Exposing Hip Hop's Original Industry Plants...kinda

00:00 What is an Industry Plant?
07:17 The Early Days of Hip Hop
13:55 Their Come Up
30:25 Their Fall Off
35:35 The Rise of Gangster Rap
40:54 The Truth about "Industry Plants"

edited by

[supernus]

I think the concept of the industry being able to manufacture a successful artist from essentially nothing except good looks is giving the industry too much credit. Businessmen only know money and if they make all the decisions on the end product it will be shit. See super hero movies, they tried turning it into a product and then everyone stopped watching them. At minimum they need some talent to work with, like the artist can sing/rap/dance and there definitely are artists today that can sing but can't write for example. But arguably the more the artist does for the businessmen the better for business, if a label can provide funds and distribution but the artist does everything else the label wins more. So i would say there exists a spectrum of lets say "industri plantness" where most artist cannot be disconnected completely from the industri and to some degree are propped up by the business behind it all. Is it good, is it bad? Arguably there are both benefits and drawbacks to how it works as with everything else but considering that the industry sometimes manages to show us a really good artist i would say it is what it is.

[NateMims]

Industry plants or not, i always felt like Kid N Play represented another part of the culture...they weren't hood, but we all knew brothas like this coming up, dudes who was real clean, got girls and danced at parties...hip hop has an entire dance element that their music energized back in the day...i am a 49 year old original hip hop fan...

[GourmetBurrito]

"hip hop in its sentiment had a revolutionary potential and a radical implication but as soon as the radical started taking brand deals the revolution
was over" cut deep

[quartkneek]

Will Smith's career shows there was room for their clean-cut party vibe but as you point out, they didn't/couldn't evolve once they fumbled the bag with their TV gigs. Beyond the fact that they went the route of cartoons for children - too 'on the nose' with the vibe of their moniker, is the thing where they stuck it out together as a duo. The industry has a long record of co-opting a singer from a popular group -because it's easier to deal with a solo artist than trying to do everything by consensus with a group. From Diana Ross breaking away from the Supremes to Beyonce breaking out from Destiny's Child, Will Smith breaking away from Jazzy Jeff opened up more opportunities - not just from the TV Show but also with his radio-friendly dance raps. Kid n Play could've gotten jiggy with their vibe and forged a parallel path of longevity. Also thanks for the Dana Dane shout-out. Even after all these years, I can still quote the bulk of Cinderfella. Can't believe it's an underground classic now as it got radio play and was such a party hit back in the day.

[wfarmer]

Kid and Play paved the way for so many and they do not get the credit they deserve. Kid was basically in charge of raps and lyrics while Play was in charge of the visual aesthetics. Not only did they break waves in music but also in films and cartoons as well. They sold a package, great lyrical rhymes, mixed with style and dance moves.
I believe the industry is what killed that style of music as hip hop was pushed more towards gangster rap, and stripper/sexual rap.
It became less about making it out of our dire situations and more about surviving and using our situations to our advantage. The glorification of gangs, drugs, sex, and violence.
However, I believe today’s music sucks because the hidden agendas aren’t to help us but to hurt us and control us. Whether it’s pushing violence, promiscuity, drug usage, or just living a fast life. Hip hop/rap is no longer about growing and becoming better. That’s for both industry artist and independent artist. But I blame us the listeners because that’s what we choose to support and listen to.
But thank you Kid and Play, both my childhood and young adulthood were great times with great music because of your two. And I still listen to your albums from time to time.

[Kilmiina]

Not me wanting that extra hour 'directors cut' version describing all the connections in the industry.

[jennymartinez]

If this turns into a hip hop history channel I'll be happy

[arthuratkins]

Class Act and House Party 3 are big parts of my childhood. Couldn’t name 1 kid & Play song, but I could do the dance.

[kezia]

"circuit city doesn't even exist anymore, you probably don't even know what I'm talking about"
💀💀shots fired and now my knees and back have stopped working

[mosaton]

I saw Play on the plane, sitting behind me about 10 years ago. I was looking around, noticed him, squinted my eyes then gave a look of recognition and a thumbs up. He gave the same crooked smile like in the movies and nodded back. I didn't want to cause a disturbance on the plane, because when I met Andre 3000 in 2006 at the Whole Foods on Ponce in Atlanta he was super, super nervous and I vowed to not bother celebrities in public anymore.

Anyway, I heard Play was a Pastor or something at the time. Later when the flight landed, I saw him again outside of the plane. He looked good, younger than he should have honestly, clean and healthy. He looked happy.

[qpcontinuum-igbe]

Dude your videos get better and better those comic book transitions are 💯💯💯 you got me feeling inspired

[Letitallhangout]

As a 3rd generation hip hop 'older head' I would NOT call Kid N' Play the original industry plants...only cause they were part of that sacred, golden era of mid to late 80s hip hop. "Gittin Funky" is a major part of my treadmill playlist, and keeps me cariodvascularly in shape in my closer-to-middle-age years. I listened to it all - the hard core to the soft core: P.E., Eric B. & Rakim, BDP, EPMD, MC Lyte, Lakim Shabazz, late 80s underground, and more.
DJ Rob Swift said it best...hip hop was never leaders of hip hop at that time Sold it to the industry, with a decorative bow around it. This event is what enabled the creation of 'industry plants.'

[themichaelkemp]

“I’m from a small town called ‘Fresh Off a Cop’s Ass’, and you’re making me homesick”

Still drop that line constantly

[eastbuddy]

Super dope video! I also think the industry plant convo has been really popular recently because, unlike in the past, there are fewer recognized cultural authorities for this generation of hip-hop. Previously, you had radio hosts, music journalists, and music critics who all facilitated conversation about what was happening in the culture. You have that today, but it is way more decentralized and less funded (like there is no equivalent to a Source Magazine today). The best we have are podcasts, which themselves are super insular media entities. So there isn't any room for artists with "come up" stories today. Artists just be poppin up on the feed with no co-sign (and nobody to give that co-sign). I'm glad to see more convos on this topic, looking forward to the next video!

[DrLakai.]

Man, I've always been curious as to what ever happened to Kid & Play. I am very happy that this video randomly popped up on my home page. You made that interesting, concise, and enjoyable to watch/ listen. Very well done. ✊🏾✊🏾

[positivityleadssuccess]

Kid and Play Songs: “Ola ola aeee … ola Ola aeee..it’s Kid and Play now. “Ain’t gonna hurt no body get on down!”

[fenshipismagic]

one thing i always come back to about gen z's obsession with "industry plants" is how we grew up in the disney channel musician era. people like miley, selena gomez, and the jonas brothers were basically spoon fed to us and created by disney boardrooms. although no one like that actually exists in hip hop, i think that experience with kids entertainment during our childhood is part of why we're so suspicious

[pixelbomb]

Play's name was Christopher Martin. That's why the other band is named Coldplay. It's led by the less hot Chris Martin.

[kandystanislaw]

Im new to your channel as of today. It was great reliving my hight school days ( 88 was 9th grade) now in my early 50. It was great to go back to memory lane and when i hit the bell to know when u dropped another video your # went to 700, glad to be apart of your channel. Great work sir. ❤

[nesticle]

Clicked on a curiosity, and an hour later I really have to say I appreciate your perspective on this group and this place in time. Its obvious this video is well researched, well documented, and well presented. Thank you.