Through the power of reach online me and Kris linked up on instagram. I couldn’t recall as to why or how. Me and him can attest either way that services were needed and eventually rendered. He was one of my original guests at Chop Up Radio. Diving deep into everything from streetwear to music, and of course New York shit. Kris is the architect of the music that compliments Chop Up Radio. I caught up with him at his uptown Harlem studio and got to see what the man of few words is cooking. Literally in the kitchen and in the studio.
WHAT’S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE
Wake up, drink some water make a quick snack.
WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT TO WORK AT
Still at my desk.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING
Mainly sweats or cargos.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING, LISTENING TO OR READING
Watching mad old shows, documentaries and interviews.
WHAT’S YOUR GO TO MEAL
It’s been way more veggies actually. (I am a witness that the man can chef up a mean burger).
WHAT HAVE YOU BOUGHT ONLINE
Clothe , sneakers (I wish my collections was still like his) and collectibles.
Though New York is at a stand still during these difficult times. This city still has a pulse. I catch up with my boy Nehemiah and see how he’s marking the days on his calendar. From working on material for his sketches to baking up some sweet treats. I Chopped it up with the man who stays at the bar with me till the lights are up and see what’s on his mind and what’s in the stove.
WHAT’S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE
I wake up at noon and get out of bed around 2pm. Cry for a little bit. Drink some water. Then have a bowl of cereal while my girlfriend does her workout/yoga. The rest of the day is pretty much just writer’s block from 3-6pm. Dinner. Dishes from 9-11. And then I practice tweeting (@thugtweeds) in front of the TV until I pass out.
WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT TO WORK AT
My nigga i’m not working! Besides my living room or bedroom? Sometimes I like to work on the subway snuggled between a homeless person and an essential worker on the brink of suicide. I love to check emails in the bathroom but we only have one bathroom between the two of us so I’m only ever in there for an hour at a time.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING
Literally right now, nothing. But when I’m outside I put on pants and maybe a hoodie. I rotate between three hoodies (black, tie dye, beige).
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING, LISTENING TO OR READING
King of the Hill. I never watched it as a kid because I didn’t understand that it was actually the best show on television. It feels like I’m watching home movies wrapped in a blanket of nostalgia and surrounded by all my childhood friends and family. I feel like I’m from Texas when I watch it. Like I was born in a Whataburger. I am the Black Bobby Hill. My family, God bless them, are mostly conservative (not quite Rednecks but def Redneck adjacent at times), and I always wanted to be in NYC. So here I am, fulfilling my dream as a comedian and salesman of propane and propane accessories.
WHAT’S YOUR GO TO MEAL
My girlfriend is Chinese and I’m Ethiopian so we keep it pretty interesting in the kitchen. I also bake a lot (for fun – but I make edibles for sale if you’re interested) and I post sometimes on IG @blackhandsbakery.
WHAT HAVE YOU BOUGHT ONLINE
I’m currently unemployed as far as NY State is concerned so the only thing I’ve purchased in quarantine is a usb microphone in case anyone wants me to record something. Setting up a little d.i.y. recording booth so we can get this *bread you feel me. (*unemployment insurance).
If there was a definitive road I can re call to how I have my own podcast today. My good friend Than was definitely one of the instruments to that road. We knew each other from a bar I worked at and where he dj’d Thursday nights. The relationship built on the love for beats and just music. He eventually asked me to rock my own segment at Montez Press one summer. Which lead to me sitting down with Sahra Van Nguyen and birthing Chop Up Radio. I caught up with the man and see how he’s keeping it lock’d. (literally)
WHAT’S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE
Last 30 days – wake up at 730/8a make coffee/ small breakfast, check SM, cut (20)1 min vids for Instagram, Post on SM, shower by 11:30 or 12pm. I am either about to go for a run or yoga followed by lunch. should be done by 2 or 2:30 I have an hour or 2 of “free time,” where I choose 1 task to catch up on life stuff (bills, laundry etc), work, set up releases, go through music for the nights set, catch up on news, connect with family etc. By 5pm it’s either start dinner if I’m cooking or think about what’s for dinner. 5:30p-6:30p I am finalizing what I’m going to DJ for my 7-10pm stream and update the total amount that we’ve raised the night before. Play the stream and the day usually ends at 10pm and I am in By 11p 11:30p.
WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT TO WORK AT
Right now the studio is in the living room because I wanted to do this 30 days of DJing during quarantine, so it’s the living room.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING
Right now, Nike Running Joggers, AirMax 90’s, T shirt, Montez Press sweatshirt, Apple Watch, Moscow glasses and Nike Running 5 panel. Usually I wear Uniqlo jeans, T-shirt and a hopeless sweatshirt with a denim jacket.
WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING, LISTENING TO OR READING
I started Seinfeld during this NYC shutdown cause I’ve never seen it before. I’m listening to a lot old mixtapes that I’ve downloaded in the past that is currently streaming on Twitch right now. I set it up so that I don’t have to figure out what I want to listen to, I just turn that on and listen. I am reading a lot of news and science, but also music business books.
WHAT’S YOUR GO TO MEAL
Recently vegan since October 2019 so I’ve been cooking a lot. Nachos, chili, stir fry’s, rice, but mainly rice and a veg stir fry.
WHAT HAVE YOU BOUGHT ONLINE
Other than house hold items, my last purchase was motor oil for the motorcycle and Phone Holder for streaming.
Chop Up Radio 