If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past year or so, you are most likely aware of the Cool Kids. Consistently performing at Chicago clubs spots and as special guests to Flosstradamus and others, the rapper duo steadily built a following and then hit it big when a handful of their songs made their way through the internets. Two years after their powerful debut, the guys can be found standing outside at a bus stop in Wicker Park, Chicago’s watering hole for the hipster population. They are there filming a video for “Champion”, off their Gone Fishing mixtape with Don Cannon. The bus stop is covered with Chicago regulars: director of most of the Cool Kids’ videos, GL Joe, noted photographer Clayton Hauck, Chuck and Mikey’s roommate Tenille- the same people you would see around The Cool Kids if you spotted them two years ago. Later, The Cool Kids film in the loft above the bus stop, which has been decorated to accommodate a Gone Fishing theme: Life preservers sit on the wall and real fish line the fire escape. But nothing of extreme luxury has been brought out for this video, and it that seems appropriate, as The Cool Kids have never been successful on account of the finer things. If you weren’t a fan of the Cool Kids, you couldn’t even spot them in the loft: They fit right in with all of their friends. Chuck sits around with Chip the Ripper, Mikey and Tenille discuss the concept of Nikes for babies- there are no conversations of celebrity meetings, no jewelery so flashy it could melt an ant with its reflection (well, with the exception of Chip’s watch), nothing truly special at all. But many would say that’s what makes the Cool Kids so special in the first place.
URB: It’s been two years since the video for “Black Mags” has come out: How have videos changed for you since you’ve made a few between now and then?
Mikey Rocks: You know, you gotta have more of a visualization of what you wanna do before you get it on camera. You always gotta let it be creative how you perceive it. The first time we made a video, we didn’t know, we were just doing whatever, and then you get to look at it and you go, Damn, I would’ve done this different or that different. But now, we just try to get it as close to how we visualize it as possible.
URB: You guys have always stayed grounded and know where you’re from and where it started: Still go to the same clubs, still perform at local spots sometimes, but then you’re also traveling around the world and killing it internationally as well. So I wanted to know how you guys are able to remember where it started but go so far from home as well.
Chuck Inglish: Because that’s where it’s getting made at. You just can’t make stuff at a different factory all the time. You leave where you are then you lose it. You can travel, you can go to different parties, but you always go back to the stuff you’re used to. That way you don’t ever lose touch. [In Chicago] The raps come easy, the inspiration is always there. [Being here] Feels way better when other things aren’t so easy.
URB: I think it’s great how you guys are still working with GL Joe. Still working with a lot of the same people. A lot of people lose touch with that.
Mikey Rocks: You don’t fix something that’s not broke- a cohesive relationship and it works and makes sense, and everybody can get each other’s vision in. There’s no reason to switch that up.
URB: Do you guys still feel like staying in direct contact and maintaining face-to-face relationships with your fans is key?
Mikey Rocks: Definitely. I was just talking to some dude outside for a minute, he was saying, “I live down the street man, I’m a big fan of y’all’s stuff, I want y’all to just keep moving, and getting better and better.” I’m still the same dude from, like, four years ago when I was starting to get serious with this stuff. It’s not really a change for me.
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