NKOTB summer Mixtape Tour with Jersey rap vets is coming to NJ

It's an ultimate throwback summer trek for all of us borderline Generation X/first Millenials.  New Kids on the Block is headlining the Mixtape Tour, with lots of '90s star power: Salt-N-Pepa, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany and NJ natives, Naughty by Nature. The Grammy-winning hip hop trio got started in East Orange.

Along the tour, there's two shows in Jersey: July 2 at the Prudential Center (Newark) and July 5 at Borgata (Atlantic City). The tour also is stopping in Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center (June 27).

The New 'Kids' have been reunited now for over a decade and they've put together some fun bills over the past few years. In my totally biased opinion, this is their best yet, since it's a real feel for what their first-generation fans were listening to at the same time. There's even a new song featuring *all* the tour-mates called '80s Baby.' It's slowly growing on me.

I've already seen nostalgic fans rounding up their squads on social media, planning for a big night out. I recently found some old memorabilia - a giant button, band biography and NKOTB trading cards. I'm still searching for my Ken-sized, Donnie Wahlberg doll, though.

Proud Jersey Girl Erin Vogt’s first reporting gig involved her Fisher Price tape recorder. As a wife and momma of two kiddies, she firmly believes that life’s too short to drink bad coffee.  A fan of the beach, Dave Grohl and karma, in no particular order.

Follow her on Twitter and on Facebook as ProudJersey.

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