Kid 'n Play
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Entertainment |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Hip hop music, films, television series |
Kid 'n Play is a hip-hop duo hailing from New York City, gaining prominence during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The pair comprises Christopher Reid ("Kid") and Christopher Martin ("Play"), with DJ Mark "DJ Wiz" Eastmond contributing as their DJ. Their talents extended beyond music into the realm of acting.
Musical Journey
The two artists initially encountered each other while performing in competing high school groups—the Turnout Brothers and the Super Lovers—before coming together under the name Fresh Force Crew. Their early recordings in 1986 included the tracks She's a Skeezer and Rock Me. By 1987, they adopted the name Kid 'n Play.
From 1988 through 1991, Kid 'n Play released three studio albums: 2 Hype (1988), Kid 'n Play's Funhouse (1990), and Face the Nation (1991). Their initial management and production were handled by Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor, known for his work with Salt-N-Pepa. Their records combined uplifting lyrics with accessible pop-rap beats. Notable singles featured "Rollin' with Kid 'n Play" (1989), which reached No. 11 on the Billboard R&B chart, "Funhouse" (1990), which topped the Billboard rap chart, and another chart-topping rap hit, "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody." Their performances showcased a youthful image and included signature dance moves such as the Kick Step. Kid was distinguished by his ten-inch-high hi-top fade, while Play frequently sported distinctive eight-ball jackets.
The Kid n' Play Kickstep dance, also called the "Funky Charleston," became synonymous with their act. This two-person routine, first introduced in their video "Do This My Way" and elaborated in "Do the Kid n' Play Kickstep" from 2 Hype, fused elements of the 1920s Charleston with late-1980s new jack swing choreography. The dance gained additional popularity through their film House Party, which featured a dance-off including performers Tisha Campbell and Adrienne-Joi Johnson.
Acting Endeavors
Kid 'N Play appeared in six feature films centered around hip-hop culture, often contributing to their soundtracks. Five of these belong to the House Party series. The initial two installments—1990's House Party and its 1991 sequel House Party 2—introduced then-emerging actors Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell. The third film, House Party 3 (1994), featured the hip-hop/R&B group TLC portraying 'Sex as a Weapon.' Kid 'N Play did not participate in House Party 4 (2001), which was unrelated to the original series. They made a cameo appearance in House Party 5 (2013), illustrating their characters’ achievements since the third movie, and had a silent cameo in the 2023 reboot where their roles were depicted as cult members symbolizing that they had metaphorically "sold" their souls for fame and wealth. Initially, the concept for the first film was intended for DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, but Kid 'N Play took over after rising to popularity.
In 1992, they starred in Class Act, a comedy reminiscent of the House Party films, during which Reid notably wore braids as part of his character's look.
Kid 'N Play also headlined an NBC Saturday morning cartoon titled Kid 'n Play (1990), which portrayed younger versions of themselves while maintaining their musical careers alongside comedic storytelling. The series promoted positive values and featured voice talents including Martin Lawrence. A Marvel comic book adaptation of this cartoon was published for nine issues in 1992. Additionally, they contributed inspirational segments to PBS programs such as Square One TV and Sesame Street.
The duo made an appearance as themselves in Adult Swim’s special Freaknik: The Musical and returned to the House Party franchise with House Party: Tonight's the Night, reprising their original roles as music icons and CEOs of Kick Power Records—a record label introduced in the third film installment.
Post-Duo Endeavors
Following their partnership, Reid pursued acting opportunities, making guest appearances in popular sitcoms such as Full House, Sister, Sister, and Smart Guy. He also took on hosting roles for programs including It's Showtime at the Apollo and Your Big Break. Meanwhile, Martin embraced his faith as a born-again Christian and concentrated on Christian hip-hop ventures. Utilizing his industry knowledge, he established HP4Digital Works, a multimedia enterprise that provides pre-production and post-production services across film, digital media, and live theater. Additionally, he founded Brand Newz, an online publication dedicated to showcasing uplifting stories about community leaders and events. Martin further contributed to academia as an Artist in Residence at North Carolina Central University, where he taught a credited course entitled Hip Hop in Context 101. He also participated as a judge in the 8th Independent Music Awards.
In 2009, State Farm aired a commercial featuring LeBron James performing dances to Kid 'n Play's tracks. That same October, the duo delivered their iconic dance routine during the BET Hip Hop Awards. On February 9, 2010, they were guests on The Mo'Nique Show. Reid appeared briefly in LMFAO's music video for "Sorry for Party Rocking", paying homage to Kid 'n Play's House Party movies.
On July 15, 2015, Kid 'n Play were featured in an interview on TV One's series Unsung. In 2020, Martin acted in six episodes of the sitcom "Church Folks". Most recently, in November 2023, they appeared together in a Progressive insurance commercial titled 'Watch Party'.
Subsequent Musical Appearances
Kid 'n Play celebrated the House Party anniversary with a tour in 2009 alongside fellow artists such as Salt-n-Pepa. On June 23, 2010, they performed "Rollin' with Kid 'n Play" from their album 2 Hype during an appearance on Lopez Tonight.
On February 27, 2012, the pair issued an open letter detailing their upcoming plans. They reunited onstage with Salt-N-Pepa in Brooklyn on July 30, 2012. The duo also made a cameo appearance in the fifth installment of the House Party film series, House Party: Tonight's the Night, released on July 23, 2013.
Kid 'n Play featured in RadioShack's Super Bowl XLVIII commercial titled "The '80s Called" on February 2, 2014. Later, on August 3, 2021, they were announced as performers for Insane Clown Posse's Gathering of the Juggalos festival.
Studio Albums
| Album Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US (Billboard 200) |
US R&B/Hip-Hop | |||
| 2 Hype |
|
96 | 9 |
|
| Funhouse |
|
58 | 11 |
|
| Face the Nation |
|
144 | 27 | - |
Soundtrack Albums
| Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 |
US R&B/Hip-Hop |
AUS | ||
| House Party Soundtrack (various artists) |
|
104 | 20 | — |
| House Party 2 Soundtrack (various artists) |
|
55 | 23 | 138 |
| Class Act Soundtrack (various artists) |
|
— | — | — |
| House Party 3 Soundtrack (various artists) |
|
— | 55 | — |
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart or were not issued in the specified region. | ||||
Albums Not Released
- The Best of Kid N Play: A Sound Investment (2003)
As Primary Artist
| Title | Year | Highest Chart Positions Achieved | Album Name | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 |
US Dance Dance Club Songs |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
US Rap Hot Rap Songs |
NZ Recorded Music NZ |
UK UK Singles Chart | |||
| "Oh Sally"[lower-alpha 1] | 1985 | — | — | — | * | — | — | rowspan=2 Template:Non-album singles |
| "Rock Me"[lower-alpha 2] | 1986 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "She's a Skeezer/All Hail the Drum"[lower-alpha 1] | — | — | — | — | — | Street Sounds Hip Hop Electro 14 | ||
| "Last Night" | 1987 | — | — | — | — | 71 | 2 Hype | |
| "Do This My Way" | 1988 | — | — | — | — | 48 | ||
| "Gittin' Funky" |
— |
— |
53 |
24 |
— |
55 | ||
| "Rollin' with Kid 'n Play" |
rowspan=2 | 1989 |
— |
49 |
11 |
2 |
— |
— | |
| “2 Hype” |
— |
— |
46 |
19 |
— |
88 | ||
| “Funhouse (The House We Dance In)” |
rowspan=2 | 1990 |
— |
27 |
1 |
— |
— | ||
| “Back to Basix” |
— |
— |
69 |
16 |
— |
— | ||
| "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody" |
rowspan=2 | 1991 |
51 | 26 | 1 | 7 | — | — | ||||||
B-sides
| Title | Release Year | Corresponding Lead Single (A-side) |
Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Bonus Bells" | 1986 | "Rock Me" | Template:N/A |
| "All Hail The Drum" | "She's A Skeezer" | Street Sounds Hip Hop Electro 14 | |
| "The Herb Rock Beats" | 1987 | "Last Night" | 2 Hype |
| "Live on Stage" | "Go on, Girl (Remix)" |
Promotional singles
| Title | Release Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Toe to Toe" | 1990 | Funhouse |
Guest appearances
| Track Title | Year | Collaborating Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Fun House" | 1990 | — | House Party Soundtrack |
| "Kid vs. Play (The Battle)" | — | ||
| "I Don't Know" | Salt-N-Pepa | Blacks' Magic | |
| "Announcement of Pajama Jammi Jam" | 1991 | — | House Party 2 Soundtrack |
| "The Christopher Robinson Scholarship Fund" | — | ||
| "You Gotta Pay What You Owe" | — | ||
| "Get It Right" | 1992 | — | Class Act Soundtrack |
| "Simple Simon" | 1993 | — | Rap Rhymes! Mother Goose on the Loose |
| "Two Fingers" | 1994 | — | House Party 3 Soundtrack |
| "Make Noize" | TLC (uncredited) | ||
| "How'm I Doin'?" | — | ||
| "Void" | — | ||
| "Here and Now" | — |
Video singles
| Title | Release Information | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| Energy |
|
Filmography
- Kid 'n Play (1990, animated series, NBC)
- The Earth Day Special (1990)
- House Party (1990)
- House Party 2 (1991)
- Class Act (1992)
- Bodyguards (TV Movie) (1993)
- House Party 3 (1994)
- House Party: Tonight's the Night (2013)
- House Party (2023)
External links
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "lower-alpha", but no corresponding <references group="lower-alpha"/> tag was found
- Articles with short description
- Kid 'n Play
- 1987 establishments in New York City
- African-American musical duos
- Musical duos from New York (state)
- American comedy duos
- American hip-hop duos
- Select Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1987
- Musical groups disbanded in 1995
- Musical groups reunited in 2001
- Musical groups disbanded in 2008
- Musical groups originating from New York City
- Musical groups disestablished in 1995
- Pages with reference errors