Today marks the 30th anniversary of the debut of "2 Hype" by Kid 'N Play

OH MY GOD, HI!!!!!!!

I can't go half a year without listening to this album. It is very good, not overly long, feels good, and it jams. The mixing/mastering/production on this is miraculous considering the sampling technology at the time.

New rap albums are like a chore to listen to. If you managed to listen to all of Migo's DOUBLE CD, then you are something of a saint.

I used to enjoy their House Party movies back in the day...

Before apple music playlists, ipods, and burned cds, there were actual MIXTAPES. My dad had a dubbed cassette copy with "2 Hype" on side 1 and "The Great Adventures of Slick Rick" on side 2. This was in heavy rotation on my little cassette player Even with all of the cultural shifts in hip hop music, their style never got corny or stale to me. Even though this album and "House Party" were years apart, back then, even when each year was so clearly defined, that whole timeframe kinda bled together. This was when artists could let an album marinate for a year or two. These guys and that entire Idolmakers/Select Records camp made so much fun, energetic music, with videos and performances to match it.

Kid N Play took a lot of flack from the rappers of their day (mostly hardcore rappers) because of their clean cut image but these brothers could rap. They were real lyricists and they don't get enough credit for that. And while you could always count on them to make enjoyable family/radio friendly hits, these dudes could get hardcore as well. Kid VS Play and Jailhouse Rap from House Party would surprise many. Hip hop was blessed to have Kid N Play and they should never be treated as a punchline considering their contributions.

"Do This My Way" was, is, and will forever be MY JAM!!!!

Have you heard their Run-D.M.C. remake cover from 1986? I first heard it on a taped radio show from Mr. Magic & Marley Marl: "She's A Skeezer" which they would mix right after "My Adidas".

They appeared on Drink Champs in Summer 2018.