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Jason Tyler: Running the Show :: Chicago DJ Jason Tyler teams up with Cool Kids' director for his first video paying homage to the Windy

By Jen Boyles   Photography by Jen Boyles

11/06/08 :: URB web

Some whiners call Chicago a "six-month city," counting only the months when there's no white stuff tearing down out of the sky as livable. But then there are those who soldier through it, knowing full well that there is nothing in the world like a Chi-Town summer. Instead of biking around Wicker Park looking for hot parties and drinking Pabst and Mojitos like ice water last summer, Jason Tyler spent much of that precious time slaving over a DIY music video that pays homage to the city. He teamed up with an elusive graffiti artist responsible for the "Goon" characters plastered around town, an animator-slash-band-member with the "Dirty Diamonds" and most notably, the crew who bolstered the Cool Kids' profile in creating their "Black Mags" video. The end result is "Run Around," and it's  not your usual blood, sweat and tears tale. It also includes tandem bikes, pools with girls on rooftops, a bike gang, a bonafide club-kid legend, a hip-house pioneer, and a rapper named after a Dr. Seuss story.  Dig in.

Watch the video and download the tracks here.


URB: Why did you commission this team to make this your first music video? 

Jason Tyler: We hired G.L. Joe and his crew to film it because I really liked how they caught the reality and essence of the Cool Kids in their "Black Mags" video. I figured if anyone could translate my music and the vibe we're on, Joe would be able to. After running into him at "Claychella" (Clayton from EveryoneIsFamous.com's birthday party that I was DJing) he said he would squeeze me into his busy summer schedule. He heard the track ("Run Around") and really wanted to do the project.


What is the "Run Around" video about?

The song and video is all about Chicago. We didn't want to show the mainstream parts like the Sears Tower, the Fountain that was in Married With Children, the giant bean at Millennium Park,  etc. We wanted the video to be about the heartbeat of the city, the people who are the creative types that take nothing and make something out of it.

So who are all these colorful people?
JoJo Baby is in one of the video's best scenes -- he's this amazing artist, doll maker, club personality, and actor who we were fortunate enough to have filmed in his studio on the corner of North Milwaukee and Damen in Wicker Park. (Interesting side note: I was recently filmed and interviewed for the documentary that Clive Barker did on JoJo that's coming out soon). We also had members from The Rat Patrol show up -- they're a group of hardcore bicycle riders that build crazy bikes 2 and 3 times taller than normal ones. And we have one of the guys, who in my book, should have been credited for the first hip house track,  Mel Hammond, doing the running man dance outside of this pizza place called Jukin' Pizza . I kid you not, their slogan is "Off The Heezy For Cheezy." One of my favorite parts, though, was Sam I Am rapping in front of a plate of green eggs and ham. And last but not least, the Goon graffiti character is a Chicago staple piece of street art and is what ties together the video.  He was animated by Austin Henry from the amazing band "The Dirty Diamonds." Director GL Joe and crew appear in space suits, too.

Explain this "Goon" character.
The Goon is a colorful, giant-faced, large-teethed overweight character I fell in love with when I got back from a 3-year road-trip because Keoki burned down the house (long story). I started seeing the character all over Wicker Park and really wanted to meet the artist. One of friends contacted Heaven Gallery and tracked down his info, so I called him and we hit it off. He drew a character of me which sparked the idea of the goons being in the video. He recently asked if he could make life size goon of me somewhere in the city, and I was like, "Sweet!!"

OK, back up a second --  Keoki burned down your house?
Yeah, he was living with me in Chicago for a minute and he left his laptop on some wiring. I got back from South Beach and didn't have a place anymore. It's funny now but at the time it was crazy.
 


Um... wow.  Do you have a favorite moment from making this thing?
During my DJ friend Patrick Kelly's cameo, GL Joe had this kids' "Green Machine" BigWheel he wanted him to ride towards the camera, so they spent time slicking down the pavement with water to get the effect they were looking for. Then we all lit smoke bombs and threw them in the street to make it seem even more epic. Patrick's big moment was here -- you could hear a pin drop -- so he comes racing down the street on a little kid's BigWheel, smacking into a parked car's tire and literally wiping out in slow motion in the middle of the street, getting his pants soaking wet. The police came soon after that. They also came when we were filming my trumpet scene in Pilsen; I guess a homeless dude broke into the building next to us.

So what now?
I'm really excited about all the artists and musicians I've had the opportunity to meet and work with. I'm definitely excited that Udachi's remix of Run Around is on AC Slater's new mix.  I'm looking forward to my new album, "Modus Operandi," being finished and coming out. I also heard that Rolling Stone has been talking to GL Joe and the crew about all these videos he's making -- he just did one for Cool Kids' "Pennies" -- so that's dope. These are exciting times to be alive -- new president, new hope and something brighter ahead. I can feel it.

Click through to watch the video and download the MP3

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