I'm going to invent a word just to prove a point: This is the "funnest" rap albummaybe even album, periodyou'll ever hear. The record is called "Funhouse" for a reason. Besides the fact that Kid 'n Play had just finished filming their first successful House Party movie (we won't mention the dreary sequels), the concept of Funhouse includes skits in between the songs of Play and Kid just goofing off in the studio like children. Just before a song where Play has to admit, "He sings, raps, and dances like I've never seen," their recording engineer jokes to Kid, "You know, he really does make you sound like a superhero!" Highlights include the title track, which was featured in their movie; "Back to Basics," a joyous celebration of old-school hip-hop, making this album a perfect candidate on this list; and "Decisions," a somewhat serious tale about being forced to make incredibly difficult choices, like whether or not to save someone's life after they were trying to hurt you. At the height of their fame, Kid 'n Play clearly had a ball with these songs, and you will too.
Michael Perone has written for The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, The Island Ear (now titled Long Island Press), and The Long Island Voice, a short-lived spinoff of The Village Voice. He currently works as an Editor in Manhattan. And he still thinks Michael Keaton was the best Batman.
