As anyone who made it out to one of Cool Nutz’ weekend-long birthday celebrations would tell you, few names in Northwest hip-hop command more respect. So we dig into the archives (a.k.a. YouTube) to present this 1998 Cool Nutz video, “What I’m About.” Note guest appearances from superproducer Bosko, Maniac Lok and (singing the hook) Vurs of Lifesavas. This is one of the more fun-loving rap videos to come out of Portland, especially considering the short-lived cowboy hat fashion statement.

a big p.s. Brent Knopf from Menomena won the Cool Nutz Connect Four Invitational on Thursday night. Just walked in and took the whole competition, totally Bobby Fischer style. This was somewhat unexpected, as Brent wasn’t one of the evening’s listed attendees (neither was the Famous Mysterious Actor, who fared poorly). My sources report that Knopf enjoyed at least one of Cool Nutz’s birthday weekend shows, as well. Which is pretty much the most cross-genre action we’ve seen in Portland since Bridgetown Breaks 2 came out. Anyway, here’s a pic of the Menomenaut going up against Ethic of Sandpeople:

Links:
Cool NutzSpace

In case you missed his birthday, Cool Nutz opens for the one and only Nas Friday at the Roseland.