KID ‘N PLAY

Christopher “Kid” Reid, originally from the Bronx, and Christopher “Play” Martin from Queens, New York, met in the 1980s while part of rival hip-hop crews: The Turnout Brothers and The Super Lovers. Eventually, they formed their duo under the name The Fresh Force Crew. In 1986, they recorded tracks like "She's a Skeezer," "All Hail The Drum," and "Rock Me" on Sultra Records. By 1987, they had changed their name to Kid 'n Play.

Kid 'n Play recorded three albums together between 1988 and 1991: 2 Hype (1988), Funhouse (1990), and Face the Nation (1991). Super Producer Hurby "Luvbug" Azor, known for his work with Salt ’n Pepa and a former member of The Super Lovers, became their manager and producer during the early portion of their career. All three albums focused on fun lyrics backed by catchy, upbeat instrumental tracks. Among their most successful singles were "Rollin' with Kid 'n Play," which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, "Funhouse," which hit #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart, and "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody," another #1 rap hit. Their stage performances showcased their teen-friendly personalities and included the famous Kid ’n Play Kick Step. Kid’s visual trademark was his high-top fade haircut, while Martin regularly wore unique custom-made jackets.

Acting Careers

In addition to their music, Kid 'n Play starred together in four feature films centered around hip-hop culture. They featured prominently in New Line Cinema’s House Party series, which included two successful sequels: House Party 2 (1991) and House Party 3 (1994). The franchise helped launch the careers of several stars, including Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, and Queen Latifah. In 1992, Kid and Play took on leading roles in Warner Bros’ hit feature Class Act, where Reid famously traded his high-top fade for dreadlocks, which served as a plot device in the film.

The duo even had their own NBC Saturday morning cartoon, which aired for one season from 1990 to 1991. The show portrayed Kid and Play as teenagers, maintaining their musical careers and comic personas. Live-action segments featuring the real Kid and Play wrapped around the animated episodes, emphasizing positive role models and teaching kids how to get along. A Marvel Comics series based on the cartoon lasted for nine issues, and they also made appearances on PBS's Square One TV and Sesame Street.

After The Duo

Reid continued acting, guest-starring in various television sitcoms, including Full House and Sister, Sister, and hosting shows like It's Showtime at the Apollo and Your Big Break. He was introduced by comedian Bill Maher on The Oprah Winfrey Show as one of the comedians to watch. Kid is also known for creating the theme music for Maher’s HBO show Real Time and for the Martin Lawrence sitcom. Martin became a born-again Christian, devoting his efforts to Christian-based hip-hop music projects. He founded Playground Solutionz, a multimedia company providing pre- and post-production for film and live events. He is a celebrated, self-taught documentarian and has served as a professional in residence at several universities, including Florida A&M University and North Carolina Central University.

Christopher Martin received the 2007 New York International Film Festival Award for “Best Full-Length Feature Documentary” for his work on Welcome to Durham. He has also earned Grammy and Stellar Award nominations for his contributions to Taking the Gospel to the Streets and the documentary Holy Hip Hop the Movie. Currently, he is completing three documentaries: “Can Hip Hop Go To School?,” “... AND iDANCE,” and “The Marching 100,” along with a hip-hop talk series titled “Architects of Hip Hop” featuring Kenny Gamble.

In 2009, State Farm released a commercial featuring LeBron James doing the Kid ’n Play Kick Step. Numerous artists, including Jay-Z, Chris Brown, and Beyoncé, have incorporated the Kid ’n Play Kick Step in their videos and performances. The duo has made appearances on shows like the BET Hip Hop Awards, The Mo'Nique Show, and Lopez Tonight, performing their hit "Rollin' with Kid 'n Play." They were featured in RadioShack's "The 80s Called" Super Bowl commercial in 2014 and highlighted on TV One's Unsung in 2015, which became one of the top ten episodes of the series. On February 21, 2016, they appeared on Oprah’s Where Are They Now?

Currently, Kid 'n Play are enjoying a successful run on the “I Love The 90’s” tour, performing at over 50 dates this year, along with individual performances across the country.