KID 'N PLAY

Christopher "Kid" Reid and Christopher "Play" Martin made upbeat rap, coordinated dance, and comedy parts of one act. With Hurby Luv Bug Azor and the Idol Makers circle, they carried that act from records and tours into film.

DJ Wiz, Mark Eastmond, joined them in 1988. His cuts and scratches were part of their records and live shows, and he toured with the duo through the 1990s.

From neighborhood crews to Kid 'n Play

Kid and Play came out of connected Queens hip-hop crews. Play and Hurby had performed together in the Super Lovers. Kid joined the Turnout Brothers, another local rap group formed within the same circle of DJs and MCs. The two crews competed but shared friends and a neighborhood music scene. Hurby and Ron "Amen Ra" Lawrence recalled those early groups in Jay Quan's Idol Makers history.

Kid and Play joined forces as Fresh Force before adopting the Kid 'n Play name. A 1990 Gavin Report profile traces their early singles, their move to Hurby as manager and producer, and their signing with Select Records. The duo said they were drawn to Hurby because he let them take part in shaping the whole project. That partnership gave their humor, rhymes, and stagecraft room to develop together.

Kid 'n Play's official history also remembers Salt-N-Pepa as an important part of their early circle. Play credits the group with giving them a platform while they were still establishing themselves.

Records and the Kick Step

The duo released 2 Hype in 1988, followed by Kid 'n Play's Funhouse in 1990 and Face the Nation in 1991. 2 Hype and Funhouse each earned gold certification. Their official history recalls national touring in 1989 and shared bills with Public Enemy and Heavy D in 1990.

The Kid 'n Play Kick Step became their signature dance: the two faced each other, linked a leg, and kicked outward in rhythm. They even recorded "Do the Kid 'N Play Kick Step" for 2 Hype. The dance reached film audiences through the party dance battle in House Party, and LA Phil's artist biography traces later appearances of the step in music videos, television, and advertising.

From records to film

In Reginald Hudlin's House Party (1990), Kid and Play brought their rhymes, dance routines, and comic timing to a story about Black teenagers gathering for a night of music. The AFI catalog credits Hurby Azor and the Invincibles on three songs performed by the duo in the film.

They returned for House Party 2 (1991) and House Party 3 (1994), and starred in the school comedy Class Act (1992). The films gave a rap duo leading roles across a run of mainstream comedies. The Library of Congress selected the original House Party for the National Film Registry in 2022, recognizing its place in American film history. Kid and Play also appeared in the 2023 House Party revival.

Cartoon and comic

Kid 'n Play also reached Saturday morning television with an NBC animated series in 1990. The duo appeared in live-action segments, while voice actors, including Martin Lawrence, performed the animated parts.

Marvel Comics followed with a Kid 'N Play comic series in 1992. It ran for nine issues and included DJ Wiz as a character, extending the group's music and comedy into print.

Television and later work

The duo recorded a math rap for Square One TV and appeared in a 1991 Sprite commercial. They reunited on screen for a 2014 RadioShack Super Bowl commercial.

Kid and Play later launched The Fun House with Kid 'n Play, a podcast built around conversations with fellow hip-hop artists. Their official history also notes Kid's acting appearances and Play's work teaching hip-hop history and developing media projects.

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography