5 Minutes with CurT@!n$
Posted by Peter Sim | Jul 15, 2009
Brooklyn-based rapper CurT@!n$ is steadily buzzing throughout the hip-hop interwebs with his latest mixtape, The Adventures of Dope Boy C: Dope For President, and collabs with a variety of artists from Mickey Factz to Gucci Mane. We got a chance to chop it up with the man who Kanye called a “true genius of fashion”, about the music, performing at Sneaker Pimps NYC, and what else, the kicks. Check out the interview after the jump, and go support the man by giving his mixtape a listen. |
Nice Kicks: Who is CURT@!N$, and what can the readers expect from your music?
CurT@!n$: CurT@!n$ is just the modern-day Keith Haring - pop art in the flesh - Brooklyn, New York. When you pick up the music, you can just expect the unexpected. I don’t even know what to expect from my music truthfully.
What motivated you to get into music?
What interested me early on was LL, EPMD, and Ice Cube, but you know, I just got the music bug and ran with it. Kept perfecting my craft, making records, battling, and mimicking other rappers - just studying the game like it was school.
You’ve got some pretty dope videos out now. One of my favorites is “Night of the Living Dope” - how did you come up with the concept?
I just want to have fun and showcase me. That was really my bike, all my clothes on the rack. Everything in there was mine. I just went to my house, and was like, “Hmm, how could I show people how I’m livin’”. I was like, “Hey I’m gonna ride my bike in the video, and shoot a rack of all my clothes”. The director came with the after effects - like the lighting, the eyes - and everything turned out crazy.
So now to the sneakers. How was it performing at the last Sneaker Pimps in NYC?
The energy was crazy. I had this thing where I took one shoe off, and held it in the air Run DMC style. You know, the kids were real excited, ready to show off their kicks too. I would never call myself a sneakerhead, but I enjoy a good pair here and there.
What’s that one shoe that got you hooked to sneakers?
The Jordan 1s - the black and blue.
Nice. So when you were growing up, what were cats wearing in your neighborhood?
Always Jordans. New Balances were sitting pretty up there in my neighborhood, but always Jordans. Later, there were basketball sneakers, you know, the David Robinsons, the Pippens, Air Maxes.
How many pairs do you own?
Man, I go in and out, but I would say I physically probably have about 10 pairs. In storage and different people’s houses, I probably have about over 400 pairs. And that’s not like 400 regular. Like I said, I’m a snob so everything I have is something holy grail-type level. I have every Jordan, the originals, the first retros. I got all the really dope pairs like the Supremes, and stuff like that. I would say I have like 400 really good pairs. But only 10 of them are physically in my possession.
Do you wear your shoes?
I wear everything. Like when you say “sneaker head”, as the word “collecting” is synonymous with sneaker head, I don’t collect anything. I’m a “collector”, but I like to use my collection. If I’m collecting sneakers, I wear them to show them. They say its a piece of art, and it’s wearable art. Like my Jordan 1s, my favorite sneakers, they’re worn to the ground, and I still wear them. When I get my next pair, I’m gonna wear ‘em to the ground you know what I’m sayin? I wouldn’t like them sitting on the shelf somewhere.
So what are you rocking right now?
Jordan 1s - black and blue. Still.
Ha. Last pair you bought?
I haven’t bought a pair of sneakers in so long it’s not funny. I’ve just been blessed to be in a position where if I want something, I can just make a phone call or it’s offered to me. I got the Yeezys, a lot of the kicks kids have been craving for, but I didn’t buy ‘em. (laughs)
Is there an upcoming release that you would actually be interested in purchasing?
I heard those Infrared VIs are coming back, and I heard the original black VIIs are coming back - they’re ones that I’m pretty interested in. I would say those two.
Are you feeling any of these new indie brands?
Umm…I don’t know. I’m more of a snob - I’m still Jordans and Puma Clydes. Like I’m stuck in that zone. I haven’t seen a new sneaker that really put me, you know, somewhere. It’s still kind of…maybe I just gotta get used to them, but I haven’t really seen a pair that did it for me yet.
Why do you think shoes matter?
Well, growing up where I’m from, early New York, it was a status symbol to have certain sneakers. That stuck with us as we grew up. Like you know how much a pair of Jordan IIIs are worth when you see somewhere wearing them. You’re like “Damn, that guy has something expensive on his feet.”
What’s the most innovative sneaker you’ve seen as of late?
I think the Yeezys are the best “new” sneaker to come out in years. I might offend certain sneaker heads, but I think the last, original, good sneaker might have been the first LeBrons.
What’s one thing you dislike about the shoe game?
Probably the over-saturation. It kind of takes away the fun and excitement in the purchase. Before, it wasn’t that easy to get a pair of Jordan IIIs - it’s kind of not that hard to get them anymore. It takes away the thrill of chasing, getting, and then wearing. I think the over-saturation bugs me a little bit.
Where do you usually go to pick-up?
Flight Club.
That’s it? Flight Club?
Flight Club. Well, Sportie LA also has a good archive - you can find some gems in there.
So what’s next for you? Anything else you want to speak on?
I’m working on some stuff, got some stuff in store, so stay tuned. We got the Dope 4 President Mixtape that’s out now - we’re pushin that. We got some more stuff in the pipeline, but I don’t really want to…I like the whole element of surprise thing. When it’s droppin’, and you don’t expect it, it’s more impactful.
Jul 27, 2009 at 4:05 am
I got a mixtape from this bum downtown Bk like 9 yes ago and still never put it on….
Jul 17, 2009 at 7:24 pm
that song was whack, they shoulda left that classic ALONE
but night of the living dope is pretty sick
Jul 17, 2009 at 3:01 am
i saw dude roll into the alife sports store in ny. he was just mad cocky for no reason, kinda bragging about his life and where he’s been. i was like who is dude, someone told me. i mean he’s real young. his raps are not bad (not great) but dude should be thinking about grindin and working his ass off like Kanye has, not trying to act all super duper cool.
Jul 16, 2009 at 1:20 pm
that video was straight garbage, why mess up a good song :{
Jul 16, 2009 at 11:38 am
I’ve never listened to fam’s music or read anything about him, but judging from this interview he seems like the exact opposite of most of the comments posted on here. Seems like a decent cat.
Jul 16, 2009 at 9:35 am
To Debo first of all you left out jayz,Fab, red cafe, uncle murda, and maino……… Second true he didnt offend anyone but he comes off cocky like somebody owes him something like he the best rapper in NY an he far from it……..He is a good rapper with a good flow but you cant come in the game and think cuz Kayne co signs you that you some kind of rap phennom… DRAKE got a cosign from Jayz and he aint feeling himself like this dude is maybe Kayne will sign this chump to his label the only hard dude on that label in Consequence GLC is a sucka
Jul 16, 2009 at 9:07 am
It’s funny how people perceive the same things so differently. Yeah the dude says he’s a snob, but he didn’t come off as an a**hole to me. He seemed to be well spoken and careful not to put himself in a lane that he knew he didn’t belong it. To me, that exemplifies his respect for cats that are doing it stronger than him. There were two or three points during the interview when he made it known that he ISN’T a sneakerhead and that he wasn’t being intentionally offensive by saying what he did.
And yeah, it’s not hard for ANYONE to be better than Drake. That comment reminded me again of how young a lot of you cats are. Since he’s from BK, it would be saying something if you were as nice as Big Daddy Kane or BIG or any of the plethora of legendary rappers to emerge from here.
Jul 16, 2009 at 8:22 am
Im a snob lol smack this fool
Jul 16, 2009 at 2:19 am
What..is..he..talking..about? How old is this dude?! He must be reeeeally young. Cause man..what I miss most about the sneaker game..is when we wouldn’t know when a pair of Jordans are being released. The only way we knew was when we walked into the shoes store. Wish kids nowadays would appreciate the shoes itself instead of its resell value.
There’s a big difference between a “sneakerhead” and a “sneaker enthusiast/fanatic”..something for you kids to ponder about.
Jul 16, 2009 at 1:28 am
You guys do have a point his attitude is type wack but his music is actually good better music than anything else if you ask me lol
and about the sneaker thing I don’t really know about the whole 400 pairs thing then you never know rappers can buy a lifestyle these days we all know that
Jul 16, 2009 at 12:02 am
He is a CUM STAIN
Jul 15, 2009 at 11:43 pm
garbage
Jul 15, 2009 at 8:28 pm
sounds pretty cool
Jul 15, 2009 at 7:33 pm
lmao @ being better than drake, drake is trash
Jul 15, 2009 at 7:30 pm
i liked his mixtapes
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:36 pm
fukk dis lame ass nukka
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:16 pm
meh….I’m downloadin his mixtapes to see how he is on the mic but his personality in the interview just makes him seem like a dick
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Speaking as someone who went to the Sneaker Pimps show and participated in the rampant booing when Curtains took the stage I have one thing to ask.
Who likes dude? I can feel the hype-strings being pulled…
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:10 pm
SUSPECT (only got 10 pairs physically)
Jul 15, 2009 at 6:04 pm
CurT@!n$ - The Dope Supremacy
best yet ..i have a feelin this dude gonna b better then drake…
Jul 15, 2009 at 5:33 pm
he sounds like a d**kbag
Jul 15, 2009 at 5:27 pm
^^ CHILL OUT laMOLE……he said he would never call himself a sneaker head…….and don’t front acting like if u had a lotta money you’d still camp out for retail kicks when u could just cop them at flight club for 3x retail price.
Jul 15, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I’m sorry but Gucci Mane + Rza production = NO NO
Jul 15, 2009 at 5:22 pm
so you get raped for sneakers @ flightclub like all these other rappers? REAL shoe heads don’t get raped, shoe heads are patient and love the thrill of hunting for shoes.
Jul 15, 2009 at 5:07 pm
assswipe