Results for Kid 'n Play
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Artist:

Kid 'N Play

Kid 'N Play

Formed:
1987

Disbanded:
1993

Representative Songs:

"Gittin' Funky," "Rollin' With Kid 'N Play," "Do This My Way"

Representative Albums:

2 Hype, Kid 'n Play's Funhouse, House Party

Similar Artists:

Influences:

Followers:

Kef

Performed Songs By:

E. Johnson
  • Genre: Rap
  • Active: '80s, '90s
  • Major Members: Kid [3], Play

Biography

Among the first groups to tame rap's hardcore mentality into a positive, message-oriented music suitable for teens and mass audiences, Kid 'n Play debuted in 1988 with the platinum album 2 Hype, which the duo later spun into a deal involving films and a Saturday-morning cartoon show, the first involving a rap act. Though their recording activity became limited during the gangsta-dominated '90s -- 1991's Face the Nation was their last album -- the group managed two sequels to their original House Party film, as well as the 1991 teen flick Class Act.

Kid (born Christopher Reid; Bronx, NY) and Play (born Christopher Martin; Queens, NY) first met while performing in rival high school groups (the Turnout Brothers and the Super Lovers, respectively) and initially teamed up as Fresh Force. Play's former bandmate, Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor, became the duo's manager and signed Kid 'n Play to Select Records in 1987. Despite the predominance of James Brown samples during the mid-'80s, Azor gave 2 Hype a production job more rooted in disco and pop; thanks to the near-Top Ten R&B hit "Rollin' with Kid 'n Play," the album eventually reached platinum status. Though many rappers were more successful at the time, Kid 'n Play became film stars due to their clean-cut image -- Kid's six-inch "eraserhead" hairstyle, which seemed outrageous to white audiences, was vindicated by his honest, well-scrubbed face. The film House Party became a moderate success upon its release in 1990, and the duo even managed a proper LP that same year, Funhouse. During 1991, two Kid 'n Play films appeared: a sequel to House Party and Class Act. That same year, the album Face the Nation showed a growing reluctance to pander to pop audiences, but the duo was already entrenched in their style. A second sequel to House Party appeared in 1993, and little has been heard from them since. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
 
 
Wikipedia: Kid 'n Play
Kid 'n Play
Kid (left) displaying his trademark high top fade, and Play, in a promotional picture from their 1992 film Class Act.
Kid (left) displaying his trademark high top fade, and Play, in a promotional picture from their 1992 film Class Act.
Background information
Origin Flag of the United States New York City, U.S.
Genre(s) Hip-Hop, Old school rap
Years active 1987 - 1993
Label(s) Select Records
Former members
Christopher "Kid" Reid
Christopher "Play" Martin

Kid 'n Play were a hip-hop and comedy duo from New York City that were most popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The duo is comprised of Christopher "Kid" Reid (born April 5 1964 in The Bronx, New York City) and Christopher "Play" Martin (born July 10 1962 in Queens, New York City). Besides their successful musical careers, Kid 'n Play are also notable for branching out into acting.

History

Music career

Kid 'n Play recorded three albums together between 1988 and 1993: 2 Hype (1988), Kid 'N Play's Funhouse (1990), and Face the Nation (1991). Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor, the producer for Salt-n-Pepa who had been a member of the hip-hop group "The Super-Lovers" with Play, served as Kid 'n Play's manager and producer during the early portion of their career. All three albums focused upon positive lyrics backed by pop-friendly instrumental tracks. Among the group's most successful singles were 1989's "Rollin' with Kid 'n Play" (#11 on the Billboard R&B singles chart), 1990s "Funhouse" (#1 on the Billboard rap singles chart), and "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody" (another #1 rap hit). The group's stage show highlighted their teen-friendly personalities, and dances such as their trademark, the Kick Step.

Kid's visual trademark was his hi-top fade haircut, which stood six inches high at its peak. Play regularly wore eight-ball jackets. It is rumoured that New York Yankees shortstop, Derek Jeter was inspired by Kid and still wears a spinoff of his trademark hair-style to this day...[citation needed]

During the height of their popularity in early 1991, the duo had a short-lived "beef" with Vanilla Ice. The lyrics "You better hit bulls-eye/the Kid don't Play" from his hit "Ice Ice Baby" was a direct shot at the duo. The group addressed the "dis", on the track "Next Question", from "Face the Nation." The song was also used to respond to comments made by Luther Campbell and criticisms they received after comments from an interview were taken out of context.

Kid 'n Play were also notable for their dance known as "The Funky Charleston", influenced by the Roaring Twenties popular dance move, first seen in their video "Gittin Funky" [1]. The "Funky Charleston" featured the "New Jack Swing" [2]-aerobic dance moves typical of late 1980's urban street dancing (see also "Groove Me" [3] by Guy). Unlike the original Charleston, "The Funky Charleston" requires two participants instead of one. This dance also was made quite popular in the movie "House Party", in which Kid and Play have an impromptu dance competition with Tischa Campbell and A.J. Johnson[4] in one of the most memorable moments of this movie.

Acting careers

In addition to their music, Kid 'N Play starred together in four successful motion pictures, all of them based around hip-hop characters and themes. The duo also appeared on the soundtrack albums to these films. Three of the Kid 'n Play films were entries in the popular House Party series. The first two House Party films (1990's House Party and 1991's House Party 2 also featured the then-relatively unknown Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell, later stars of the TV sitcom Martin). House Party 3 featured hip-hop/R&B girl group TLC as the music group "Sex as a Weapon".

Class Act, produced in 1992, was a comedy in the same vein as the House Party films. For that film, Kid cut his trademark high-top fade (the haircut is used as a plot device in the film).

Kid 'n Play even had their own NBC Saturday morning cartoon, Kid 'n Play, for one season from 1990 to 1991. On the show, Kid 'n Play were regressed to teens, but their recording careers remained intact, as did their comic personas. The real Kid 'n Play appeared in live-action wraparounds of the cartoons, but voice actors (again including close friend Martin Lawrence) took over for the animated versions of the duo. The show stressed positive role models, teaching kids how to get along and stay out of trouble. A 1992 Marvel Comics comic book based on the cartoon lasted nine issues. They also shot some segments for the PBS math show Square One TV.

It has been stated on Kid's MySpace that there will be new film from the duo around late 2007.

After the duo

Kid and Play amicably split during the mid-1990s. Kid continued acting, guest starring in a number of television sitcoms, most notably Sister, Sister, and hosting shows such as It's Showtime at the Apollo and Your Big Break. Play became a born-again Christian, and devoted his time to working on Christian-based hip-hop music projects. Play eventually took his industry experience and founded HP4Digital Works, a multimedia company that provides pre and post production for film, digital and live theater productions.[1] He is also founded Brand Newz, an online syndicated magazine focusing on positive community leaders and events.

Discography

  • 1988: 2 Hype
  • 1990: Kid 'N Play's Funhouse
  • 1991: Face the Nation

Filmography

References

  1. ^ "Hip Hop Icon Series: Play". Halftimeonline.com.

External links


 
 

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Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ® , a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kid 'n Play" Read more

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