Cool Nutz Loves You

Overtime-In And Out The Game
Cool Nutz-Monster Up
Koshir-No Bueno
Bosko-Just Do You
Dubble OO feat. Too Short, Messy Marv, and-What I'm Talkin Bout
Diezel P-Get Involved
Todd G feat. Arjay-Homies Gone
Frodie-Joy Ride
Starbucks-Hard Work
Infinit feat. TJ Hooker-What You Like
Young Jay-How I Do It
Maniac Lok-Grown Man

Check out the SXSW promo CD that we will be passing out at the conference this week. Make sure that you catch up with Cool Nutz at one of his many showcases. It's gonna be a good time people.

Check out this great performance of Cool Nutz & DJ Fatboy at The 2010 Portland Music Awards. It went down people.

This is just a taste of our stop in Crested Butte, CO with Swollen Members during The "Armed To The Teeth" Tour. There was great hospitality, great people, and most of all a great show. Make sure you tune in for more updates from the tour.

It was a great time, and we are looking to embark on more dates with Swollen Members. It's going down people.

Portland, Ore. based hip-hop artist Cool Nutz has been creating music for nearly 20 years, both independently and with a major label. This summer, he plans to release his next album. He's currently touring with Swollen Members until this year's SXSW, which will be his third time at the festival. Cool Nutz spoke with Spinner about his style, the Portland music scene, classical music and party boundaries.

How did you get your start?

Basically, I started out in the late '80s break-dancing, [and] then as break-dancing became less popular Bosko and I started a record company. He started producing and making tracks. I was around the music, so I would be writing rhythms. As time evolved I got more serious. I started recording songs. We put out our first full-length cassette album. People started buying it. We put out our first single that was really popular in Portland. We got a record deal with Atlantic Records and with Big Beat. That deal didn't work out, so we put out the first official Cool Nutz cd, 'Harsh Game For the People.' That exploded in the northwest and opened the doors for Jus Family Records and my solo career.

How would you describe your sound?

Xhibit meets Jay-Z with a little Talib Kweli and some E-40. It's definitely urban, it's definitely informative, but then like Xhibit it's hard and like Jay-Z it's mature. I'm not a young dude, so its not like I'm making dance records for the kids. If you check out 'Love Iz,' which is on the MySpace and SXSW page you'll see it's more mature, like urban black music.

Who are your musical influences?

My early musical influences were Rakim, EPMD, Ice Cube, Confidence, Most Wanted and then more recently Jay-Z, Nas, the Game, Talib Kweli, Aesop Rock.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Classic soul and classical music. It's a breath of fresh air from what you normally hear. I'm not all like Mozart '5th Concerto,' but I listen to a lot of classical when I'm working. Classic soul like Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding.

How is the Portland music scene?

Well, Portland is more of an indie music scene in the sense that there's a lot of indie rock, a lot of clubs to book on your own. There is no mass industry where you can be like LA or New York or Miami. You don't have those same opportunities, so you have to push the line yourselves. It also gives us room to have a lot of variety where the music is influenced by underground hip-hop like Atmosphere and Brother Ali, but there's also a lot of popular music influenced by the bay like Mac Dre, E-40, Messy Marv and Hieroglyphics. In the south, people listen to Soulja Boy, Young Jeezy, and Outkast. Portland is a melting pot of a lot of places.

Is this scene what fueled you to be on your own?

Yeah, definitely. You had that explosion of the independent Bay scene like E-40. We were taking notes of that independence. They showed us that you can do it. You can put out records yourself. Being in a city like this doesn't have the same boundaries as LA or New York where you're stuck having to work within the hip-hop realm.

Are people receptive to that diversity?

Yeah, definitely. Oregon is a predominantly white state. Of course, we have an urban community, but again it's not like an LA or New York or New Orleans. You have to know how to operate and be able to function with these different fans that are listening. I've been blessed to be able to open for the Game, Ghostface, Wu-Tang, and Outkast. I can craft my show to fit on a bill with Kid Cudi or whoever. It gives you the ability to play in front of anybody.

When you walk in the door, sometimes people might say, "Here comes the hip hop guys." Then they're amazed. Not only was the music good, but he connected with the audience. He was real friendly and accessible. It wasn't like he walked in with his pants sagging, smelling like weed, cussin' up a storm.

What can people expect at your SXSW performance?

I feel like my show is always good music. I'm saying something, the songs are good, the DJs good. The energy we bring and the connection to the people is tight. I'm not just trying to rhythm. We're trying to entertain and connect.

What do you plan on doing at SXSW?

This will be my third time playing SXSW. For me, it's an opportunity to have everybody in one place and connect with them and be able to talk with people, get business cards, see panels. Being able to listen to hear some of the industry heavyweights and what they have to say about digital decisions that are made, tour booking, where's technology going with music. It's a one stop shop to get my feet planted and wet.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

Having almost the whole show come back to a hotel and seeing a hotel turning into a party, and every room is a different party and people are smoking and the fire alarm's going off. Just all out wildness and no regard for other guests of the hotel. Just when all the rules go out the window. I'm not like the rock star type in terms of having the mindset with music where I party 'til I drop and get s---faced drunk. That's not me. I kick it and I've seen a lot, been around a lot. But I know you have to get up the next day and be able to function. So I've always had party boundaries for myself.

What does Cool Nutz mean?

People think it means my nuts are cool. But it really doesn't mean that. I'm not like Snoop Dogg or Busta Rhymes. I'm kinda like in the middle. I'm not super laid back, but I'm not super wild. Cool, but could be crazy at the same time.


Margarita Morales is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.


SXSW 2010: Cool Nutz - Spinner

Brand Jordan has come through to support Cool Nutz & DJ Fatboy on the upcoming tour with Swollen Members with dope new footwear and apparel. Look to see Cool Nutz & DJ Fatboy rocking the latest Jordan Spizike Boots on tour. These kicks are the perfect match, considering they will be playing a number of dates at Colorado ski resort locations. We wanna give Brand Jordan a big thanks for supporting to movement, and you can expect to see Cool Nutz & DJ Fatboy freshly dipped on the road.

Vowing to go hard in 2010, Cool Nutz has put the final touches on the "So Portland" project, which be available online for free at The VTech Phones Music Blog. Featuring exclusive and classic joints from Cool Nutz, the project is completing clean, and features appearances from E-40, BG, Luni Coleone, Bosko, Maniac Lok, Kenny Mack, Pricy, Arjay, and more.


Jesus Juice featuring Toni Hill
Produced by Jeffery Simmons Jr. for Lost Koast Productions

So Drunk featuring Kenny Mack and Maniac Lok
Produced by HI-Q

Persevere featuring Chris Ray
Produced by Terminill for Flatline Productions

Love Iz featuring Bosko
Produced by Terminill for Flatline Productions

Young Mix A Lot
Produced by HI-Q for Quizzy O Productions

Blacktop featurting Pricy
Produced by Terminill for Flatline Productions

Rude Boys(Bosko Remix) featuring BG and Maniac Lok
Produced by Bosko for The Goodlife Movement

The Beezy
Produced by Mario Bolden for Bombay Entertainment

Streets Callin featuring Maniac Lok and Arjay
Produced by HI-Q for Quizzy O Productions

They Don't Have To Know featuring E-40, Bosko, and DD Artis
Produced by Bosko for The Goodlife Movement

Every Single Day featuring Luni Coleone and Von OP
Produced by Kuddie Fresh

Come Get It featuring Luni Coleone and J. Townsend
Produced by Kuddie Fresh

Black Music featuring Bosko
Produced by Jake-One

Clothing line T.I.T.S has been gracious enough to support the NW movement by lacing up Cool Nutz & Jus Family Records with their dope apparel. Look to see Cool Nutz rocking dope fits provided by T.I.T.S. Make sure that you support them by visiting and shopping the site...LOG ON HERE.

Cool Nutz, DJ Fatboy, and Arjay held it down for the Portland hip-hop community, as they rocked "Songs For Haiti" at The Alladin Theater on January 21st, where they helped raise over $150,000 for The Mercy Corps. This was an amazing night and was for a very important cause. Make sure that you continue to support the cause.

Cool Nutz is slated to play the legendary SXSW Music Conference on Thursday March 18th. The conference takes place in Austin, TX March 17-21. Be sure to visit the conference website at Visit the SXSW website here people

Swollen Members, Potluck, and Cool Nutz Announce US Tour

Swollen Members have announced the dates for their upcoming US tour alongside Humboldt County hip-hop duo Potluck and Portland's own Cool Nutz. The tour will kick off February 18th, 2010 in Seattle, WA and run through March 7th in Spokane, WA.

"We are excited about this upcoming tour with Potluck," commented Prevail from Swollen Members. "Potluck has been killing it for a while now and they have a great live show to back it up. The balance of what we and the sound Potluck brings to this tour will make for many memorable performances."

"Swollen Members have been in the hip-hop scene for a while now, and we've always respected their sound and the fact that they constantly tour," added 1 Ton from Potluck. "I think the combination of both groups on the same tour is going to make a great show for fans. We're excited to get back out on the road with our Suburban Noize family."

Swollen Members' are enjoying some of the biggest success of their career after signing with Suburban Noize Records. The group's sixth studio album, "Armed To The Teeth", debuted at #146 on the Billboard Top 200 and #5 on the Heatseekers charts. Since the album's release, "Armed To The Teeth" has been named one of the best hip-hop records of 2009 by iTunes, alongside albums from Ghostface Killah, Slaughterhouse, KRS-One, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Twista. Swollen Members' video for the track "Bollywood Chick" featuring Tech N9ne can be seen online at http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=100455459.

Potluck is riding high after completing a 2-month tour across the US with reunited hip-hop icons D12. Potluck's sophomore album, "Pipe Dreams", has been embraced by hip-hop fans from coast to coast who have been mesmerized by the group's lyrical depth, rapid fire flows, and head nodding beats. The Source Magazine championed the group's sound saying, "There are strong reggae and good vibe undercurrents throughout this 21-cut ode to the high life." The group recently released a new digital EP, "Pothead Music Vol. 1: The Dank Alumni Experience", which is only available through digital retailers and online at www.SubNoizeStore.com. Potluck is currently streaming the new track "Vapors" online at www.MySpace.com/Potluck.

Cool Nutz has been hard at work putting the final touches on his Suburban Noize Records debut album entitled "Time To Bake The Donuts", which will feature appearances from E-40, Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, Kurupt, Messy Marv, Bosko, and more. Cool Nutz has been hard at work touring, enjoying the success of his radio show "The Northwest Breakout Show", and recently helped raise over $150,000.00 for Mercy Corps to assist the victims of the Haiti Earthquake.

CATCH SWOLLEN MEMBERS, POTLUCK, COOL NUTZ ON TOUR:

Feb 18 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
Feb 19 - Bellingham, WA @ The Nightlight
Feb 20 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne
Feb 21 - Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall
Feb 23 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Feb 24 - Avon, CO @ Agave
Feb 25 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ Ghostranch Saloon
Feb 26 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
Feb 27 - Ft. Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre
Feb 28 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
Mar 01 - Breckenridge, CO @ Three20South
Mar 02 - Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
Mar 04 - Park City, UT @ The Star Bar
Mar 05 - Ketchum, ID @ NexStage Theater
Mar 06 - Boise, ID @ NexStage Theater
Mar 07 - Spokane, WA @ The Boulevard