Speaking from the root of it all, New York, C. Masino, aka Gustapo and Joseph Genovese, or simply Genovese, lay down hard rap and spit their outer-borough street sagas of hustle, trust, honor, respect and loyalty. Genovese, a Yonkers native, and Gustapo, of Queens, have known each other since birth and have each spent a decade in the rap game. As members of their new duo, FIRST COUSINS; Genovese and Gustapo set sights on surpassing their past street success and moving their music to the masses from their team that was born with the sit-down.
At the time of their birth Genovese and Gustapo's fathers were close friends and ran the streets together. Though they remained friends, the families had lost touch and it wouldnt be until twenty years later that theyd meet up again.
The grandson of Joseph Genovese, the founder of the Genovese legal-drug retail chain, Genovese the mc knows a thing or two about putting in work. Genovese put his name in the game in the mid-1990s as an Italian-American boy-wonder who appeared on numerous DJ Clue mixtapes. In 1996, Genovese cut the now Clue-cult classic "REVOLVE LIKE THE DOORS" with his junior-high school friend STYLES P of the LOX. Even the late-great NOTORIOUS B.I.G was impressed with the young Genovese. Before his death in March of 1997, Big Poppa was interested in having VESE as a part of BIGs Junior Mafia thing. In June of 1999, Genovese inked on to Universal Records and was working towards a January 2001 release. His story appeared over the course of 6-months in publications like The Source, XXL and Black Beat. In the end, however, Genovese was released from his contract with less than a month to go before his debut MY AMERICA was to be released.
Cody Masino, better known in his neighborhood as Gustapo is a smooth spitter who handles his hustle on and off the mic with ease. The Queens native-mc has spent years on the underground in NYC. Originally, Gustapo was a member of the group NATURE BORN who earned exceptional street credit with their lone album 1999. The project featured the underground classic The Sit-Down featuring Genovese which is still circulating on some mixtape scenes today. That song set the standard for the music Genovese and Gustapo would continue to make together. Soon after its release, the other half of the Nature Born team, B.Rockwell, was sent to serve sentence in a Federal prison. Upon his incarceration, Gustapo set-off solo, and went on to release numerous street hits. The song "J.F.K." a no hook story and "WHATS YA MIND ON" a southern style spitfire. A better known remix of Credence Clearwater's "DOWN ON THE CORNER" received numerous spins on N.Y's Power 105.1 courtesy Dr.Dre and N.Y.C's Hot 97.1 "DRAMA HOUR" hosted by the "DRAMA KING" DJ KAY SLAY.
The First Cousins debut album, "THIS AINT FRIENDS...ITS FAMILY", will be released on ILLSEED Entertainment and distributed through EMI in the Spring of 2008. The album will feature artists such as JOELL ORTIZ, UNCLE MURDER, BIG KUNTRY of P$C, ALI VEGAS, CORMEGA and many more.
SLAM ONLINE ARTICLE
WWW.SIXSHOT.COM INTERVIEW
" OH NO " FIRST COUSINS ft. REKA the SAINT
Three/21 Launches "First Cousins" For Ali Vegas
Rich Soil Entertainment and Three/21 present the premiere of the “First Cousins†music video featuring Ali Vegas, Siah Me’z and First Cousins.
Produced By: Rich Soil Entertainment - Asylum Records - Three/21 Films
Directed By: Rik Cordero
three21media.com
FIRST COUSINS PERFORMING LIVE @ B.B. KINGS
GUSTAPO (of FIRST COUSINS) and EAGLE in "25TH HOUR"
