cooper has proven that everyone has to start somewhere.

So, why not here?