Cool Nutz is re-releasing that classic album “Verbal Porn” this year and it features legends like C-Bo and Yukmouth. In this interview we get deep into the mind of Cool Nutz and for fans of the North West hip hop scene you gonna dig this interview. Peep it!

Verbal Porn is a classic, and you are re-releasing it nationally now. What are you hoping with round two? And can we expect something different to the original release?

The album started to take off, and more people wanted it. This was in part to the press that we were getting in magazines, and websites like yours that support REAL indi. music. The new version of the album features C-Bo & Yukmouth on a new song. We also had to change the song with Jay Tee because of differences with another label that didn’t want their artist on there. We also removed some songs, and added some new heat on there. I just wanted to change it up a little bit when we re-released it to the people. We changed to cover up some as well. The new version is hot, and I like it more then the original. We also added the new single “What You Do”(Bosko remix), which has been getting spins on numerous stations, as well as on the DMX satelitte network. We just trying to get the hot music out to the people.

For me there are only a handful of artists who can make the grade. You are definately one of them. Do you feel that you deserve more in terms of success? 

I feel like I have been blessed to have done alot of the things that I have done. We have been in the Source, Murderdog, XXL, numerous websites, performed with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, we have had 2 major label deals(Atlantic & Universal), I have released some classic NW albums, and have seen alot of the country because of rap music. I hope that I am working in the right direction, and will be blessed with something big, but if not, I have done some good things for NW hip-hop. I am one of the few artists that can say that I actually helped build up a scene, and made contributions to a whole region. So I am happy with alot of the things that I have done to this point. I would like to see some huge indi sales, or be blessed with a GOLD record for a major release. I feel like 2003 is the year for me. I am on top of my game more then ever, and ready to get out there and show the world.

I checked on 91siccness you got an ad where people can pay for you to appear on their albums. What do you do when rich kids with lots of $’s are able to afford you but their own albums are weak. Would you still feature on them? And have you been getting a good response from that ad?

On top of me doing it for the love, I also have bills to pay. It is flattering that people want to pay me for my raps. Some people never get calls to get on peoples albums. It is good to be in demand. I have gotten a good response from the Siccness. That is a dope site, and it has helpe with alot of web business. I don’t discriminate against artists if they are weak. I just appreciate the fact that they are coming to me with money in hand, and they want to spend it with me. Plus some of these cats will get out there and really promote their albums, and the fact that I am on there. It also helps me get new fans.

What do you think of people like Baby who get paid millions of dollars by record labels? Do you think that they deserve to get paid so much money?

I feel that Baby really deserves to be paid for the simple fact that they proved that they could sell major units. The majors are simply investing in them, so that they can sell more units. I have a problem when they give some new artist that hasn’t proven his worth that kind of money. Labels aren’t stupid. They will get every dime of their money back. They aren’t just giving money away. I can’t get mad at the next man that has earned his spot, and deserves to be paid top notch dollars for what they do. Get that money if you can. There are alot of artists that get fucked by labels, so more power to the ones that actually get some real money out of it. 

Between the last release and this one what have you been doing? Touring?

We have been on the road alot. We have been on the road with Too Short, Living Legends, E-40, Ja Rule, Ludacris, N2Deep, Yukmouth, B-Legit, Knocturnal, Juvenile, Kurupt, Cali Agents, Absract Rude, Aceyalone, CJ Mac, Clipse, RBL Possee, Warren G, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, and more. We have just been out getting the word out to the people, and letting them hear the Jus Fam gospel. We have been in Colorado, California, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Utah, Texas, Arizona, and more. We are trying to show the world what the NW has to offer. We also have some bigger tours coming up as well. It is just good to be able to be out there, and getting on stage with the big boys. It will only get bigger from here.

Can you introduce Maniak Loc to us, what can you tell us about him

Maniac Lok is like a mixture of C-Bo & Ice Cube. He is one of the dopest artists from the NW. His album I”m Back is one of the best albums to come out of the NW. I guarantee that if you listen to all of the albums to come out of the NW, his album would be on the Top 5 list of them ALL. He has been in the game for a while now, and has proven what he can do on the mic. His new album Street Star will be out in the Spring. It will feature production from Bosko, Torry Ward, Big Ice, and more. It will feature appearances from C-Bo, Brotha Lynch, Mac Dre, Cool Nutz, Brotha Luv, Bleek, Phranchise, Mr. D.O.G, and more. People will see the truth when they hear the Street Star album.

Man I can’t wait to listen to that Maniac Lok album coz I only checked him out on a couple of tracks. So let me get this straight, I’m Back was his first album? How did he hook up with Jus Family?

We are all from the same side of the fence, and we have always been cool. All of the artists on Jus Family, are literally family. He was featured on almost every album that we had put out before I’m Back. He was working with another Portland label, and things fell apart, so we ended getting together. He is one of the most talented artists in the NW. People will see that with the Street Star album.

So how did you hook up with peoples like C-Bo, Brotha Lynch Hung, Yukmouth and Mac Dre and them? And to be touring with legends like Too $hort and all those other dope artists. Man that must be some exciting shit. 

These are all people that we have been working with. These aren’t relationships where we are just paying them to get down. These cats know that we hold it down for the NW, so they have a mutual respect for us. It is good to have C-Bo and other artists hollering at us, and wanting to get down with us. I grew up on alot of these cats, and now we are working with them on a regular basis. Bosko has also produced for all of them as well. And one thing that is really cool, is that they are all REAL cool dudes. They give us love for what we do, even though they have laid the foundation for us in the game. Real recognizes the real.

If you had to think back to when you were first exposed to hip hop, what albums really stood out for you?

The song that sparked me on hip-hop was Run DMC’s “Rock Box”. That was the first time that I had heard some hip-hop back then with a ruff edge to it. It really caught my attention because it wasn’t the normal comedy rap that you were used to hearing back then. They came in and changed the game. Public Enemy, E-40, Ice Cube, MC Eiht, Too Short, Rakim, and number of other artists inspired me to be the MC that I am today. Jay Z and Eminem are some of the current people that stand out to me as well.

I must say that Verbal Porn, to everybody here who has heard that album, they take it as one of the few outstanding albums of 2002. The hooks, the beats, the rhyming, everything was like, just well thought out. And damn it bumps in my ride. So we glad you re-releasing coz we think that this deserves to be heard all over. thanks for that.

No doubt. I appreciate the fact that you are hearing what I am trying to give to the public. I have been working hard to get to that next level, and feel that I am ready to compete with the big boys.

So do you think that the next big thing might be the NW, just like what the South is right now?

The NW has alot of talent, and just needs that spotlight put on it. I know for a fact that we have the artists that could compete with anyone out there. We just need to be given the opportunity to shine. MTV, BET, The Source, XXL, and all of the major publications need to recognize the sound of the NW. 

What book have you read recently? Favorite movie?

I think the book is called the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. My favorite movie of all time might have to be a Christmas Story. The most recent movie that I saw that was really good was Lord Of The Rings:The Two Towers.

What does Cool Nutz do after a hard days work?

I normally work until about 3 or 4 am, and then unwind to TV or PS2. Sometimes I just get so tired, I just gotta shut it on down early. I also spend time with my family. I would like to be able to spend more time with them, but the bills gotta get paid.

What’s the most important thing to you?

Being respected for what I do, and providing a stable environment for my family. I want to be able to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. I want people to remember me for what I have done in the music, or what I am going to do in the music. I would just like to be successful in life.

How do you feel about your president George Bush?

I feel that Bill Clinton was a much better President. I think that he to eager to go to war with these countries. We are in some real troubled times, and I have young children in my family that I would like to see grow up in a safe world.

What are the things you cannot live without?

My family, my music, sex, money, good times, and a few other things.

So one day when you come to South Africa to perform what is the first thing you gonna wanna do when you land here?

I would just like to experience Afirca being that I have never been there. I would like to see what it is like to love over there. I would like to see the beach, and a Great White shark.

Your Top 5 NW albums?

Cool Nutz-Harsh Game
Maniac Lok-I’m Back
Al. C-The Whole Shit
POW(a Seattle group) forgot the album title
Cool Nutz-I Hate Cool Nutz

When you performing live, what’s the tracks that you perform that make your blood pump the most?

76 Nova, Walktadis, Pop My Whip, The Party Don’t Start, and Freq.

What do you think are the best songs you’ve ever made?

Notoz is one of my favorites. It is dedicated to my brother that passed away. What I’m About is the first song that we did a video to. 76 Nova is just classic. Portland Type Shit with Ray Ray of G-Ism. What You Do(remix). This song is one of the best radio songs that I have ever done, and I was real proud of the final product. I have so many others, but those are the ones that stand out to me.

Will there be another DBA album?

We have another DBA album that is ready to go right now. We are just looking for the right situation for it. We just want it to be right. We can’t let this get fucked off this time. The album is dope, and people will see that DBA is a group to watch out for.

Besides hip hop what else does Cool Nutz like doing?

Playing ball when I have time, spending time with my family, travelling and not having to worry about the business, and I would really like to do more outdoor activities.

We wish you well for this year, we cannot wait for the new album, I know this will be a good year for the NW, I can feel it in my bones. Last words??

Just be on the lookout for Jus Fam this year. We got Maniac Lok, Brotha Luv, Bleek, Phranchise, DBA, DJ Chill, Siren’s Echo, Bosko, Cryciz, Phattz, and of course Cool Nutz. We ain’t playing in 2003.

Learn more about Cool Nutz at www.jusfamilyrecords.com

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