Kid 'N Play

Real Name:
Chris Reid, Chris Martin
Profile:
Christopher "Kid" Reid & Christopher "Play" Martin.

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 3 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" (No.11 on the Billboard R&B singles chart), 1990s "Funhouse" (No.1 on the Billboard rap singles chart), and "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody" (No.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.
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". The "Funky Charleston" featured the "New Jack Swing" aerobic dance moves typical of late 1980's urban street dancing. 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 Tisha Campbell and A.J. Johnson in one of the most memorable moments of this movie.
Aliases:
Members:
Variations:
history / edit

Artist

Shortcut Code: [a21633]
Data Quality Rating: Correct

Shopping

X 659 For Sale
Search for this:
 eBay .uk
 Amazon .uk .de

Jump To

edit genres sort

Discography

Releases:
Last Night (12", Promo)   Cooltempo 1987
2 Hype (CD, Album)   Cooltempo, Chrysalis 1988
Back To Basix (12")   BCM Records 1990
Tracks Appear On:
July 87 - Previews (LP) Last Night DMC 1987
October 88 - Mixes 1 (12") Gittin' Funky DMC 1988
Mr. Magic's Rap Attack Volume 5 (Comp) (2 versions) Rollin' With Kid 'N Play Profile Records 1989
Rap Wit' Cha 2 (CD) 2 Hype K-Tel International (USA), Inc. 1990
Mixx-it 49 (12", Promo) Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody Mixx-it 1991
Back To Rap Volume 2 (CD, Comp) Back To Basics BITE Records 1992
Class Act (Music From The Motion Picture) (LP) Get It Right Giant Records 1992
Tommy Boy Presents: Hip Hop Essentials 1979-1991 Volume Ten (CD, Comp) Do This My Way Tommy Boy Entertainment 2007
Funkymix 1 (3x12", Comp, Promo) Rollin' With Kid 'N Play Ultimix  
Product Placement Breaks 2 (2xLP) Last Night (Instrumental) One 29 Recordings  
edit

YouTube Videos

Kid N Play - Gittin Funky