The Cool Kids – Hi Top Fade [Album Stream]
The Cool Kids just cut a sharp new silhouette with “Hi Top Fade”, a 15-track return that’s all muscle—no filler.
It’s their first release on A-Trak’s Fool’s Gold imprint and their first full group project since 2022, clocking in at a tight 45 minutes.
Chuck Inglish and Sir Michael Rocks helped define the late-2000s blog-era blueprint: minimalist knock, flexed wordplay, retro-cool swagger. “Hi Top Fade” doesn’t chase trends; it re-centers the lane they built and polishes it. Think precision fades: clean edges, confident shape, nothing extra. Fool’s Gold frames it as a homecoming for longtime collaborators, and that’s exactly how it plays.
From the jump—“Cigarello Helmets” into “We Got Clips”—the album hits with lean drums, rubbery bass, and space for their voices to pop. The beats feel purpose-built for head-nods and quotables. When the tempo swerves, it’s still on brand: “Foil Bass” goes glossy and propulsive; “Tryin to Get Like You” is smooth without softening the edges. Across the board, the rhythms snap like a perfect taper.
This is a Cool Kids record through and through, but the guest list is smart and surgical: A-Trak & Sango (“95 South”), Seafood Sam (“Banana in the Tailpipe”), Radamiz (“Blade Runner”), Jess Connelly (“Crunch Rap Supreme”), Pink Siifu (“Clean Linen Satin Pillow”), QUiN (“Live Wire”), and Diamond Cafe (“Back Up Off Me”). Nobody hijacks the vibe; each feature locks into the duo’s pocket.
A lot of rap right now is maximal—layers on layers, everything everywhere. “Hi Top Fade” is the counterargument: keep it simple, keep it stylish, and let swagger and sound design do the heavy lifting. The Cool Kids were called “architects” of the blog era for a reason; this record proves their blueprint still works when you execute clean.
“Hi Top Fade” is a crisp lineup from two barbers who never lost their touch. It’s confident, unfussy, and replayable—exactly the kind of album that sneaks into your “most played” because nothing needs skipping. If you’ve been waiting for The Cool Kids to snap back into full form, here it is.
Take a listen below.
