Part of the mid-2000s hip-hop movement that found kids in all-over prints rapping about their shoes and their favorite forms of transportation (which often weren't cars), the Cool Kids proved to be both an Internet and live show phenomenon. The duo of Mikey Rocks (born Antoine Reed) and Chuck Inglish (or Evan Ingersoll) met in mid-2005 after Mickey came across some of Chuck's beats online and liked what he heard. They met up in their Chicago-area homes (where Mikey was born and raised; Chuck lived in Mount Clemens, MI, about 30 miles north of Detroit, until he was 11) with the intention of making beats to sell to other artists, but soon realized their own measured, smooth flows and lyrics fit best over their production. In 2007, though they had yet to release any material outside of what was posted on their MySpace site or MP3 blogs, the group started receiving a lot of press attention from fellow Chicagoans and tastemakers Pitchfork}, who invited them to play at their summer festival. This led to a spot at New York's CMJ Music Marathon, where they shared a showcase with DJ A-Trak -- who offered to put out their EP -- and an opening spot on M.I.A.'s solo tour. However, that same year the Cool Kids signed to Chocolate Industries, who released their debut, the Bake Sale EP, in January 2008, with plans for a full-length to follow. ~ Marisa BrownMySpace} site or MP3 blogs, the group started receiving a lot of press attention from fellow Chicagoans and tastemakers Pitchfork, who invited them to play at their summer festival. This led to a spot at New York's CMJ Music Marathon, where they shared a showcase with DJ A-Trak -- who offered to put out their EP -- and an opening spot on M.I.A.'s solo tour. However, that same year the Cool Kids signed to Chocolate Industries, who released their debut, the Bake Sale EP, in January 2008, with plans for a full-length to follow. ~ Marisa BrownPitchfork, who invited them to play at their summer festival. This led to a spot at New York's CMJ Music Marathon, where they shared a showcase with DJ A-Trak -- who offered to put out their EP -- and an opening spot on M.I.A.'s solo tour. However, that same year the Cool Kids signed to Chocolate Industries, who released their debut, the Bake Sale EP, in January 2008, with plans for a full-length to follow. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide
The Cool Kids is an alternative hip hop group from the Mid-WestUnited States. The duo consists of Antoine "Mikey Rocks" Reed (originally from Matteson, Illinois) and Evan "Chuck Inglish" Ingersoll (originally from Mount Clemens, Michigan).[1] Self-described as "the new black version of the Beastie Boys," The Cool Kids' music has been released primarily to the independent Chocolate Industries via their own label C.A.K.E. Recordings.[2] Reed and Ingersoll have collaborated with several other musical artists and made appearances in numerous media, such as Asher Roth, Kenna, The Bloody Beetroots, and Maroon 5.
The members of The Cool Kids met in 2005 when Reed found a beat on MySpace that Ingersoll had produced.[1] The two met to discuss terms of the beat's sale, and eventually ended up recording for two hours.[3] They were inspired by golden age hip hop and artists like Eric B. & Rakim.[4] Ingersoll began promoting the new duo's material, and it was eventually booked by Josh Young of Flosstradamus for a DJ performance.[3] At this performance (in a venue called Town Hall Pub), the duo met the DJ Diplo who offered to release a mixtape of their unreleased tracks titled Totally Flossed Out on his label Mad Decent, though it was eventually released on C.A.K.E. Recordings.[5] They also received an offer from the DJ A-Trak to sign to his Fool's Gold label,[5] which they did, but only for one single.[6] Of their time with Fool's Gold, the Cool Kids felt they weren’t getting enough attention: “When your boss is on tour with Kanye West, it’s easy to have timelines missed,” said Chuck in an interview. [7]
All of their material had been released solely on the band's MySpace page[4]—their recording contract came after performances at the CMJ Music Festival and Pitchfork Music Festival, on July 15, 2007.[1][8] Eventually, The Cool Kids signed to Chocolate Industries, another independent label.[6] The group has revealed on its MySpace page that The Cool Kids' debut album, When Fish Ride Bicycles, will be released in 2008, though as of 2009 it has not been released.[9] Ingersoll has been the producer for tracks released thus far,[10] but both work in rapping and production.[11] The duo uses music software program Reason from Propellerhead Software to produce their music.[12]
They have been on tour, opening for M.I.A.[13] and they will be also joining the bill of the 2008 Rock the Bells hip hop festival on select dates.[14] The group toured across Australia in February 2008 and also appeared at the Laneway Festival. The group also appeared at Suny Purchase's Culture Shock event in April 2009.[15] One of the duo's singles, "Black Mags", was featured in a late 2007 Rhapsody TV commercial, along with Sara Bareilles.[16] In the same year, the group collaborated with Lil Wayne and DJ Benzi through the Internet on a track entitled "Gettin' It", which will reportedly appear on the DJ's future album Get Right.[17]
The Cool Kids have been featured in the video games NBA Live 08 and MLB 2K8 with the song "88",[18] and in the episode "The First Cut Is the Deepest" from HBO's TV series Entourage with the song "Mikey Rocks".[19] They were listed in Rolling Stone's Ten Artists to Watch in 2008.[20] According to Rolling Stone, "since "Black Mags" debuted, the Cool Kids have gone from an underground sensation in their native Chicago to the hottest ticket at New York's CMJ festival." [21]
The duo have been endorsed by Mountain Dew for their new single, "Delivery Man", to which commercials and the music video have aired on MTV2. The group's song "Bassment Party" was featured in the September 21, 2008 episode of the HBO hit comedy Entourage. They also recorded an original track, "2K Pennies," for the soundtrack of NBA 2K9. However, The Cool Kids have said in an interview that their success has been gradual. [22] They will also be headlining the "NBA 2K Bounce Tour" along with Q-Tip.[23]The Cool Kids also had an outstanding performance at the 2009 Voodoo Experience in New Orleans, Louisiana. Producer Don Cannon said in a interview with XXL, that he will be working with The Cool Kids for their new album. The group's second official mixtape, Gone Fishing was released on May 5, 2009. They are currently working on their debut album, When Fish Ride Bicycles, which is slated to release in 2010.[9][24]
Their song "A Little Bit Cooler" was used in an MVP commercial from Nike with Lebron James & Kobe Bryant entitled "Mrs. Lewis".
Discography
EPs
The Bake Sale (2008), C.A.K.E., Chocolate Ind. and XL Recordings
Totally Flossed Out (2008)
Albums
When Fish Ride Bicycles (TBA), C.A.K.E., Chocolate Ind. and XL Recordings
