Koch Records To Release Children’s Hip-hop CD

Koch Records will release Too Hoot to Handle, the debut album from kid-friendly hip-hop outfit The Hootz on May 24.

Life-long fans of hip-hop, brother-and-sister creative team Scott Hunter Smith and Cheryl Anita Smith discovered that as new parents it was next to impossible to find true hip-hop music that was aimed at children. Realizing there was no credible children’s music out that reflected modern production values and hip-hop beats, they created The Hootz, a quartet of hip-hop owls who could teach educational and cultural fundamentals through music.

"I went searching for a children's music album that I could feel good about playing for my kids and enjoy musically,” said Smith. “When I could not find one, my sister and I went to the drawing board, and came up with The Hootz as a way to combine my experience as a father with my professional life as hip-hop executive."

In addition to four original songs, the all-owl band offers a series of re-imagined children's favorites including “London Bridge Is Falling Down," "This Old Bird," "This Old Man” and "Itsy Bitsy Spider."

Created in collaboration with producers Eddie F (Heavy D & The Boyz, Angie Stone) and Darren Lighty (Queen Latifah, Aaliyah), The Hootz is comprised of sister-and-brother owls Rhythm and Rhyme, Jamaican owl Reason and group leader MK (Master Key), offering kid- and-parent-friendly music.

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