The Cool Kids

So, I have these fond memories of when hip-hop was shiny & new to me. It was over 20 years ago when I first heard the likes of Run DMC, Eazy-E, NWA, The Fresh Prince, etc.... I have been an all-around lover of hip-hop ever since.

I have noticed over the years that a lot of artists try to jump on the latest bandwagon trend. Does anyone ever wonder why the Beastie Boys & Run DMC have the same rhyming style? Das Efx had their career somewhat taken from them by some who wanted to imitate their style. Once that happened they felt they couldn't keep doing it because everyone else was doing it. The trend of crack-rap that was started by Raekwon of Wu-Tang and Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. & later followed up by the likes of 50 Cent, Lil Wayne & every other rapper from the last 15 years would lead me to believe that everyone is either selling crack or they are all just copying because it is a commercial success. We all know money talks. In the rap industry it speaks louder than most because it is so publicized.

Those are the things that make a group like Chicago's Cool Kids so great. They are bucking the trend full on. They are making great music and getting some great publicity out of it. They are doing something completely out of the norm, though... They make music that is new & creative instead of the next platinum guaranteed album. This is an album that has the feel and the flavor of a late 80's classic. The production feels vintage with a pinch of a Pharrell or a hyphy feel to them. Super bass heavy and funky.

The rhymes are just as good. You can tell these guys have no one to impress but themselves and they seem to enjoy making the music, which I can't say about too many artists. They brag about playing Sega Genesis for heaven's sake! From the starter "What Up Man" and it's slow but somewhat hypnotic flow, the album flows perfectly all the way through. My favorites are Black Mags (the ode to bicycle wheels), 88 (like a throwback to when I first started listening), Gold & a Pager (dope Ice Cube sample on the hook), & Jingling (the use LL Cool J's Jingling Baby is exquisite).

This is the breath of fresh air that I need every once in a while. By no means are the Cool Kids doing something completely original, but they execute with perfection. As stated earlier, it sounds like an 80's throwback with a little 00's flavor. They are definitely paying homage to artists of a past era, but they have harnessed their own style to go along with it.

90 out of 100 for me.

Black Mags

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b34U3-CutuU]