‘Smoove City’ with story and art by Kenny Keil is a graphic novel throwback to a certain time in the 1990s.

Friends Ronnie, Mikey, Vinnie and Ray want to form a band, but with no exposure and no money they are finding it hard. They need a mixtape to get heard. They make one at the mall which has some shady strings attached. More strings come in the form of a record company employee who wants to be a manager. He takes them on tour, but will it make them famous or land them in jail?

I loved the bright colors in the artwork and all the great 90s in-jokes.. The story fits the times perfectly and was fun to read.

Graphic novels have to be very good to capture my attention and keep me invested. This one didn’t. It wasn’t bad, just okay.

I'm a sucker for anything with this many 90s references. I loved the art style and the bright colors. Was the plot super intense? No, but I still loved it, not every graphic novel has to be super serious. I love silly stories like this one and this book was beautiful to boot. I would definitely read more in this universe.

Not my cup of tea, it felt too busy, the colors are too bright . i was excited to check it out.
i couldn't finish it. thank you for the ARC.

For real I don't understand the love for this???? SORRY! The art is really lovely mind you just... the plot was weird... I get it's making fun/reminiscent of late 90s R&B boybands and what not but ehhh... Glad I didn't have to buy it and that I read it while doing other things.

I was initially drawn in by the cover, and this 90s nostalgia bomb didn't disappoint. The art style is bright and happy.

I was drawn to the cover. And This is a good story for anyone who misses Cartoon Network's old shows. It's all humorous, colorful, frantic and brings some moral lessons. I'd like to read more stories in this musical universe. The story is predictable and silly I enjoyed reading it.

Serious mid-nineties vibes. Between the R&B boy band, the specialty mall kiosks, and the spectacular fashions. There is some exploration of the exploitative nature of the music industry, but mostly just a fun little story about a misadventure and eventual success.

My first impression based on the cover: The only reason that I wanted to read this comic eagerly was the Memphis patterns in the background, the fonts, and the character outfits that took me back to the 90s hip!

Description: From the first page to the appendix part, it’s totally lit! It’s a journey of young quadruplets – Raymond (Ray), Ronnie, Mikey, and Vinnie – on their road to be a big-hit contemporary R&B group. It’s all started with Ray’s enthusiasm, ideas, and determination for bringing all of them to the top, after showing them one of the famous groups were been appeared in a Hype Sheet magazine. Then, he brings them to Uncle George’s Karaoke Magic booth for recording their first demo – Roni Time – and bringing the cassette tape to the famous Phat Kat Records. Unfortunately, when they reached there – they got rejected because they’re causing quite a ruckus with a guard (it’s Ronnie, actually) until getting thrown off by a bodyguard. But, their fate changed when Pip Calloway was trying to help them by signing off a record deal contract with Phat Kat Records and offering them a special signing bonus of $50. They really didn’t get (once again, except Ronnie) that he’s exploiting them for his own financial gain! Looking on the bright side, and even though Pip’s a phoney, he makes them succeed like involving with a girl group (which Ray totally objects in the first place) and getting themselves popular in some small stage shows. The saddest part in this comic was, after a terrible fight broke off between Ray and Ronnie, whereas Vinnie’s been in a catatonic state, their reputation plunged and being thrown into the jail in Texas. All the magazines, newspapers, and TV shows were badmouthing them, somehow. But, they granted a special ‘release’ from the jail if they’re agreed to sing (since the song, ‘Roni Time’ was getting hyped in the radio), and so they said ‘yes’ to it. When they got to their mics, Ray apologizes to them for forcing to become exactly what he’d wished for, but they shook it off and told him that because of it, the group wouldn’t become a big-hit. Finally, their fate once again saved by Uncle George, who shows the actual contract to Pip and Laverne Lavalle – the president of the record company – and she’s agreed to sign them – verified – but with two cassingle deal!

Conclusion: The comic artist adds some 90s songs, including Smoove City (their group name) official poster, and some ads (the ones that being appeared in a magazine or a newspaper) on the appendix part.

I got bored whilst reading it, one day when I'm feeling this story more I will most likely attempt again. I lived the art style and colours but I just wasn't drawn into the story.

I'll admit, RnB is not my jam. I've always been more of a rock guy. That being said, when I saw Smoove City, I thought I would give it a chance as it looked like a whole lot of fun. And you know what, I'm glad I did.

The graphic novel follows the rise of an amateur 90s RnB group as they try to navigate the music industry. Along the way, they get caught up in all kinds of misadventures, some being the victim of circumstances while others are of their own making.

Straight away, it oozes with the first half of the 90s. It's full of references to the period from gags around 90s RnB, mall karaoke booths, and how we used to consume our media. These establish the story's world and also allows for some good gags. If you're old enough to remember this period, then there's probably get a hit of nostalgia from it. For younger readers, it will offer a window into how things used to be like.

What also helps transport readers back to the 90s is how it's visually presented. From cover-to-cover, Smoove City uses a bright colour palette that's often accompanied by jazz design and geometric patterns of the era. These visual aspects tie so well into the book because of the way they intersected with music and fashion of the time.

With influences such as Archie Comics and possibly Hey Arnold, Kenny Keil's cartooning is expressive and compliments the 90s aesthetic. It has a bulkiness to it, full of rounded edges, but it's not weighed down by it. As a result, there's a lot of expression through the fluidness of characters motions, and gives them personality and carries the humour.

Smoove City is also very funny. It's full of humour, littered generously throughout with a healthy mixture of comedic dialogue, odd situations, background jokes, and making fun of the 90s. As is the nature of humour, not every joke is going to stick the landing with readers. But considering how many there are, there will be something tickle your funnybone.

As can often be with comedy, the characters are a little one-note. Although, I have a feeling this is by design. If you think of boy bands, especially of the 90s, every member was defined by one trait whether it be the bad boy, the sensitive one etc. It's a commentary on the boy band structure but by giving a character a particular kind of joke that they can own, mixing up the gags.

Overall, Smoove City is a lot of fun. You'll feel right at home if you're a fan of 90s RnB. If that's not your jam, then you'll enjoy the variety of humour.

Thanks to Oni Press for an advance Netgalley of this title, in exchange for an honest review (expected pub date: Oct 20, 2020)--

Break out the Bell Biv DeVoe and Boyz II Men, because author Kenny Keil is taking readers back to the 1990s with his new graphic novel Smoove City--a brightly colored comic honoring the New Jack Swing era, when kids hung out in malls and passed out demo tapes.

The book follows Ray, Ronnie, Mikey, and Vinnie (the band members of Smoove City), as they try to get signed by Phat Cat Records and make it into Hype Sheet magazine. When an intern at Phat Cat wants to impress his tough boss, he pretends to be VP and decides to shape up Smoove City. The boys set out on an unglamorous tour, including plenty of nasty bus rides, small town shows, and jealous fistfights. Can the guys get it together and achieve stardom, or will they flail under the pressure of marketers trying to shape their image? Either way, there will be plenty of tenderoni.

Despite the generally upbeat nature of this boy band narrative, Keil takes the time to tackle tough subjects, like dealing with racist white cops and being in jail. Keil also captures the goofy fun of New Jack Swing, utilizing funny referential dialogue and thickly outlined characters with enough wiggle to do body rolls. So if you're feeling a little nostalgic for the 1990s right now, give Smoove City a read. Or, a listen.

If the following sentence speaks to you on a visceral level, you will love this comic: "What was the name of y'all's lil' group again? Fauxdeci? Wack Street? Phony! Phoni! Phoné!?" There's not much of a plot here and it's aggressively silly, but this is a love letter to R& B music from an aggressively silly time, the new jack swing early 90s. I unashamedly love this music, and the technicolor art and plot and characters that don't take themselves to seriously are fun. Like a Bel Biv DeVoe's hit song 'Poison', there's not much here but it sure is fun.

Thank you to NetGalley, Oni Press, and Kenny Keil for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you are a lover of all things 90s, this graphic novel may just be for you.

Keil's graphic novel starts out with a public access Soul Train type show and to our main characters - Ronnie, Ray, Vinnie and Mikey - better known as sensations Smoove City. Or at least they are sensations in Ronnie's mind, who is brought back to his reality as a waiter with a dream (as the old cliché goes). Ronnie's only hope is to Smoove City to sign to a major label and become famous. They've even got a few songs written. One day while sharing a bare bones pizza, Ronnie surprises the boys by saying they're going to be recording their demo....in the mall karaoke kiosk. Before they know it, they've headed to a record label with stars in their eyes. What will their future hold? Will our boys make it through the music industry alive?

As a child of the 90's, who is nostalgic for all things of my youth, the color and design of Kenny Keil's work was begging for me to pick it up. While a quick read, it is likely to mainly appeal who have that same nostalgia and can catch all the little in jokes. As I only peripherally was into the R&B/hip hop scene of the 90s, I'm sure I missed a handful of things. Give it a whirl if you look at that cover and you're immediately drawn in by the style.

A love letter to New Jack Swing and 90s Black pop culture, Kenny Keil's SMOOVE CITY makes you want to break out the oversized suits, head to the mall, and rock out to some solid beats. The color choices and art style are like a time machine thrusting you right back into that early 90s aesthetic, and it is SO GREAT. The boys at the heart of this graphic novel are so earnest and eager, with a little side of troublemaking (though might that end up being their saving grace? Hmmmm!), and they're just so fun to spend the time with as you read.

Break out the R&B classics and put them on in the background as you take a ride with the boys of SMOOVE CITY, trying their hardest to make it in the music biz!

SMOOTH CITY BY KENNY KEIL
I miss the ’90s and I love the New Jack Swing era; this graphic novel gives me both. Follow a group of poor friends who barely have money to eat every day as they aspire to be the next big boy band. They aren’t ashamed of being poor, they just want to be cool enough to party with the cool kids without being made fun of.

https://bookriot.com/ya-books-about-poverty/

"Kids love you. Their parents hate you. Which makes the kids love you even more! You're urban legends!"


Thanks to the publisher for giving me an eARC in exchange of a honest review via Netgalley.


This is a PERFECT story for anyone who misses Cartoon Network's old shows. It's all humorous, colorful, frantic and brings some moral lessons.
I had so much fun and would love to read more stories in this musical universe.

The 4 protagonists are different and fun. Each has its own personality, and each made me laugh at the way them acted.
It was also nice to see the dynamics between them, with several games and discussions that took place for X reasons.
It is really cool to see the group going through the challenges (some SUPER exaggerated and surreal) to achieve stardom.
On each page they overcame some obstacle and I was happy for them!!!!!!
I really wanted to have more pages so I wouldn't be "abandoned".

The story is predictable and silly, without being something that will mark me forever. But even so I liked it too much to have fun and get out of a literary hangover.
The "villain" in the story is funny and cartoonish like all the other characters.

The art is VERY BEAUTIFUL!!! The line, together with the character design and the palette, made me feel in the city at that time.
Each protagonist has a palette and its variations depending on how they are.


I recommend the comic to anyone who wants to feel a nostalgia for these old Cartoon Network shows, and read something that doesn't require much thought. A light and fun story.

The story has a playlist on Spotify with artists who inspired the writer.

https://t.co/6KNaBzn9NX

Trigger Warnings: Arrest, prison

Representation: Diverse cast, Black MC, Latino MC

The Good

The story was so funny. I found myself laughing out loud the whole time I was reading it. It was hard to put down because of all the shenanigans, it definitely kept me invested the whole way through.

Love the attention to detail. There’s one scene where people are outside of a prison and one of the signs says “Abolish Prisons though” or something along those lines. There are other little gems like that throughout the novel.

Reading Smoove City was honestly such a good time. I enjoyed the characters and the way they interacted with each other. I loved how the boys got themselves into such a huge mess. It was just so much fun to read.

The art style is so cute. It definitely reminds me of 90s cartoons, which is probably the point. It’s a really fun, loose art style.

The Not so Good

It’s a silly story that doesn’t take itself too seriously which is honestly what I needed right now but it may not be for you if you’re not into that. The author/illustrator is white and there isn’t really much mention of the character’s cultures.

All in All

Smoove City is basically an ode to early 90s R & B. It’s funny, lighthearted, and a really good time.

https://educatednegra.blog/

It doesnt support or open after I download the pdf version of it. It's also not showing in my shelf in netgalley and I cant open it to read Please look into the issue and if you can send me the pdf in my mail ID- taniagungunsarkar@gmail.com I cant read the book from here. Please look into the issue

Gentle and humorous ode to the New Jack Swing era of early 90s R+B bands. Great visual style with that sweet 90s color choices. Lots of fun.