I was originally introduced to the stylings of Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish, the dynamic duo that combines to form the Chicago-centric The Cool Kids by my freshman roommate at the University of Wisconsin, Tim. After hearing “Mikey Rocks” and “Black Mags”, I was as convinced as Tim was that The Cool Kids were destined to take Chicago and, eventually, the whole nation by storm with their unique and refreshing simplicity. There really is no better way to describe the band.
Inglish sets the tone for their most acclaimed EPs, The Bake Sale and Totally Flossed Out, with uncomplicated, bass-heavy production. This style allows Mikey Rocks to display his otherworldly flow, which spurns speed and intonation in favor of expert timing and witty lyricism. The pop-culture references are abundant, which seems to be a growing trend in hip-hop these days (stand up Wale and Lupe), and affords the average nerdy teenager the opportunity to connect with the music on a more personal level.
The band just released the video for “Pennies”, which will be the first single on their debut LP, When Fish Ride Bicycles. While I am not necessarily thrilled with the song choice (I would have preferred sure things like “Gold and a Pager” or “Bassment Party”), the video and song perfectly sum up the style and swagger of the young kids from the Second City: The throwback jerseys and threads, the constant references to old-school athletes, and the crocodile-headed RC car (coolest RC car ever). Not to mention, Mikey’s verse is pure fire.
What makes The Cool Kids so special is that they seem so relaxed and natural, and not motivated by the “money cash hos” mentality that can cripple young artists. Expect to be hearing a lot more from me about these guys in the not-too-distant future.
Love,
Zack
