Richmond’s Rising Hip-Hop Sensation, Kidz At Play, to Go Big Under Sony’s AWAL Label

by | Jul 26, 2023 | HIP HOP & RAP, MUSIC

Richmond’s music scene has been buzzing about the collective success of local hip-hop group, Kidz At Play. This sensational 11-member collective, which began as a close-knit group of high school friends, has recently been signed to AWAL, a label under the Sony banner, renowned for housing diverse major talents like Little Simz, JPEGMAFIA, and Deadmau5. The deal, involving multiple albums, is a massive step for Kidz At Play, who will maintained full creative control over their output.

A brainchild of founding member SMYTH, the group gained traction after their single went viral on TikTok in June 2022. “We started to be like, yo, let’s take it seriously,” said Jacob Parra Mena, a Director at Kidz At Play. Though only three members are musicians, the collective creates a unique blend of sounds influenced by their varying tastes and personal stories.

Mike Tyson Jab 2022

As Mena explains, their DIY approach is part of their strength, “every single thing now that we’ve ever made, we’ve never paid a penny for – everything is in house.” They were initially approached by Universal Music, but declined the offer, feeling that the deal wasn’t the right fit. This decision paid off when, following the independent release of their first album Mike Tyson Jab, they attracted attention again, this time from Sony. The album saw over 2 million streams, demonstrating their ability to create and promote their work independently.

Now, the group is planning a move to LA and hopes to continue their unique blend of music, including the “very raw, very spontaneous” energy that characterized their initial releases. “We’re still in our mixtape era, we haven’t had that big album, the one that takes us mainstream,” Mena stated, indicating that the best is yet to come.

On the future, Mena reflects, “We’re excited to finally have the backing of the label for these next projects, so we can finally get like the big features. We’re hoping to get Rico Nasty on this next album.” As for what the label can provide, Mena highlights the opportunities for wider exposure, “the main thing was they were able to say, you know, we can get you in the next Madden, we can get you all these festivals, we can get you the best booking agent in the industry.

SMYTH’s recent solo project release, Paperface!, has further solidified their unique sound and was lauded by Sony, potentially serving as an added incentive in finalizing the record deal. ed. note: We have an interview with SMYTH coming out by Friday.

For now, Richmond gets to celebrate the rise of this local band one last time at a FREE house show scheduled for this Saturday. After this, Kidz At Play aims to broaden their horizons, bringing the distinct flavor of Richmond hip-hop to a global audience. Their journey represents an exciting chapter in Richmond’s musical legacy, as Kidz At Play carry the spirit of the city with them. As Mena sums it up, “We’re here, bro.”


R. Anthony Harris

R. Anthony Harris

In 2005, I created RVA Magazine, and I'm still at the helm as its publisher. From day one, it’s been about pushing the “RVA” identity, celebrating the raw creativity and grit of this city. Along the way, we’ve hosted events, published stacks of issues, and, most importantly, connected with a hell of a lot of remarkable people who make this place what it is. Catch me at @majormajor____




more in music

Sound Check! Sportsbar! Doll Baby! Fan Club! & More!

Lotta punk on the menu, but I tossed in a jazz album so it’s all okay. We’ve got some really cool touring bands coming into town right now. I’m especially excited to see Tokyo’s finest at Cobra—let’s give ’em a good taste of RVA so they’ll tell their friends. If we...

Municipal Waste | 25 Years of No Mercy

When you think of Richmond’s heavy music scene, four names immediately come to mind: Lamb of God, GWAR, Avail, and Municipal Waste. These are the bands that have bled into the city’s veins and shaped the sound of this place over the last several decades. And this past...

Disturbin’ the Peace | Hardcore Chaos in Baltimore

This was the fourth year for the Disturbin’ the Peace Festival, making its return to Baltimore on February 1st. An all-day music festival organized by Flatspot Records, the lineup consisted of 13 bands that got the chance to be embraced by the Baltimore hardcore music...

A Richmond Beginning, a Typographic Legacy: Teddy Blanks In Focus

In the Richmond of 2005, Teddy Blanks was everywhere—playing packed shows with Ross Harman as the pop duo The Gaskets, writing sharp film reviews and interviews for the early issues of RVA Magazine, and even acting in a short film that, for me, still holds personal...