To listen to Larrance ‘Rance’ Dopson speak is to embark on a fast-moving journey. The musician-producer-entrepreneur drops wisdom with a smile, punctuating business lessons with career tales. In fact, it’s tough to capture the sheer breadth of his output and activity. He’s served as musical director for Jay-Z, Usher, Khalid, Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Migos, and Rick Ross. His work with Justin Timberlake, Nipsey Hussle, and Roddy Rich earned Dopson many Grammy nominations. Simply put, he’s a busy guy.
Giving Back Big
Dopson even dreams in grand form. Speaking from his home in Los Angeles, Dopson reflects on how far he’s come. “When my mom passed, at her house, I found everything from when I was a kid,” he says. “In 8th Grade, I had to write down all my dreams and goals.” He marveled at what he read. “I passed all that up. Everything that I wanted to do, I did it.”
His connection to the experience of being an aspiring musician fuels Dopson’s other passion: giving back. An outgrowth of his youthful musical crew, he and partner James Fauntleroy founded 1500 Sound Academy. It brings to life a vision of providing a world-class facility for music instruction, industry education, coaching, and more.
“Throughout my life, I always wanted people that could play every instrument—a brotherhood we could be around every day."
An early mentor, super-producer Teddy Riley, gave him some crucial advice. “He taught me the more you learn how to do in the music business, the more money you’ll make,” Dopson says. “The fact that he could engineer, produce, write, arrange vocals, set studio time, do vocal production. That’s like already five, six checks.”
It wasn’t long until Dopson was crafting hit singles of his own. From his first cut, 2005’s “Gangsta Love,” he eventually took home a Best R&B Song Grammy for the smash “Boo’d Up” by Ella Mai.
A Collective is Born
Still, Dopson always set his sites on expanding his horizon. As a community-minded creative, his vision centered around wanting to play all over the world with his friends. “Throughout my life, I wanted people that could play every instrument—a brotherhood we could be around every day.”
That plainspoken pragmatism coupled with lofty ambition shapes everything about 1500 Sound Academy. This includes its mysterious moniker. “We were playing for Bobby Valentino years ago, and we were still broke when he started making some money,” Dopson recalls. “He asked us to do a showcase for Def Jam. We said, ‘You got to give us fifteen hundred or nothing. 5-piece band, $300 a man, $1500 or nothing.”
"We always had a home where we had a studio together. After we got our first place, there was no turning back."
What’s in a Name
Their moxie certainly impressed their employer; Valentino agreed to the deal on the spot. “I have footage of him telling this story in a documentary we’re working on,” Dopson reveals. “We shook hands and started a musical gang right then and there.”
Before long, it became clear that the nascent group needed a physical space of its own to gestate. “We always had a home, either in Inglewood or L.A., where we had a studio together,” he says. “After we got our first place, there was no turning back.”
Still, did Dopson imagine 1500 Sound Academy would end up churning out the superstar players and producers of tomorrow? “Thundercat was part was part of the group,” he says proudly. “Terrance Martin—you wouldn’t believe all the successful people that have come through it.”
The consistent thread is the musical team’s absolute commitment to excellence and to each other. “We’re one big family,” Dopson confirms. “You’re in an elite group of the best that cares about detail the most. It’s a small circle.”
Lifelong Partners
Dopson displays the same affection he feels for his cohort when discussing his association with Roland. “Before I had a relationship with Roland, we were married and they didn’t know,” he explains with a twinkle in his eye. “I’ve been using Roland products my whole life. They gave me room to create my own sound.”
Unsurprisingly, considering his endless supply of ideas, Dopson even has a concept for a themed show about his lifelong love. “You should do ‘A Day in the Life of Someone Who Loves Roland,'” Dopson jokes. “Every day I go to three locations and there’s always a Roland keyboard: my house, the academy, and a studio with a famous person.”
"I study the greatest minds in the world. From Sigmund Freud to Edward Bernays to Clayton Christensen. I just love learning and knowledge."
Licensing the Mind
At this point in his career, Dopson’s ideas and experience are as valuable as his chops. “For James and me, the type of business we do now is having people license our thoughts and partner with us.” Always, education remains at the center. “I study the greatest minds in the world. From Sigmund Freud to Edward Bernays to Clayton Christensen,” he explains. “I just love learning and love knowledge.”
The spirit of altruism remains woven into everything Dopson teaches. “You want to be wealthy? Make someone else wealthy. The more people you make rich, the richer you’ll be. We’re big on that.”
"Imagine Silicon Valley, Wakanda, Tron, and Men in Black put together. Stuff you’d see in a movie, you'll see in Inglewood."
Moments that Matter
And the hits and experiences never seem to stop—even during the global pandemic. Notably, Dopson had the chance to play the 2021 presidential inauguration with Ant Clemons and Justin Timberlake. The tune, “Better Days,” is one he co-produced. How did it feel to be part of that moment in our history?
“They flew us to the Stax Museum to record it and it was 25 degrees—never been that cold it in my life,” Dopson jokes. “But it was so worth it, man. Ant is one of my closest friends. I’ve seen him come from working at Red Lobster two or three years ago, to working with every major artist.”
Science Nonfiction
Dopson continues to learn from everyone with whom he works. Some are so iconic they only have a single name. “Jay-Z is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met in my life. I’ve learned so much just watching him,” Dopson shares with obvious respect. “He doesn’t waste words that don’t matter. He’s the GOAT.”
On the horizon is the next iteration of Dopson and Fauntleroy’s ever-evolving artist incubation concept. “We have plans for a secret building for cultural coders in fashion, film, music, and sports.” You can be sure the spot will have plenty of style as well. “Imagine Silicon Valley, Wakanda, Tron, and Men in Black put together. Secret doors, super futuristic holograms as our secretaries,” Dopson says, enthusiasm dripping from his voice. “Stuff you’d see in a movie, you’ll see in Inglewood.”
