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The Retro Kidz - Stompin' Into The '90s

Posted Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:58am PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

I never learned how to Crank That Souljah Boy, or the Batman. I looked almost as bad as Tom Cruise when I tried to do the Yung Joc dance. And I'm cool with this. I haven't been up to date on dances since I was in college nearly 20 years ago. So you have to understand the excitement I felt when I saw this video "New Era" by The Retro Kidz.

The rap group has created an authentic '90s hip-hop video. They rap over a sample of Snap's "The Power," and dress, dance and rhyme like Kid N Play, Big Daddy Kane and Redhead Kingpin.

They are doing all the dances that I used to kill at the college parties and clubs--the Kid N Play Kick Step, the Running Man, and the Whop. (You know, I did actually win a $100 Robocop contest back in 1988 to Rob Base's "It's Takes Two." Sure there were only two other contestants and the applause that named me the winner wasn't impressive, but it was the loudest and that's all that matters.)

In the video, each of the Retro Kidz is styled like a particular '90s hip-hop icon, whether one of the aforementioned rappers, Spike Lee, Rosie Perez or Kwame. Their interpretations are as good as Tina Fey's SNL impression of Sarah Palin. Plus, these guys are super young, from 18 to 22, and hail from Queens, Long Island, Harlem and Brooklyn.

Their nostalgic vibe is what sold BroBot Entertainment head Aamek Richards, who signed them to this indie.

Just watching the "New Era" video made me start surfing for videos from some of The Retro Kidz' obvious inspirations. Take a look some of these classic clips and compare.

20 Comments

1. ErnestP -
1st that vid is FRESH son.

2. Yahoo! Music User -
That video totally brought back some awesome memories of back in the day. The videos and the dances I use to try to copy. Those haircuts are definitely rad! The hairstyles, the clothes, the dance moves, totally makes me miss the good ol' days. Bring back the 90's! LOL

3. George -
Great blog Billy! Saw those dudes on those little MTV shorts...glad they are getting some burn. Song is kinda lame, but the steez is untouchable. Have you seen this girl?

http://tinyurl.com/4x5qyd

GW
The Orig RHKP...

4. Juliet O -
Michael Jackson "I've got the power" video s soooo awesome !!! When s d King of Pop going 2 make a comeback ... PLEASE ?!!

5. Thro Down -
Man, I don't know if I should feel old or young watchin' this. On the real, I'm glad to see the hightop fades and early 90's era style comin' back. I'm cool with that.

Good look right there!

6. Thro Down -
Michael Jackson and "I've got the Power"???? Am I missing something? Whats the connect?

7. Juliet O -
Mr. Thro Down , u should watch d 2nd video w/c s SNAP ( I've got the power ). One of Snap's video has a Michael Jackson - starred video . Unfortunately , when I get back d video s no longer available ... that s what u've been missing .

8. -
Yo MTV raps with Ed Lover, Big Boy and Fab 5 on the weekends. Yum!

9. Marsha T -
In the 80's and early 90's rap ment something to me i love this. now days all they talk about is hoes,drugs and cars.what happen to the music that makes you move? maybe that's why the children of america are so fat Mcdonalds was around when i was growing up but so was rob base

10. Perfect Verse -
Yooooooooooo, that video was perfect, hip hop is definitely dead and that video resurrected the fact that there is some talent who got the concept right. I grew up in the 80's and 90's and my life revolved around music and nothing now except for the conscious rappers can touch that era. RESURECT HIP HOP

11. Yahoo! Music User -
this is cool and all but why go back in time instead of going to future and making something new?

12. mark b -
at least they didn't forget where they came from

13. mommasgurl -
i don't know when this was 'cause i wasn't even born yet

14. smuve -
yo i think this video is sooooooo def and tight a$$ hell (thats that 90's slang)this is what rap misic was and is meant to be i grew up on stuff like this me and my boyz used to hit the house party doing Kid and Play and wearing the phat ropes with the african medaillon's man those were the good day's now all u here is the same beat different rapper talking about the same crap blunts,hoes,and whips and thats why the generation of this day is screwed up

15. smuve -
This is showing respect to all the TRUE HIP HOP LEGENDS that paved the way for this so called hip hoppers out there so much luv to the RETRO KIDZ.do some Digital Underground,some Heavy D and the boyz,do a collab,with Doug E Fresh,the this so called rappers will understand where yall r coming from

16. blackmadonna -
they did a great job bringing back the nineties and thank you for the flashbacks

17. Yahoo! Music User -
Is it time for the humpty dance? Is the overweight lover heavy d back from cryo? Hipity hop y'all.

18. derrick -
that's what this world is missing positive rap...money hoes and clothes is all thay talk about now in hip hop..those videos bring back a lot of good memories

19. SINCERE -
I was in NY recently for the Threshold Underground Music Awards and met the retro kids there. They are doing thier thing.

Out here in Ohio, there is an artist in Cleveland named Lou Draws that is doing the 90's stuff in a more commical way but it is really doing well!he's had like 30k hits on his youtube! It's CRAZY!

I vote let's bring back the 80's and 90's rap all together!

20. Yahoo! Music User -
I saw this video awhile back and i was like WHOA!!! lol i remember the gumby hairstyle and all them dances.. The song was alil wack but it was cool that they brought back the 90's stuff.. Which seems like is comin back in style
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