Summary
- Coolio's iconic theme song for Kenan & Kel defines
- 90s pop culture with catchy beats and nostalgic references.
- Kenan & Kel's mature humor and Coolio's involvement set it apart from other kids' sitcoms of the time.
- Coolio's '90s legacy includes memorable TV cameos, with Kenan and Kel recalling his funny appearance on All That.
The Kenan & Kel theme song is a memorable tune thanks to Coolio's beats and how it captures the essence of the '90s. The Nickelodeon sitcom ran for four seasons and starred Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell as the titular characters. A popular comedy about Kenan's attempts to get rich quickly and Kel's inevitable ruination of his plans, the series has remained in the pop culture conversation longer than other similar shows of the time thanks to Kenan's long career on SNL and the revival of the pair's Good Burger series with Good Burger 2.
There was always something more mature about Kenan & Kel that elevated it above other live-action kids' sitcoms like Clarissa Explains It All, Salute Your Shorts, and Disney fare like Flash Forward. Part of that may have been because of rapper Coolio's involvement in the theme song for the series. Artis Leon Ivey Jr., or "Coolio", was one of the premier '90s artists with "Gangsta's Paradise" and "Fantastic Voyage". Though Coolio passed away in 2022, he leaves a long legacy, including the consummate '90s theme song.
What Happened To Kel Mitchell?
After rising to fame in the Nickelodeon comedy series Kenan & Kel and All That, Kel Mitchell has continued acting while also exploring new interests.Coolio's Kenan & Kel Theme Song Is Full Of '90s Pop Culture References
"Aw, Here It Goes" Feels Like The Theme Song For Nickelodeon & The Entire Decade
Every episode of Kenan & Kel begins the same way, with Kenan and Kel, in character, speaking to the audience in front of a red curtain about the upcoming episode. The talk would always end with Kenan detailing a complex scheme, only for Kel to exasperatedly complain, "Aww here we go again!" Echoing the sentiment, Coolio begins the theme song "Aw, Here It Goes", a moment later with that same line. Coolio raps while Kenan and Kel dance and pose around Universal Studios Hollywood.
Like similar rap music videos of the '90s, such as Tupac's "California Love" and Beastie Boys' "Sabotage", the camera cuts between the trio hanging out in a car surrounded by adoring fans as well as them performing on stages, again surrounded by fans. Coolio even compares the friends to notable '90s icons like "Magic and Kareem", "Siegfried and Roy", and "Penn and Teller", firmly planting them in the era.
Catchy, easy to sing along to, and coming right after the must-watch intro that would help contextualize the ensuing episode, "Aw, Here It Goes", holds the title for best '90s theme song. Considering Kenan, Kel, and Coolio climb around on the iconic Universal Globe, sit in a Nickelodeon-orange sofa, and end the song with, "Nick na Nick, Nick na Nick, Nick, Nick," the Kenan & Kel song feels a little like the theme for the whole channel.
Coolio Had Tons Of Movie & TV Cameos In The '90s
Kenan & Kel Particularly Remember The Rapper's Appearance On All That
Coolio appearing in Kenan & Kel was not completely out of left field considering all the cameos the rapper did in the '90s. The Grammy-winning rapper popped up in All That, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Charmed, and The Nanny, making him recognizable to even those who had not heard his music. And His appearance on All That was particularly memorable for Kenan and Kel.
In an interview with Complex News, the pair talk about smelling marijuana for the first time when Coolio came on set,
"I remember Coolio stunk it up... We're like, 'What's that smell?'"
It wasn't until a few years later that the kids in the cast realized the rapper was enjoying himself while at Nickelodeon Studios. It was probably best he didn't offer to share with the young comedians. His supply of undeniable talent as an artist and his decade-defining Kenan & Kel theme song were more than enough gifts.