Over the next year the band has tentative plans to release bimonthly singles and a new mixtape. Aside from occasional haters (Morris: "Like, every four months we get a cat that's like: 'Fuck them niggas!'") things seems to be going swimmingly.

Before CMY, the guys were all sort of flying solo and, in some respects, they still are. Morris and Stuart hit the open-mics, and Smith and Young have projects outside of the group. In fact, Young just released a single, "Caught My Eye," produced by the Detroit crew the Olympicks. But Cold Men Young is the focus, like a brotherhood, and they pour all their resources into it.

Another thing worth noting is that when they're all together, there's something that makes you want to know about them. They're impossible to ignore.

"We're part of the Voltron, man," Morris says. "The individual cats kick mad ass. But as Voltron, you can destroy everybody. That's what it all comes down to."

Cold Men Young performs Thursday at the Belmont Bar, 12818 Joseph Campau; 313-871-1966.

> Email Kent Alexander