From The Scoop: A Trip Down 'Hip Hop Cartoon' Lane

From the February 16 issue of Gemstone Publishing's The Scoop:

At the dawn of the 1990s, hip hop as a musical genre was rising to the height of its mainstream popularity. Many rap artists were tapped to endorse products in print and television, a trend that continues strongly today.

In addition to endorsements, the more family-friendly artists were given the opportunities to star not only in live action vehicles tailored to their personas, but animated fare bearing their likenesses as well.

Kid 'n' Play, a popular rap duo who had already experienced big screen success with the first film in the House Party franchise, were the first rap act to receive their own Saturday morning cartoon. In 1990, Kid 'n' Play debuted on NBC to mixed acceptance. The musicians voiced themselves in the series, which cast them as teenagers. They also appeared in live action wraparound segments between the animated shorts. While the show only lasted one season, Marvel published a comic book based on the duo in 1992. Nine issues were released.

Hammerman, which cast pop rapper MC Hammer as himself with magical dancing shoes (which had the ability to talk and move on their own) that transformed him into a superhero, debuted in 1991 on ABC. Only thirteen episodes were produced before the series was canceled.

The attempt to create a sort of "hip hop cartoon" genre pretty much ended after the cancellation of Hammerman. However, late last year, Andre 3000 (one half of the hip hop duo, Outkast) teamed with Cartoon Network to produce Class of 3000, a series wherein Andre voices a character named Sunny, who teaches a music class in his hometown in Georgia.

Though other hip hop artists have been rumored to have series in the works, including Ice Cube and David Banner, none have materialized.

Even so, thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you can check out some vintage footage from Kid 'n' Play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfDKJyTzYaE and Hammerman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGAn5JX9Jtc. Class of 3000's opening can also be found there at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzHX7MyifDg.

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