Christopher Reid (rapper)

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Christopher Reid | image = Kid N Play Shankbone NYC 2010 2 (cropped).jpg | caption = Reid at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|4|5}} | birth_place = The Bronx, New York, U.S. | instrument = | genre = Hip hop | occupation = Rapper, actor | alias = Kid | years_active = 1983–present | label = | past_member_of = Kid 'n Play }}

'''Christopher Reid''' (born April 5, 1964), formerly known as '''Kid''' (shortened from his original MC name, '''Kid Coolout'''), is an American rapper and actor. During the peak of his career with the rap duo Kid 'n Play, with Christopher Martin, Reid was notable for both his seven-inch, vertical hi-top fade and freckles.

==Life and career== Reid was born in The Bronx, New York, to a Jamaican father (1928–2019) and an Irish mother (1930–1973).<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.ew.com/article/1991/11/22/play-kid-n-play | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | first=Meredith | last=Berkman | title=Kid 'N Play Party Down | date=November 22, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BT&p_theme=bt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1114E209ED24D2E0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title=NewsLibrary Search Results}} His mother died in a car accident when he was 9. Following his mother's death, he lived with his father. </ref> He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1982. He also graduated in 1986 from Lehman College in the Bronx with his B.A. in English after first attending Miles College.

He is best known as one half of late-1980s/early-1990s hip hop musical act Kid 'n Play with fellow rapper/actor Christopher "Play" Martin. Reid was particularly notable for his extremely large hi-top fade hairstyle. Reid has appeared on a number of television programs, including ''Martin'' and ''Sister, Sister'', and has served as the host of amateur contest shows, such as ''Your Big Break'' and ''It's Showtime at the Apollo''. Reid tours as a stand-up comedian.

Reid's most recent musical contribution has been writing the theme song to HBO's ''Real Time with Bill Maher''. He also appeared on the VH1 reality magician game show ''Celebracadabra'' in 2008. Pursuing a solo career, he released a music video for a song called "Why Don't You Stay", on which he raps and sings. He appeared in The Asylum's film ''War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave'', a sequel to ''War of the Worlds''.

He has been a guest on ''The Dawn and Drew Show'', ''Comics Unleashed'', New England Sports Network's ''Comedy All-Stars'', and ''Slanted Comedy''.

He played the role of The Rhymer on the TV series ''Supah Ninjas''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/celebrity/christopher-kid-reid-arrested-for-missing-court-dates/|title=Christopher 'Kid' Reid Gets Out of Jail|magazine=People|last=Schwartz| first =Alison|date=August 10, 2011 |access-date=November 19, 2013}}</ref>

He also appears in LMFAO's video for "Sorry for Party Rocking".<ref>{{cite web|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|title=LMFAO Disturb The Peace in 'Sorry For Party Rocking' Video|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lmfao-disturb-the-peace-in-sorry-for-party-rocking-video-504503/|work=Billboard.com|access-date=February 23, 2012}}</ref>

In 2012, he broke into voice-over work in the military shooter video game ''Spec Ops: The Line'', in which he plays Lieutenant Alphonso Adams, part of a three-man squad sent into a ruined Dubai to investigate a signal from an MIA military unit, The Damned 33rd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psnation.com/2012/06/26/review-spec-ops-the-line-ps3/|title=Review: Spec Ops: The Line (PS3) – PlayStation Nation}}</ref>

In an interview on the "Hip-Hop Confessions" podcast, Reid shared that he and Christopher Martin ("Play") were heated about the cancellation of their animated series on NBC. Their anger at the time made their emotions outweigh their business mindset, and they missed out on a major TV deal, which went to Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff and resulted in the hit TV series ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air''. Looking back on the time, Reid admitted that he and Martin failed to see past their wants and consider the bigger picture.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2023 |title=Christopher Reid Recalls How Kid 'n Play Lost Out On An NBC Deal That Went To Will Smith And DJ Jazzy Jeff Instead |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/christopher-reid-recalls-kid-n-190512437.html |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref>

He is a fan of the sports radio station in Dallas "The Ticket" 1310 AM/96.7 FM. He is "guest picker" of sports picks on the station and has guest-hosted "The Norm and D Invasion" with Donovan Lewis.

In 2026, Reid revealed that he'd had a heart transplant in 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2026/film/news/kid-n-play-christopher-reid-heart-transplant-1236653435/|date=February 5, 2026|title=Kid ‘n Play’s Christopher Reid Reveals He Had a Heart Transplant: ‘I’m Urging All of My Fans’ to ‘Get Checked Out’|work=Variety|first=Marc |last=Malkin|access-date=February 28, 2026}}</ref> Later in 2026, Reid released a solo record called, "Tin Man", about the experience.

==Discography== * 1988: ''2 Hype'' * 1990: ''Funhouse'' * 1991: ''Face the Nation''

==Filmography== * 1990: Kid n Play (Saturday Morning Cartoon) * 1990: ''House Party'' * 1991: ''House Party 2'' * 1992: ''Class Act'' * 1992: ''Martin'' - Guest appearance (Season 1, Episode 6) * 1994: ''House Party 3'' * 1996-1997: ''Sister, Sister'' * 1998: ''The Temptations'' * 2001: ''Sealab 2021'' * 2003: ''Pauly Shore Is Dead'' * 2005: ''Barbershop: The Series'' * 2008: ''War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave'' * 2009: ''Hell's Kitchen'' * 2010: ''Freaknik: The Musical'' * 2011: ''Supah Ninjas'' * 2012-2014: ''Black Dynamite: The Animated Series'' * 2013: ''Mad'' * 2013: ''House Party: Tonight's the Night'' * 2021: ''Apple & Onion'' * 2023: ''House Party'' ===Video games=== * ''Spec Ops: The Line'' – 1st Lieutenant Alphonso Adams

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|0717212|Christopher Reid}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Christopher}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American rappers Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century American comedians Category:21st-century American screenwriters Category:21st-century American male writers Category:American male film actors Category:American stand-up comedians Category:Television personalities from New York City Category:The Bronx High School of Science alumni Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American rappers of Jamaican descent Category:Rappers from the Bronx Category:American male television actors Category:Lehman College alumni Category:American male singers Category:American male rappers Category:American male video game actors Category:American male voice actors Category:American male television writers Category:American television writers Category:Comedians from New York (state) Category:Screenwriters from New York (state) Category:Kid 'n Play