Photo Credit: The Almighty Wes A.

I did not want to go to this fucking show.

Nothing against The Cool Kids, because I was excited in the days leading up to the NBA 2K9 tour stop in New Orleans. But I was having a rough, shitfest of a day. And something told me I wouldn’t actually get the tickets I was supposed to and that I would have no time to chop it up with Mikey and Chuck. Y’know, music business bullshit and whatnot. Of course, when I rolled up to the House of Blues, I was told that I didn’t have tickets waiting on me and I damn sure didn’t know who to ask. However, one call to Mr. Gottsdale and I was on the tour bus in about twenty minutes.

I walk in and see TCK’s Mikey playing some NBA 2K9 on a big ass TV. Naturally, being the journalistic professional I am, my first move was to ask to get on them sticks and play Mikey in a game. It was cool to chop it up with a down to earth guy. Though I had only played 2K8 and hadn’t made it to the new version, I tried to give a homecooked ass-whoopin with my Jazz Hornets against his Rockets. T-Mac and Yao were a little too much, though. But I will say, whoever won those 2K9 packs are lucky, cuz that game is good as copped. Mikey also showed me the Hip-Hop artists depicted on the game. Seeing ?uestlove’s eight foot tall ass shoot a three and pick his hair at the free throw line is worth the price of admission.

I asked the basic questions to start off:

The album drops in February. They love the tour. Q-Tip stays to himself.

But as the game progressed and we just started to shoot the shit, I got a gem of a story while talking about New Orleans music:

“I got stabbed over No Limit! For real! I was, like, in middle school. These kids, older kids, came up to me after school and were like ‘No Limit or Wu-Tang’?’ I said ‘No Limit.’ We got to fighting over it and one of the dudes stabbed me! That’s how serious I was over No Limit.”

Just as we were about to start reminiscing about Cash Money, N.O.’s new favorite son, Curren$y, came on the bus to kick it with the Kids.

Now, let me offer a disclaimer before I begin this portion of the night. David D. is not a weed smoker.

Curren$y and The Cool Kids are.

Almost immediately, they brought out the goods and started working figure eights and a triangle offense, passing the joints:

“That shit in your stomach that burns your food? That’s what Red Bull is made of!…It comes from the juice in a bull’s testicles. Lemme get a Vodka/ Bull sack!”- Curren$y

And y’know, the air was so…err..thick, that I was convinced he had some insight on the drink’s formula.

It was great, though, to see artists genuinely enjoy each other’s company, chopping it up without it being forced. These artists really get along and kept making plans to make songs together. Just imagine Curren$y spitting over those heavy 808’s. The three agreed that their first attempt to make hits was unproductive:

Curren$y: We’d play a beat like, yea, we need to smoke to this beat. Then we’d go to the kitchen and get some food and shit, then smoke again to top that off.

Chuck: Then we’d be like “Hey, let’s watch a movie”

Curren$y: Yea, then we’d watch a movie, then smoke off that shit. Then play another beat…and smoke for that shit.

They agreed, though, that the next attempt would be more successful.

A few minutes later, The Cool Kids hit the stage at the House of Blues to a receptive N.O. crowd. Anyone familiar with their music knows the group is catered to that sort of live show. The whole building was shaking for each track, as the duo managed to get the grown and sexy Q-Tip crowd to bring ’88 back.

The New Orleans audience was extremely energetic (see: drunk) as they almost caved in the stage by hopping on it. A few snow bunnies started Girls Gone Wildin’ on each other with a few rubdowns to the delight of the audience. One chick even rapped a whole Cool Kids song acapella. By the time they left the stage, the room was buzzing over their show.

That wasn’t the only buzz going on. I missed the Q-Tip show. A brotha had to get some munchies.

I spent the rest of the night knee deep in some McDonald’s, reflecting on how down to earth and the fun The Cool Kids were with a great show to match. Go catch that 2K9 tour when it comes to your city.

To find out more information about the 4th annual Bounce Tour, and to find the nearest stop, please visit www.2ksports.com/bouncetour.

Check out www.coolxkids.com for the chronicles of Chuck & Mikey as the travel the country on the Bounce Tour.

Previously Posted — “Finding Your Niche” – 2K9 Bounce Tour, Los Angeles