‘Rhyme Time Television’: Family-friendly hip-hop

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Dino Dino (dee-no Dye-no) posing with his vintage sound equipment for the Rhyme Time Television 80's themed posters. Rhyme Time Television is a new YouTube channel with music made of 80s synthesizers and drum machines. (Photo courtesy of Rhyme Time Television)
Dino Dino (“dee-no dye-no”) posing with his vintage sound equipment for the “Rhyme Time Television” ’80s-themed posters. Rhyme Time Television is a new YouTube channel with music made with ’80s synthesizers and drum machines. (Courtesy of “Rhyme Time Television”)

Provo artist Scott “Rhyme Time” Knopf released his new family-friendly hip-hop YouTube variety program, “Rhyme Time Television,” this week. It features music, games, celebrity appearances and throwback hip-hop.

Knopf said the idea for the show was inspired by one of his influences, Weird Al Yankovich.

“I love the movie ‘UHF,’ and I’ve always wanted to do my own version of it. That’s kind of what ‘Rhyme Time Television’ is all about,” Knopf said.

The show: Rap, “Jurassic Park” actors and pillow fights

Donnie Bonelli, floor manager of RTT, said their vision for the show was to be an “’80s slumber party,” with ’80s imagery, including electric fonts, posed posters of all the band members, pajamas worn by all band members on stage and, in typical slumber-party fashion, a pillow fight.

“The absurdity of it all was hilarious,” said Jacob Hall, a Provo musician who plays in local bands Lake Island, Bat Manors and Strange Family. “The sketch comedy parts and musical performances were engaging and had great energy. Everyone let loose, and the whole experience was a lot of fun, especially the pillow fight.”

Not only did the live taping have music, dance and a pillow fight, but it had celebrity appearances including Jay Whitaker, known for his comedy acts in the greater Salt Lake area, and Whit Hertford, who played the young boy in “Jurassic Park.” Hertford talked about his career plans, which include making his own film with “Napolean Dynamite” actor Jared Hess.

Knopf said he includes unique elements like celebrities and games because of the nature of the Provo music scene.

Rhyme Time Television performing for their live audience at Muse Music in Provo in May. Donnie Bonelli, floor manager of RTT said their vision for the show was to be an "'80s slumber party," with '80s imagery, including electric fonts, posed posters of all the band members, pajamas worn by all band members on stage and, in typical slumber-party fashion, a pillow fight. (Photo courtesy of Rhyme Time Television)
“Rhyme Time Television” performing for its live audience at Muse Music in Provo in May. (Courtesy Rhyme Time Television)

“Provo has really high standards for music, as they should,” Knopf said. “There’s a great scene here, but there’s lots of competition. You’ve got to put in a lot of effort to break out, something different, something extra, something worth talking about. So I decided to do a variety show, because I don’t know anybody who’s doing that.”

The music: ’80s synthesizers, drum machines and vinyl scratching

The music itself sounds like it came right out of the ’80s, which was by design. Bonelli said, “We all grew up in the ’80s. We wanted to celebrate our own youth, so we give all of our music an authentic ’80s feel.”

The group consists of three main members: Dino Dino (pronounced “dee-no dye-no”) on the electric drum machine and vinyl turntables, This Guy on the retro keyboards and Rhyme Time on lead vocals.

The band plays theme music throughout the episode, using synthesizers and drums to create fills and themes to go with the dialogue. The band shone during the performance of its hit “This Town,” a throwback to childhood memories and mischief, telling listeners to “shake off the shackles of detrimental maturity” using lyrics like, “The floor is made of lava, but the couch is cold, and I see Spiderman swingin’ from the telephone poles.”

“This Town” will be on “Rhyme Time Television’s” debut album, which will be available on Knopf’s birthday, Aug. 8, after releasing two more episodes of the YouTube program.

 

 

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