The Cool Kids, the Chicago hip hop duo consisting of Chuck English and Sir Michael Rocks, had just announced last week they are going to, after a whole six years since their last, release a new studio LP. Special Edition Grand Master Deluxe will be coming on September 15th, and their first since 2011’s When Fish Ride Bicycles.
“The Hiatus is over. We missed being us. We refuse to let people down and not be the actual group.” Chuck tweeted out last Summer. “We been through too much. So prepare for things to go back to they were supposed to be. The Cool Kids together is what is right in the world. It’s on.”
“I can’t say I’ve felt more complete as an artist than to be back with my brother to give the world what we started,” Chuck added. “We really felt like we hadn’t really finished what we started. They took our styles and ran off. We coming back for it all.”
The Cool Kids previously broke up, but announced their reunion last year after a long hiatus apart since 2012.
This sort of return truly feels like the essence of the Cool Kids aesthetic. As one of the earliest hip hop outfits to make a splash in the scene without any real physical product, the retro-rap duo seemed like they sprang fully formed from the internet. They would release one “blog-bait mp3” at a time, mixing the hype just right with some quality icy-cool beats.
The Cool Kids had previously released a couple tracks including “TV Dinner” and “Checkout,” and have gone on to make the upcoming album available to pre-order, revealing its artwork and 16 song tracklist. Unlike When Fish Ride Bicycles, the new record is jam packed with features from the likes of Travis Barker, Boldy James, A-Trak, Jeremih, Hannibal Buress, Ye Ali, Smoke DZA, Syd, Buddy, Jay Worthy and many more.
They also released another cut from the album early, for those who pre-ordered the record. “9:15 PM” features a fellow Windy City singer Jeremih, and, as is implied by their name, seems like the quintessential cool.
This album announcement surfaces just in time before the duo’s upcoming new comedy series, The Shit Show, make its television debut this Labor Day weekend.
Check out more album information as well as “9:15 PM” below.
Special Edition Grand Master Deluxe Tracklist
1. “The Moonlanding” Feat. Hannibal Buress
2. “TV Dinner”
3. “Get Out the Bowl”
4. “Break Your Legs” Feat. Travis Barker & HXLT
5. “20/20 Vision”
6. “Checkout”
7. “On the Set” Feat. Boldy James & Smoke DZA
8. “9:15Pm” Feat. Jeremih
9. “Westside Connections” Feat. Buddy, Jay Worthy & Warm Brew
10. “The Motion” Feat. Ye Ali & Anthony Pavel
11. “T.D.A.” Feat. A-Trak, Reese LAFLARE & Larry June
12. “Jean Jacket” Feat. Paul Usher & 10ille
13. “Simple Things” Feat. Syd & QUIÑ
14. “Symptoms of a Down” Feat. Helios Hussain
15. “Gr8Full” Feat. Joyce Wrice & Like
16. “Too Smooth”
Photo Credit: Marv Watson