| Christopher Martin | |
|---|---|
 Martin (right) with Christopher Reid at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Play |
| Born | (1962-07-10) July 10, 1962 (age 62) |
| Origin | Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | |
Christopher Martin (born July 10, 1962) is an American rapper and actor, who is the latter half of the late 1980s/early 1990s hip-hop/comedy duo Kid 'n Play.
Career
Martin's stage name, Play, is derived from his original MC name, Playboy, which he began using while in a music group, Quicksilver and the Super Lovers, which featured producer Hurby Luv Bug. While performing with this group, Martin met Christopher Reid, who performed as Kid Coolout in the group The Turnout Brothers. When their respective groups dissolved, Martin and Reid decided to perform as a duo. By shortening their nicknames, it would lead to the start of the group Kid 'n Play which featured the pair rapping and dancing together.
With Kid, Play recorded three albums and starred in five hip-hop based comedy films: House Party, House Party 2, Class Act, House Party 3, and House Party: Tonight’s the Night.
After the duo split in 1995, Play became a born-again Christian and focused on Christian hip hop. He is the founder and CEO of HP4 Digital, a pre- and post-production multimedia company for film, digital media, and theater.
In 2010, Play starred as an undercover DEA agent in the independent film The Return.
Play was one of the judges for the 8th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists.
He studied acting at HB Studio in New York City.
Personal life
Play was married to actress/model Shari Headley from May 1993 until they divorced in June 1995. In April 1994, Headley gave birth to their son, Skyler Martin.
Discography
With Kid 'n Play
Albums
- 1988: 2 Hype
- 1990: Funhouse
- 1991: Face the Nation
Acting career
Television
- Kid 'n Play - Self (1990, animated cartoon, NBC)
- Sealab 2021 - Self (2002, Adult Swim)
- Bigger - Julius (2021, BET)
Film
- House Party (1990) – Peter "Play" Martin
- House Party 2 (1991) – Peter "Play" Martin
- Class Act (1992) Michael Charles "Blade" Brown
- House Party 3 (1994) – Peter "Play" Martin
- Rising to the Top (1999)
- Welcome to Durham, USA (2007)
- House Party: Tonight's the Night (2013) – Peter "Play" Martin (cameo)
- House Party (2023) - Peter "Play" Martin (silent cameo)
References
Notes
- Martin, Christopher "Play" (July 10, 2004). "Play: Hip-Hop Icon (interview)". halftimeonline.net. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
- "The Return – Official Trailer (2010)". YouTube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22.
- "The Return". lptfilms.com. LPT Productions. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13.
- "Boston's Own Debbie And Friends Among The 8th Annual Independent Music Awards Vox Populi Winners". PRLog.org (Press release). May 27, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
- "8th Annual IMA Judges". Independent Music Awards. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009.
- HB Studio Alumni
External links
| Kid 'n Play | |
|---|---|
| Albums | |
| Singles | |
| Films | |
| TV series | |
- 1962 births
- 20th-century American rappers
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 20th-century African-American male singers
- 20th-century American male singers
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- African-American male rappers
- American male rappers
- Living people
- American male film actors
- African-American male actors
- African-American Christians
- Male actors from Queens, New York
- Rappers from Queens, New York
- Male actors from Durham, North Carolina
- Musicians from Durham, North Carolina
- American chief executives
- Kid 'n Play