“Don’t ‘Kid and Play’ With Your Academic Potential”
Christopher “Play” Martin
“Don’t ‘Kid and Play’ With Your Academic Potential
Thursday, November 8, 2012
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Shaw Auditorium
Nationally known to many Hip Hop movie and music fans as “Play” from the rap and acting duo “Kid ‘n Play” starring in the box office, New Line Cinema hits “House Party” and the sequels “House Party 2 and 3″. Their other phenomenal achievements also include the Warner Bros. movie cult Hip Hop hit “Class Act”, a NBC television cartoon series, a Marvel Comic book series, 4 successful albums / CDs titled 2 Hype, Funhouse, House Party soundtracks, national commercials for Burger King and Sprite. National magazines, television talk and music shows from Oprah Winfrey to the American Music and Soul Train Awards and touring the country with other rap icons from Salt’n Pepa and Tupac Shakur with Digital Underground to Public Enemy and NWA, etc. What a dream come true!
Born and raised in Queens, New York Christopher graduated from Jr. High School and was accepted to 3 of New York’s top music and art schools. He chose the School of Art & Design, but after quickly becoming disappointed and bored with the school’s routine Christopher quit. After numerous no where jobs with limited knowledge Christopher decided to explore and paint on a different type of canvas for his life in the streets of New York. On that journey, Christopher met and became very close with several talented people that included Hurby “The Love Bug” Azor, becoming the super producer and manager of many Hip Hop icons and soon after Christopher “Kid” Reid.
Fueled by hopes, dreams and aggressive fortitude this small group from Queens, N.Y. achieved and proved a higher level for Hip Hop in movies and music that has made the hip hop culture a global phenomenon.
Now fueled with a new drive, purpose and hope, Christopher Martin is founder and visionary of Hp4 Digital Works & Solutions. Using a 25 year plus experience in the entertainment business, Hp4 Digital Works and Solutions provides a service that helps today’s visionary accomplish their quest. Christopher still remembers what it’s like to be confronted with rejection and closed doors when people don’t understand or believe in you. With that Hp4 Digital Works & Solutions recently launched Brandnewz.com and it’s TV news briefs that Christopher is host and lead Anchor on My television Networks (formerly UPN) that provides inspirational video news from people around the country to report positive events and individual efforts from those in their communities.
“I try to pass on to everyone something a very wise man once said to me that I never forgot. Sometimes to be the best at what you do, you have to actually create that category”.
Recently a recipient of the 2007 New York International Film Festival Award for best feature documentary for his production on “Welcome to Durham”. Christopher has received a Grammy and Stellar nomination for his production contribution with “Taking the Gospel to the Streets” Volumes 1, 2 and 3 compilation CD series and the successful release of “Holy Hip Hop the Movie” a DVD documentary.
Christopher serves as Artist in Residence at North Carolina Central University for their credited Hip Hop in Context 101 classes and works in the Hip Hop Initiative department at NCCU in the video and television production. Christopher is also Producer in Resident at Healthy start Academy in Durham, N.C. working with 6 and 8th grade students helping them use positive Hip Hop media as a tool for a successful education.
Save the dates:
November 15, 2012 Mr. Tremayne Thurman, CEO, Everyday Ascots, Inc.,
“ A New Approach to Educational and Professional Swagger”.
November 27, 2012, Dr. Randal Pinkett, The Season 4 Winner of NBC’s hit reality
Television “The Apprentice,” with Donald Trump.
“What It Takes for Young Men to Succeed Academically and Personally”.
For more information, contact The Office of Student Retention, 910-672-2686.