In March of this year, the classic movie House Party turned 25, igniting a hilarious and nostalgic trip down Memory Lane for Heads and movie buffs. A progenitor of the Hip-Hop Comedy canon, the movie starred Christopher “Kid” Reid and Christopher “Play” Martin, a Rap duo also known by their stage name, Kid ‘N Play. Along with Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, John Witherspoon and others, Kid ‘N Play incorporated facets of Hip-Hop culture like dance and fashion on the silver screen in a way that unified audiences across the country through the universal language of laughter.
Outside of their film franchise (the duo also starred in House Party 2 and 3 in the early ’90s), Kid ‘N Play originally made significant contributions to the culture through music, beginning with their 1988 debut 2Hype. With Kid ‘n Play’s Funhouse (1990), and Face the Nation (1991), they created a legacy for themselves based on positivity, unbridled energy, and a general sense of whimsy that was infectious. They scored a number-one hit with the party anthem “Funhouse” and with their hi-top fades and upbeat dance moves (anybody remember the Funky Charleston?), the duo were an unstoppable force in the forging of an identifiably distinct Hip-Hop aesthetic.
Now, a quarter of a century later, the two will be featured in an upcoming episode of “Unsung,” a music-documentary series that airs on TV One. In anticipation, the two sat down with TV One guest host Jeff Johnson for a brief but enlightening conversation about their upcoming episode and what their legacy to Hip-Hop was, in their own words. Check out the video to hear their conversation and to catch a sneak peek of the Kid ‘N Play “Unsung” episode, which airs tonight (July 15) at 8pm/7pm CST.
By Bonita /Ambrosia For Heads
