KID ’N PLAY
Kid 'n Play is an American hip-hop act from New York City that was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The duo was composed of Christopher Reid (born April 5, 1964) and Christopher Martin (born July 10, 1962) working alongside their DJ, Mark “DJ Wiz” Eastmond. Besides their successful musical careers, they are also notable for branching out into acting. (More from Wikipedia)
I recently bought the first album by Kid ’N Play, 2 Hype (1988) – mostly because of the hair, I admit, since I really didn’t know anything else about them – and found it to be a really enjoyable record. The cover shot is about as non-threatening as you can get. Allmusic gives the album 4½ stars. with Steve Huey raving: “Accusations of being soft notwithstanding, those qualities are exactly what give their debut album, 2 Hype, its refreshing charm. There isn’t much on the duo’s minds other than friendship, dancing, and dating; and everything stays pretty innocent – Kid even confesses to being shy around girls on ‘Undercover’. If all of this seems safe and lightweight, it’s also a tremendous amount of good, clean fun. Hurby ‘Luv Bug’ Azor’s production keeps things danceable and engaging throughout; the sound is fairly spare, with funky and occasionally club-friendly beats, catchy instrumental hooks behind the choruses, and basic DJ scratching. . . . And even if its sound and style are very much of their time, 2 Hype still holds up surprisingly well, thanks to Kid ’N Play’s winning personalities.”
* * *
As far as I know, none have been to Biloxi yet, but many of the early rap and hip hop artists have begun hitting the oldies circuit; and several came through Charlotte while I was there this summer. I couldn’t find the line-up for that show; but on November 12, 2016, a joint concert with Vanilla Ice, Salt-N-Pepa, Kid ’N Play, All-4-One, and Coolio will be at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro.
(September 2016)
* * *
Since I am down to a quarterly schedule rather than a monthly schedule, my annual list is a lot shorter, so I will try listing all of the people that I have discussed in some depth rather than just the Under Appreciated Rock Band and the Story of the Month. They are all punk rock bands of one kind or another this year (2015-2016), and the most recent post includes my overview of the early rap/hip hop scene that an old friend, George Konstantinow challenged me to write – probably so long ago that he might have forgotten.
September 2016 – 1980’s punk/rap band LIGHTNING STRIKE; Story of the Month on Patti Smith; also, Hamilton, School of Rock, MFSB, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Bob Dylan, Run-D.M.C., Aerosmith, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, the Fat Boys, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Kid ’N Play, MC Hammer, Rick James, Vanilla Ice, Blondie / Deborah Harry, Salt-N-Pepa, the Sugarhill Gang, Nile Rodgers / Chic, Ravales.
(Year 7 Review)
