Kid N Play: Hip Hop Culture

Kid ‘n Play, was a hip hop duo that has left their mark in the culture’s history. Composed of Christopher “Kid” Reid and Christopher “Play” Martin. They not only made a successful music career, but also branched out into acting and even the clothing industry. The hip hop duo aided in the diversity of the hip hop culture. They help revolutionize the genre through their party anthems, energetic dance moves and overall success that helped spread their fame and aided in the building of Kid ‘n Play’s as well as hip hop’s renown. The iconic pair met when they were young in New York City, during their teenage years at a party in Queens. Initially naming themselves The Fresh Force Crew when they formed the duo. However their rise to fame was due
series based off Kid ‘n Play was created and aired in 1990. “The group attained mass commercial success through their music and movies” (NewsOne). Kid ‘n Play brought a different vibe to hip hop. Their music stood out against many in the genre at the time due to the energy radiating from them and the songs they created. “They helped move a culture by spreading their positive energy throughout the industry to birth not just a whole new form of music, but a subculture” (NewsOne). The new type of music they were bringing was not typically seen in the hip hop culture during that time. What was called Fun music was something pretty new to the public. By making songs that could appeal to the vast majority of people and the mass public could like is an important aspect that assisted
Furthermore, Play’s style, his clothing caused a big impact. Their clothing, and hairstyle caught the attention of many and their mark in the history of hip hop. Kid ‘n Play were trend setters. Their apparel and especially their hair ,and even more so, their dance style left an impression on the community. It was not atypical to see people with the high-top fade, Kid’s trademark. Or even the hair style Play had, and later when he and Kid began to twist their hair. You can still see a resemblance of that hairstyle today. IV Plai, A high-end clothing line Play created made some impact on style. “The first check Play received in the business was for a Salt-N-Pepa design” (Unsung). “By the early 1990s Kid ‘n Play were putting their stamp on popular culture through music, T.V., and film” (Unsung). They introduced a new style not typically seen. They helped change the genre by their energetic songs and dance moves, which was not a common thing to see in the hip hop artist associated with the Golden Era of hip hop. In conclusion, Kid ‘n Play left a lasting impact on the culture of hip hop. By bringing in a new style to help diversify the culture and bring attention to hip hop as a result of making music that majority of people could love, listen and even dance