| Play with Toys | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Basehead |
| Cover: | Basehead Play with Toys.jpg |
| Released: | 1992 |
| Genre: | Alternative hip hop |
| Length: | 40:59 |
| Label: | Imago |
| Producer: | Michael Ivey |
| Next Title: | Not in Kansas Anymore |
| Next Year: | 1993 |
Play with Toys is the debut album by American alternative hip hop group Basehead. It was voted one of the top 50 albums of 1992 in Q magazine,[1] and listed as number 43 in NMEs top albums of 1992.[2]
The music style of Play with Toys fuses elements of rock, blues,[3] funk,[4] hip hop,[5] pop,[5] psychedelic[6] and reggae,[7] and was described as an alternative hip hop "cult favorite".[5] David Jeffries described Play with Toys as "slacker rap".[8] According to Michael Ivey, "There are hip-hop elements in there, but if a hardcore hip-hop fan bought it, they might be disappointed".[7] Ivey also stated that Basehead's music "doesn't have the expected samples and sounds." The lyrical themes of Play with Toys focus on diverse subjects, including alcohol and marijuana use,[3] depression,[8] philosophy, politics, and relationship breakups. Francis Davis wrote that Ivey's lyrics "[subvert] both rock music and gangsta-rap conventions."[3] The instrumentation of Play with Toys was created largely with live instruments rather than samples, which differentiates the album's sound from that of mainstream hip hop.[9] Instruments were altered with studio techniques for effect,[9] and Ivey altered the pitch of his voice for sketches in which he voiced the friends of the album's protagonist. Ivey's vocals mix singing and rapping.[10]
Rolling Stone reviewer Kevin Powell wrote that "Without being preachy, Basehead's unconventional style challenges listeners to get beyond their basic instincts and open their minds, search their souls."[10]