UNDERCOVER
I recently bought the first album by Kid ’N Play, 2 Hype (1988) – mostly because of the hair, I admit, since I really didn’t know anything else about them – and found it to be a really enjoyable record. The cover shot is about as non-threatening as you can get. Allmusic gives the album 4½ stars. with Steve Huey raving: “Accusations of being soft notwithstanding, those qualities are exactly what give their debut album, 2 Hype, its refreshing charm. There isn’t much on the duo’s minds other than friendship, dancing, and dating, and everything stays pretty innocent – Kid even confesses to being shy around girls on ‘Undercover’. If all of this seems safe and lightweight, it’s also a tremendous amount of good, clean fun. Hurby ‘Luv Bug’ Azor’s production keeps things danceable and engaging throughout; the sound is fairly spare, with funky and occasionally club-friendly beats, catchy instrumental hooks behind the choruses, and basic DJ scratching. . . . And even if its sound and style are very much of their time, 2 Hype still holds up surprisingly well, thanks to Kid ’N Play’s winning personalities.”
(September 2016)
