Kid ‘n Play to be inducted into the National Hip-Hop Museum’s Hall of Fame

By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com

The National Hip-Hop Museum will conclude the summer by inducting a new class of Hall of Fame honorees, which include Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin of Kid ‘n Play, at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre on Aug. 23. The induction ceremony will be followed by a concert headlined by Kid ‘n Play. 

Other inductees include Fredrick “Kool DJ Red Alert” Crute, Dana “Dane” McCleese, Kwamé Holland, Toi Crystal “Sweet Tee” Jackson and Anthony Holloway, who goes by the stage name DJ Hollywood. Jungle Brothers, the hip-hop and house music fusion trio made up of Nathaniel Hall, Sammy Burwell and Michael Small, will also be inducted into the National Hip-Hop Museum’s Hall of Fame. 

“We’re certainly humbled by the honor and we’re looking forward to being a part of the celebration. We’ve been running the race with our heads down for a long time because that’s what we were conditioned to do. But now we can look around and look at what us and our peers have been able to accomplish,” said Reid. 

The induction will also include the National Hip-Hop Museum’s (NHHM) first ever weeklong pre-induction celebration in partnership with Downtown DC Business Improvement Program and the Woolly Mammoth Theatre. The week of free festivities will include an open mic freestyle session called “MC Monday” on Aug. 18 and will conclude with a “Grown Folks Friday” dance party and pop-up hip-hop shop on Aug. 22. 

“Bringing a week-long activation, interactive exhibit and The National Hip-Hop Honors to the Historic Woolly Mammoth Theatre is an amazing partnership that we’re excited about,” said NHHM founder and collector Jeremy Beaver via press release. “We’re grateful to the Downtown DC BID for helping to bring some of the biggest Hip-Hop icons to the nation’s capital to be honored and perform.”

The induction ceremony will commence at 7 p.m. EST on Aug. 23 and the concert will be from 8 to 10 p.m. EST. General admission tickets will be available for $50 and VIP tickets are priced at $75. 

The performance will also celebrate the 35th anniversary of “House Party,” a movie Martin and Reid starred in 35 years ago. Martin highlighted the growth and impact hip-hop has had as one half of the genre’s first and most recognizable acts.

“What we have now and what has transpired throughout all these decades is hip-hop influencing the entire culture of the world. You might’ve come for the music but you stayed for the fashion, the political discourse of a Public Enemy. You’re here for the fun of a Digital Underground and a Kid ‘n Play,” said Martin. “You’re here for the dance moves and the endless slang. Over the years, hip-hop has become a mindset and has become literally intertwined with the culture of both people of color and young people.” 

The platinum-selling duo played a hand in making the genre mainstream and also bolstered the profiles of other Hollywood acts such as Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campell, who starred in the critically-acclaimed sitcom “Martin.” In recognition of their influence, NHHM will cement the legacy of the artists also known as “The Fresh Force Crew.” 

“It means everything,” said Martin. “It’s very humbling. We also want to recognize and salute Jungle Brothers, Kwamé, Dana Dane, Sweet Tee and everyone else on the bill. Excuse the pun, but it’s going to be a pretty good house party.”