Beats for Your Old Backpack: The Cool Kids Return, But Sonically Haven’t Aged a Day

The Cool Kids was always a duo I liked, but since their reunion, I haven’t really tuned in. They were a group I was into when I was young, and then I simply left them there. I enjoyed work from both Sir Michael Rocks and Chuck Inglish separately since then, but just hadn’t checked back in with the crew. Their album, Hi Top Fade, caught me at a time when I’m listening to everything and enjoying Hip-Hop with more open ears than ever, so I was ready to jump back in.

One thing I had to do while listening was almost switch my brain and remind myself who The Cool Kids are and what styles they pursue. Initially, when “Cigarello Helmets” hit, I both enjoyed it but also slightly worried their 2025 style was something I’d grown out of. Chuck Inglish’s beats can be somewhat simple; there are times I like them, and other times they don’t connect for me. There’s a nostalgic vibe at times that, for me, doesn’t always mix well with the modern era of Hip-Hop. But once my brain flipped and accepted the sound, I was in.

Sir Michael Rocks is a dope and capable rhyme flipper. But, similarly to Chuck’s beats, sometimes the lyrics and content feel too simple. It seems like a hard balance: keeping that Cool Kids style while growing up and incorporating more mature content. Toward the second half of the album, it sonically gets more “adult,” and the beat style changes, but that’s kind of the problem. The more serious-sounding songs were all the ones I was less into, and the blend of the classic style with the more mature sound later clashes for me. Instead of feeling melded together, there are two separate sounds here.

Not to come off too harsh—I did enjoy it, and I’m glad to have The Cool Kids back and to be checking in again. Personally, this isn’t flawless, and in 2025, The Cool Kids is more like mood music for me. I have to be in the mood for a fun, bouncy, and sometimes simple sound and lyrical style. And I have those days, for sure. Yet, even then, the second half of this album switches styles, so you’d have to be willing to switch your mood halfway through the listen.

Standout Tracks: “Dang!,” “Foil Bass,” & “95 South”

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (7/10)