Hailed three years ago as leaders of rap's latest new school, this easygoing Chicago duo are just now getting around to releasing their full-length debut. But if the Cool Kids aren't quite as buzzy as they once were, their skills are tighter than ever. Rappers Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks are a pair of mellow charmers, trading good-- humored boasts about cars and clothes—and, remarkably, holding their own alongside heavyweight guests like Ghostface Killah ("Penny Hardaway") and Bun B ("Gas Station"). Inglish's work as the primary producer behind the album's head-cracking beats and sleek electro flourishes is even more impressive.

Listen to "Penny Hardaway": 

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“Time to Pretend”

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”