Cool Sosa: Interviewed!

Welcome to The Cool Factor!

First, I must apologize for the long delay.  Life has been pretty hectic, and there haven't been many updates, but here's what I have:

1.  S.T.A.R. is almost complete.  Just double checking a few songs.

2.  When Nerds Attack is around halfway done.  I'm sort of making it as I go.  A few songs that may be swapped  with ones from S.T.A.R.

3.  I got a new hair-do.  Check it out at www.myspace.com/coolsosa

4.  I performed at Minerpalooza Friday.  It went great; pics should be coming soon.

5.  And lastly, I was interview by the lovely Vanessa.  Check that out at www.orgasmforyourears.blogspot.com.

Peace & Hair Grease,

CS

Show Updates

Welcome to the Cool Factor!

Today, I decided to update my loyal readers (who never leave remarks) about some upcoming shows:

Monday, August 25th, 2008 I will be performing at UTEP for the first Monday Melodies of the school year.  Along with me will be M.C. Bo$, Diluted Thought, & FUYA Radio.  I believe I go on around 11a.m and it's a 20 minute set.

Friday, September 5th, 2008 I will be performing at UTEP's Minerpalooza!  For those of you who don't know, Minerpalooza is UTEP's biggest event of the year.  Last year, I believe they had over 18,000 people in attendance and this year should be even bigger since it's on the eve of the UTEP v. Texas game.  I go on at 8p.m. and it's a 15 minute set.

Finally - Thursday, September 18th, 2008 I will be performing at (you guessed it) UTEP!  This time, it'll be through 915 Promotions in the Mineshaft.  I'm not sure what time or how long of a set it'll be, but either way, it's gonna be dope.

Peace & Hair Grease

-CS-

Coming to a Magazine Near You...

Welcome to the Cool Factor!

I was recently approached by my good friend, Metafisix of FUYA Radio and 915 Promotions, regarding a piece he's doing in 915 Promo's mini-mag Rhythm N' Rhyme. He asked me to explain the methods to my madness, and (needless to say) I agreed.  Find Out What I Said next month!  You can go to www.915promotions.com and sign up to have the mini-mag delivered to any address you'd like - absolutely free!  So gon' head and do that.

Peace & Hair Grease,

-CS-

S.T.A.R. Update 2

Welcome to the Cool Factor!

So I had a nice long day at the studio yesterday (Big ups to La Le' Productions Music & Sound Studio!)  After speakin' with my engineer a lil' bit, I've decided that necessary steps need to be taken in order to assure that this album gets the credit I feel it deserves.  I can't allow this record to fly under the radar.  I've been working on it for over a year.  With that being said...

I'm pushing back S.T.A.R.'s release date.  The plan was to release it late August but the time is not right yet.  The recording portion of the album is done.  Right now all we're doing is touching it up and making sure it's ready to go, so it should be done in about two weeks.  The problem is I feel that "Cool Sosa" (the brand) isn't well known yet.  For that, I take full responsibility.  In order to fix this, I will be stepping up the amount of shows I do, accept a few interviews and dropping a mixtape.  The mixtape will be done before September and available for free download once it is completed.  Finally, I vow not to release S.T.A.R. until I get local radio play.

I sincerely apologize for the various set backs in this album.  I don't want to disappoint anybody, including myself.  I promise, it'll be worth the wait.  Stay tuned.

Peace & Hair Grease,

-CS-

S.T.A.R. Update

Welcome to the Cool Factor!

I'm in between lab days right now and felt like givin' y'all a lil' update.  As of right now, I'm done recording lyrics for the album.  When I go back to the La Le' Productions Music & Sound Studio (shameless plug) Friday, my quality control group and I will be going through the songs to make sure we like the way everything is mixed.  I probably won't be able to do it all on Friday, but it's a good start.  Lord willin', It'll be completed by the end of next week.  Stay tuned!

Peace & Hair Grease,

-CS-

S.T.A.R.

Welcome to the Cool Factor!

This week I'll be going in to the studio to wrap up my album S.T.A.R.  What does "S.T.A.R." stand for you may be asking?

Super Talented Arrogant Rapstar

There are two reasons for this title.  The record is a bit of a concept album having a celestial undertone.  I'd go into further detail, but I'd rather have the listeners judge and make connections for themselves.

The second reason is because I truthfully believe I am one of the best Hip Hop artists.  Period.  I have the ability to perform many different styles of rap including twisting, storytelling, old school, and straight up rhyming to name a few.  My delivery is rarely the same, and I can perform.  I don't rap about anything I haven't done, learned about or experienced, so every word out my mouth is genuine.  I don't have to rely on cursing to get me through a verse.  If I'm swearing in a bar, it's because I want it there, not because I couldn't think of something else.  I'm charismatic, and honest.  Put me on a track with anybody and I'll hold my own, and maybe theirs.  ANYBODY.

I swear, I used to be humble, but it's hard to keep that modesty when 95% of the rappers in your town are garbage.  Big Ups to Zawcain, Metafisix & FUYA Radio, Demitrius Parks, Calio, King, Interstellar Dwellars, and Diluted Thought.  If you're not on this list, either you're not on my radar, or your garbage.  Chances are the latter.  Believe me, I'm not trying to start any beef.  However, if the need arises and you feel like saying something, please do.  I will crush you.

S.T.A.R. should be finished very soon.  I'll keep y'all posted.

Peace & Hair Grease

-CS-

Hip Hop Saved My Life.

Welcome to the Cool Factor!

Two months ago, I got a tattoo across my chest that reads "Hip Hop Saved My Life".  Many people thought it was just because I'm a Lupe Fiasco fan.  First off, I'd never permanently alter the appearance of my body if it didn't mean something significant to me.  Secondly, hip hop really did save my life.

I moved around a lot when I was younger.  I went to at least four different elementary schools and always had a hard time making friends.  When I got to middle school, I started to go through that awkward stage of trying to "find" myself.  It wasn't long before I found a good group of companions and we journeyed through our post-pubescent years together.

*tears*

So we get halfway through our freshman year and my whole group of friends leaves.  As in the school, the city, the county, the state, and two of them even left the country.  First thoughts are, "Damn...does my breath stink?"

Anyhow, I'm beginning the second half of 9th grade pretty much alone.  I know people, but I'm not really friends with them so I start trying to fit in.  My high school was like any other high school; it was broken into cliques.  To make a long story a tad bit shorter, it turned out the Mexicans at Andress High didn't like me because I didn't speak spanish.  There wasn't a cool group of white kids that I noticed, plus I didn't feel like being the "token".  I ended up hangin' out with a group of blacks and Puerto Ricans.

I hate to put it so bluntly, but most of the black and Puerto Rican kids at my school did a lot of negative things.  I didn't want to do anything bad, but I still wanted to kick it with the cool kids.  Matter of fact, the only reason I think I was tolerated at first was because I had a smart mouth.  It felt as though I was given a temporary pass but needed to further "prove myself" and deep down I knew there wasn't anything I wouldn't do to be cool.

I swear I was about ready to do whatever it took when I found it.  Rap.  Hip Hop.  Whatever you want to call it.  Honestly, I just started tryin' to rhyme to impress girls and ended up getting acceptance from my peers as sort of a side-effect.  This is a gift I don't take lightly.  It's the reason I've never been locked up (for long).  It's the reason I have a future right now.  I know a lot of people who got trapped because of some mistakes they made in high school and I'm proud to say I'm not one of them.  Much love and respect to my Killa Hills crew:  Plez, Tu-Tone, Woodstock, Preston, Jimbone, Taron, Mike, Gideon, X, Louis, Andy, Crystal, Pip, Mindy, Niesha, DJ, Richard, Rob, Tanisha, and all of y'all.  I know I don't speak to over 90% of y'all anymore, but to whichever of y'all may stumble upon this,

THANK YOU.

Peace & Hair Grease

-CS-

P.S.  Lupe's the greatest!

What's in a NAME?

Welcome to the Cool Factor!

People always ask me:  "What does Cool Sosa mean?", "Why do you call yourself Cool Sosa?", or "How did you come up with Cool Sosa?"  It's a valid question which I assume every MC is asked, so without further ado...

My first name is Sam (remember that).  The year was either '99/'00 (remember that too.)  There was a time in high school when I was between monikers.  I used to switch my stage name nearly every quarter and decided to just work on lyrics for awhile.  I put this CD together that I closed out with a lil' homemade salsa beat.  In it, I placed a random sample of a man yellin' "Salsa!"  The CD turned out to be pretty garbage, but everybody was diggin' the "salsa" joint.  Now, this was the same time that Sammy Sosa was gettin' mad popular so everybody started callin' me "Sammy Salsa".

Go ahead...laugh.

Believe it or not, I actually stuck with it for a while but then decided to switch because I can't speak spanish and felt that I may mislead people a bit.  So I switched to Sosa.  Plain ol' Sosa.  That worked for a while, until I got on myspace and realized Sosa wasn't as original a rap name as I once thought it was.

I figured it was a small enough name that I could simply add a prefix or suffix to make it my own.  After a myspace bulletin requesting people's opinions, I made my decision.  I had an overwhelming majority of responses telling me to add something like "Cool, or Fresh" to the front and decided to roll with "Cool" in honor of Kool Herc, one of hip-hop's forefathers.

And that, ladies & gentleman, is how "Cool Sosa" was born!  I hope this was if not entertaining, at least informational.

Peace & Hair Grease

-CS-