Cook Thugless

Cook Thugless is an independent music collective and hip hop act formed in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 2012. Popular in the New Jersey underground music scene, Cook Thugless gained national attention with their 2019 single titled, "Lockjaw". The name Cook Thugless is a derivation of the Cook-Douglass Campus at Rutgers University where the group was formed.

History

Origins and formation (2012–2013)

Jace Limb, Brian Clines, and Jeff Petescia met in Sparta, NJ, before attending Rutgers University together. Clines met Keith Lalley and Jean Louis at Mason Gross School of the Arts, the arts conservatory at Rutgers University. Limb, Clines, Petescia, and Lalley lived together in the Starkey Dormitory and named the band ''Cook Thugless'', a play on Cook-Douglass campus where the band lived and attended school.

''Space'', ''Time'', and ''Money'' (2013–2017)

On April 20, 2013, Cook Thugless released their first full-length album titled ''Space'', which was followed shortly thereafter by the release of their second album "Time". The band primarily played underground shows, house parties in off-campus housing, and at smaller, less formal venues. Cook Thugless slowly but surely became a mainstay of the New Brunswick music scene. J-Titty (drums) joined Cook Thugless in 2015, just after the release of ''Time''.

In 2016, ''Cook Thugless'' recorded their third studio album ''Money'' in Jersey City, NJ. ''Money'' is a concept album following Cook Thugless imagined rise to fame. ''Money'' explores the intersection of consumerist culture with music, and the recording industry. The album features a number of skits and storylines, in which the band's style and music are critiqued and changed to maximize their appeal. This includes a skit in which Jean Louis is directed to adopt the stage-name ''Fatty Puss''. ''Money'' was critically lauded, with NJ music reporter Bob Makin writing, "It’s rare when a local unsigned act makes lasting art, but that is what Cook Thugless have done with ''Money''..."

''LUXE'' and ''lost in LA'' (2019)

Cook Thugless released their fourth album ''LUXE'' on January 4, 2019. The album's lead single ''Lockjaw'' became a break out hit on streaming services garnering more than 700,000 plays in its first month. The Aquarian Weekly named ''LUXE'' as "Record of the Week". The music video for ''Lockjaw'' features Brandon Flynn from the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.

On Oct 7, 2019 Cook Thugless released an EP titled, ''lost in LA''. The music video for the title track features cinéma vérité footage from the band's relocation from Brooklyn to the California.

Time in California and "Yikes" (2020)

After moving to California, Cook Thugless started 2020 by opening for fellow NJ recording artist Wyclef Jean at the Miracle Theater in Inglewood, California on January 24, 2020. During this time the group had begun recording music for a record label, which would eventually become disputed and the material unreleased. Simultaneously the members of Cook Thugless were living in the kitchen a rapidly deteriorating Anaheim influencer mansion, with the power cut off. These experiences shaped their next project, and audio recordings from this time are inter-spliced in their album ''Yikes''.

Cook Thugless released their fifth full length album ''Yikes'' on June 22, 2020. Allyson Klein of Elevator Mag wrote in her review of the album that "it feels threatening...electrifies the scene of any party, encouraging manic behavior," and calling the project "the epitome of trap." Aupium called the project "...glorious mutant of pop, punk, lo-fi, trap, and chaos where the choruses jump over the bursting cadence..."

Discography

Albums

* ''Yikes'' (2020)
* ''LUXE'' (2019)
* ''Money'' (2017)
* ''Time'' (2015)
* ''Space'' (2013)

EPs & Mixtapes

* ''lost in LA'' (2019)
* ''Vacation Blend II'' (2016)
* ''Spontaneous Mixtape'' (2014)
* ''Homegrown'' (2021)

Singles

* ''Bad Luck'' (2020)
* ''Mosh Pit'' (2020)
* ''Dirty Blue'' (2019)
* ''Replay'' ft. CoolCompany & Dazed (2019)
* ''Untitled'' (2018)
* ''Thankful'' (2018)
* ''Pendulum Rock'' (2017)
* ''House Cat'' (2016)

Personnel

Active Members

* Jean-Louis Droulers, {{aka: Apstrakt, JL Drip, JD Junkie, Fatty Puss, Loafer King – vocals (2012–present)
* Jerry Sánchez, a.k.a. 99pines, Jack Blerry – vocals (2012–present)
* James Mehrkens, a.k.a. Jace Limb – guitar, production/mixing (2012–present)
* Keith Lalley, a.k.a. mistakeboi – production, vocals, trombone (2012–present)
* Riley Byrne – bass, guitar (2012–present)
* Brian Clines – saxophone, flute (2012–present)
* Jahmar Beaubrun a.k.a. J-Titty – drums, vocals (2015–present)
* AJ Seferlis a.k.a. Koi Cola – vocals (2019–present)

Past members

* Jeff Petescia - vocals, guitar (2012–2013)
* Sam Tobias - saxophones, keyboards (2013–2016)
* Shyrley Rodriguez - vocals (2012–2013)
* Jack Doyle - narration (2014–2017)
* Ryan Cullen - drums (2012–2014)
* Mike Winnicki - drums (2012–2014)

See also

* New Brunswick, New Jersey music scene

References

East Coast hip hop groups
Musical groups from New Brunswick, New Jersey