Corduroy the Fox Raps About Animals and Emma Stone

Photos by the author.

For this week's Mahal, I walked around Chinatown with the fly musical artist Corduroy the Fox. Corduroy spent most his youth living in the suburbs, where he was the only black kid at his school, and even back then, Corduroy had an eye for style. Today, Corduroy is best known for writing 1,000 words about why Pigeons and Planes should post his song “The Foxes.” Here are some poses Corduroy struck in Chinatown and our conversation about the suburbs, fashion, and rap.

VICE: What was it like growing up in the suburbs?
Corduroy the Fox: Very strange at first. The way people interacted with each other was different—it was a new language I had to learn. Even the parties were different, but at least the only thing you really had to worry about was some drunken jock starting a fight. No one was going to shoot up the place.

How has your quality of life changed since you moved to New York City?
It hasn't changed much other than that I went from living in a house to living in an apartment. I'm glad I eventually moved to NYC, because if I didn't, I wouldn't be here speaking with you.

How did you come up with your rap name?
I actually went through two other names, but it all started at my boys' home studio in Merrick, New York. I was about 14 years old, and I was trying my hardest to pick a creative rap name, so in a weird and random way, I came up with Corduroy. I couldn't spell it fast enough, so I was like, Fuck it. I'll go by Black Moonz. As the years went on, people thought I got the name from this 90s rap group Black Moon, and I got sick of it, so I started going by Corduroy Moonz, and now it's Corduroy the Fox. It came into play around last winter when I was in Vermont recording with my fox bros, Rob Linen and Kashmere. It popped in my head that I should have a foundation named after an animal that you never hear a lot about.

How would you describe your relationship to fashion?
I have a pretty decent fashion sense. I wear high-end clothes and streetwear. The love for fresh shit will always be there.

Why are you obsessed with Emma Stone?
She's bad as fuck. She's god—she's everything. Also, she's amazing at what she does. I remember watching Superbad for the first time, and I was like, She doesn't have an ass or tits, but she's dope in her own way. I recorded a song titled after her name, “Time Zone (Emma $tone,” but it's horrible shit. I need to take it off the net.

Aside from trying to win over Emma Stone's heart, what are your plans for the future?
To keep making dope music and try to get the foxes movement off the ground.

Check out Corduroy the Fox's video for “The Foxes.”

@RedAlurk