Kid Koala Celebrates Iconic ’90s Hip-Hop Reunion Night

A Night Of 90s Legends

Canadian turntablist Kid Koala lit up Instagram after catching a rare triple-header of golden-era hip-hop talent. In a post on April 23, he wrote, “SO RAD to witness 3 of the most influential groups do their thing LIVE tonight! 1) @thepharcydelives 2) @wearedelasoul 3) @cypresshill with @djlord !” (https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ57yK8Owhp/). Fans instantly rallied around his excitement as he celebrated two West Coast collectives and one East Coast trailblazer on the same bill.

Pharcyde’s West Coast Vibes

First up were The Pharcyde, pioneers of alternative West Coast hip-hop since their 1992 debut. With Antwon “Slimkid3” Kelly, Tre Hardson, Imani, and Fatlip onstage, they delivered classics like “Passin’ Me By” and “Runnin’.” Their playful, jazz-infused flows still shine nearly three decades after Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde.

De La Soul’s Timeless Flow

Next came fellow Native Tongues members De La Soul. Fresh off a series of sold-out shows celebrating their 35th anniversary, Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove and Maseo honored their legacy with “Me Myself and I” and deep cuts from Stakes Is High. Kid Koala—who once joined Deltron 3030 alongside fellow innovators—applauded their genre-bending sound and positive messaging.

Cypress Hill & Dj Lord’s Grand Finale

Capping the night, Cypress Hill stormed the stage with DJ Muggs, B-Real and Sen Dog behind the decks. They tore through “How I Could Just Kill a Man” before handing off to Public Enemy’s DJ Lord, who dropped an incendiary mix of classic PE cuts and reggae-tinged breaks. The crowd went wild as Lord spun into “Rebel Without a Pause,” proving that turntablists still hold the power to reshape a live show.

Beyond The Turntables: Kid Koala’s Creative Universe

While he’s best known for four acclaimed solo albums on Ninja Tune, Eric “Kid Koala” San has branched into graphic novels, film scores and live animation. Earlier this year, he debuted his Space Cadet animated feature at France’s Annecy International Animation Festival, blending illustration and turntable wizardry on a big screen (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ4htC-uUgv/). Back home in Montreal, he’s also been hosting sold-out “Music to Draw To” livestreams, inviting fans to sketch along to new beats.

By tagging three crews that shaped hip-hop’s golden era, Kid Koala reminded us all why 90s flow remains evergreen. He may be plotting his next animated project or globe-trotting tour—yet nights like this show he never forgets the genre that set him spinning.

Through every scratch and sample, Kid Koala lives and breathes that live-show energy. After witnessing three legendary acts in one lineup, he’s more inspired than ever—and so are we.

Reporter

Ratika Pai

 

Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance, education, and lifestyle.

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