Camp Lo came onto the scene with a coolness unlike others. Their delivery came with a smoothness and a confidence which laid the groundwork for their classic debut album Uptown Saturday Night in January of 1997. Most people remember their single "Luchini" with it's hard hitting horns and unforgettable vintage 1970s feeling music video. "Luchini," actually dropped in the final months of 1996 and the album just missed out on being included in one of the best years of Hip Hop. Camp Lo has many other great songs to mention but this one here is about one of my favorites.
"Coolie High," was released in 1995 but held over into 1996 thanks in part to its inclusion on The Great White Hype soundtrack (another great 90s soundtrack by the way). When I first came across the the song it was during a viewing of BET's Rap City. The episode was probably loaded with other soon to be classics but the video stood out to me thanks in part to its smoothness and the filtered look that many 90s music videos had. They had a feel to them that set them apart from videos that would come around in the Hype Williams era during the latter half of the 90s. There's no better way to say it but Coolie High was just, well, cool. The song sits at the top with other favorites in my life and anytime I hear it, it comes with a calmness and relaxing vibe that makes me miss the days of mid 90s Hip Hop music. With music comes memories. This one represents a time when Hip Hop straddled a line of street and mainstream. Where a song made for the radio still had credibility and after its time had passed it maintained its quality throughout the years ahead.
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