Jordan Birnbaum

Host

Kid 'N Play, House Party & Really Tall Hair

May 10, 2013·141 visitors

Christopher Reid

Cohost

Stage· 96 messages

May 10, 2013

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:00 AM

MR. REID, I PRESUME?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

just a sec folks

Christopher Reid · 1:02 AM

I be in tha house

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

nice

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

welcome everyone - quick word if you're new to Tawkers

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:04 AM

The banner below explains how to participate. By "liking" and "listening" you become part of the Tawk

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:04 AM

And a quick teaser - if we have time at the end, we're going to draw a School of Rock like blackboard of hip hop

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:05 AM

So getting started, Chris, you met Christopher (Play) and obviously some history was gonna get made. What was the vibe like when you first met?

Christopher Reid · 1:06 AM

we actually grew up together in Queens NY...round the corner from one another...the music came later

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:07 AM

what was happening musically around you guys that got you going

Christopher Reid · 1:08 AM

hip hop was just starting to take hold in NYC....there were rap crews popping up all over the place....for guys that couldn't sing it was perfect

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:09 AM

well I know firsthand that wasn't you...

Christopher Reid · 1:10 AM

I didn't think I could sing back then....but I was into poetry so being a rapper suited me

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:10 AM

So what made you decide you guys were gonna join forces. And did the hair come before or after that decision?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:10 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“Where did the tall hair idea come from?!”

Christopher Reid · 1:11 AM

we were always together so we decided to become a group....the hair came shortly after....who the hell knew?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:12 AM

Did anyone ever try to talk you out of it?

Christopher Reid · 1:13 AM

No...but people were not receptive at first...I got laughed at alot

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:13 AM

How did you sleep with? Did you have to like hang your knees over the end of the bed so there was room for the hair?

Christopher Reid · 1:14 AM

it wasn't that difficult...I learned from black women how to sleep with a fancy hairdo....verrry carefully

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:15 AM

Obviously it has become one of the most iconic images ever. What are your favorite instances of seeing other people try to sport it, or seeing photoshopped and such?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:16 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Sudy

“Kid! I'm star struck. I watched your movies many many times growing up!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:16 AM

★ Spotlighted from David Kaufman

“And I'm pretty sure Jordan tried to get that high fade at some point during high school...”

Christopher Reid · 1:17 AM

it's pretty wild....I can appreciate all the young people that wear that style now....looks good on all the ballplayers too

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:17 AM

So was there a special sense of pride when Iman Shumpert made the greatest dunk in Knicks playoff history last night?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:18 AM

You heard me Jon Starks

Christopher Reid · 1:19 AM

Hah.....both dunks were sick....but everytime Shumpert does something good it's like I did it too-according to SportCenter

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

here's a good question

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

★ Spotlighted from David Kaufman

“I know that Chris (Kid) and Chris (Play) have very different educational backgrounds -- Chris (the one who's here) graduated Bronx Science and has a degree in English and Chris (the one who's not here) dropped out of HS - was that a plus or minus?”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:20 AM

All right - do you prefer your hair doo on Bert or Marge Simpson?

Christopher Reid · 1:21 AM

Definitely Bert...back in the days I did a song with The Count...Sesame Street put a hi-top on him too

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:22 AM

All right - now about the dance move? Did that come before House Party, or was it created then?

Christopher Reid · 1:23 AM

we had our dance routines already from being on rap tours...we were ready made for HouseParty when we showed up

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:24 AM

So was that your first acting gig?

Christopher Reid · 1:24 AM

my first acting job was House Party...I hadn't done anything prior to that

Christopher Reid · 1:24 AM

just music videos

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:25 AM

All right, before we go there, I have to know. Which was cooler? Having LeBron do the Kid 'N Play in that commercial, or having Usher teach it to Blake Shelton the other night on The Voice

Christopher Reid · 1:26 AM

Well, when LeBron did it I made alot of money.....I do appreciate Usher though...I've known him a looooon time

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:27 AM

All right - so House Party. I mean, wasd it obvious that in 20 years it would be honored at The Tribeca Film Festival?

Christopher Reid · 1:28 AM

I can't believe that people are still digging House Party, my hair, our dance after all these years....very humbling actually

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:29 AM

My biggest question about House Party is when ISN'T it on?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:30 AM

What did Robin Harris (who played Kid's dad and died shortly after filming) mean to you?

Christopher Reid · 1:30 AM

Hah....this individual has got his residuals...

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:30 AM

So was House Party also the beginning for Martin Lawrence?

Christopher Reid · 1:31 AM

he had previously been in Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing"....we gave him alot more to do in our film....he was great as Dragon Breath

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:32 AM

Always made me laugh so hard!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:32 AM

So what are some great fan stories? what do they tell you about House Party?

Christopher Reid · 1:33 AM

Overall, people remember House Party as an important part of their youth...it crossed lots of ethnic lines as well

Christopher Reid · 1:34 AM

lots of people did the Kid n Play dance at their high school talent show

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:34 AM

nice

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:34 AM

so what's easier to remember - lyrics or lines?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Gary Shapiro

“Why didn't Usher pick a more prestigious name for himself... like maitre D' or concierge?”

Christopher Reid · 1:35 AM

lyrics are easier....cause I wrote them....I still forget my lines to this day-very frustrating

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:36 AM

So you cut your hair for Class Act, right? Was it traumatic?

Christopher Reid · 1:37 AM

I had my hair twisted into dreads....it was my choice...by then I was bored with the hi-top fade

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:38 AM

By Class Act were you a movie veteran?

Christopher Reid · 1:39 AM

every movie I've been in I've had a first time director....by my fourth film I knew as much or more than they did

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:40 AM

How about your Saturday morning cartoon? When's the last time you watched it and does it hold up?

Christopher Reid · 1:41 AM

all my shit holds up!!!....just kidding...the cartoon was special because Play and I were both cartoon nuts as kids

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:41 AM

was there a comic book too?

Christopher Reid · 1:42 AM

yeah we had a Marvel comic book as well....that was cray

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

All right - so Kid 'N Play ran its course. CVan you tell us the story how you ended up on the path to stand up?

Christopher Reid · 1:45 AM

Kid n Play continues on....but we both wanted to do some individual projects...we always knew we would do more sotuff together

Christopher Reid · 1:45 AM

Bill Maher and Tommy Davidson urged me to become a standup comedian and I agreed to try it

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:46 AM

That's quite the coaching corner. Were you a natural? And when's the first time you performed on TV?

Christopher Reid · 1:47 AM

the first time I did standup was on Oprah...Maher brought me on....I was quite nervous but I got thru it

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:48 AM

doesn't every comedian debut on Oprah?

Christopher Reid · 1:49 AM

I know....but I kinda caught the bug after that...2nd best decision I ever made

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:49 AM

All right - so Kid N Play is having quite a resurgence. When you guys appeared on the BET awards the crowd went ballistic. Does that feel as good as it looks?

Christopher Reid · 1:50 AM

Very exciting....but it's hard to do the Kid n Play with a boner

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:51 AM

what's your favorite news story right now?

Christopher Reid · 1:51 AM

I'm digging my man Charles Ramsey....hero and McDonald's aficionado....gotta love him

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

I'm not sure if people realize you wrote the Real Time theme, or that you're into politics. What's your biggest political bugaboo?

Christopher Reid · 1:54 AM

I get frustrated with the Right Wing....always hating on Obama....I hope things get better for my 3 kids in the future

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:54 AM

shameless plug - what college is your daughter currently attending?

Christopher Reid · 1:55 AM

ha ha....she's a freshman at Cornell-which I hear is a fairly decent skool

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:56 AM

All right - last question. When are you going to form a soul band? What are you going to name it? When does House Party become a Broadway Show?

Christopher Reid · 1:57 AM

ha ha....if I ever do the band it will named Sweetwater Clifton....I think House Party would make a great Bway musical...above my pay grade though I fear

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:57 AM

dude - I want people to know how you sing - can you post a link to that video the director made?

Christopher Reid · 1:58 AM

I am not a powerful Broadway impreasario...I'll collect my resids and smoke out

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

hey - are you performing in an hour?

Christopher Reid · 1:59 AM

I'll try and post it.....yep, I have a standup show in East LA tonight...it's Kevlar optional

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

dude, stay low to the ground

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

and try not to offend anybody

Christopher Reid · 1:59 AM

yessir...and yessir

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

all right -we didn't make the blackboard, but I had a blast. Thank you so much, Chris. It means the world to me.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

★ Spotlighted from Trey Williamson

“We love you Kid! This guy is a such a genius and an icon!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jason Cohen

“Anybody else watching house party right now....or just this loser”

Christopher Reid · 2:00 AM

you were right bro...this was fun....REAL TAWK

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:01 AM

hip-hop blackboard to come? you play the role of Jack Black...

Christopher Reid · 2:01 AM

I'm down....that flick made alot of $$$$

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

and with that, thank you everyone for coming. If you're arriving after-the-fact, click the "top" button in the upper left corner to get your bearings.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“Im watching Class Act!”

Christopher Reid · 2:03 AM

MUCHAS GRACIAS Y'ALL

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

Chris - your designation as top-5 favorite people in my world remains quite secure.

Christopher Reid · 2:04 AM

I'm on the rise mayne

Forum · 22

Forum· 22 comments

141 visitors

David KaufmanMay 10, 2013, 12:53 AM

First!

David KaufmanMay 10, 2013, 12:54 AM

I never really understood why that was supposed to be so impressive, but I see it all the time and figured I'd try it out... I don't really feel any different. Maybe I didn't do it right.

Blake IanMay 10, 2013, 12:59 AM

Second!

Blake IanMay 10, 2013, 1:09 AM★ Spotlighted

Where did the tall hair idea come from?!

Jordan SudyMay 10, 2013, 1:11 AM★ Spotlighted

Kid! I'm star struck. I watched your movies many many times growing up!

David KaufmanMay 10, 2013, 1:15 AM

My grandmother did the same thing...

David KaufmanMay 10, 2013, 1:15 AM★ Spotlighted

And I'm pretty sure Jordan tried to get that high fade at some point during high school...

David KaufmanMay 10, 2013, 1:17 AM★ Spotlighted

I know that Chris (Kid) and Chris (Play) have very different educational backgrounds -- Chris (the one who's here) graduated Bronx Science and has a degree in English and Chris (the one who's not here) dropped out of HS - was that a plus or minus?

Blake IanMay 10, 2013, 1:18 AM

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/01/21/sports/YKNICKS2/YKNICKS2-articleInline.jpg

Gary ShapiroMay 10, 2013, 1:27 AM

Why didn

Gary ShapiroMay 10, 2013, 1:28 AM★ Spotlighted

Why didn't Usher pick a more prestigious name for himself... like maitre D' or concierge?

Blake IanMay 10, 2013, 1:31 AM

RIP Robin harris... Viva la bebe's Kids!!!

Rachael WorkmanMay 10, 2013, 1:46 AM

How does performing stand up compare to performing on screen? Is it more thrilling? More anxiety producing?

David KaufmanMay 10, 2013, 1:48 AM

Well, that's quite different from my first time doing standup!

David KaufmanMay 10, 2013, 1:53 AM

Warming up my typing fingers now...

David KaufmanMay 10, 2013, 1:55 AM

Maybe now, but in the late 80s they let anybody in...

Gary ShapiroMay 10, 2013, 1:58 AM

Chris has a killer soul voice

Trey WilliamsonMay 10, 2013, 1:59 AM★ Spotlighted

We love you Kid! This guy is a such a genius and an icon!

Jason CohenMay 10, 2013, 1:59 AM★ Spotlighted

Anybody else watching house party right now....or just this loser

Jason CohenMay 10, 2013, 2:00 AM

Love this guy

Blake IanMay 10, 2013, 2:01 AM★ Spotlighted

Im watching Class Act!

Yuen TseMar 2, 2014, 9:31 AM

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