Kid Capri Reveals He Was Never Paid for His Voice on “Martin” Opening Song
Kid Capri, the legendary DJ and producer, recently shared a surprising revelation about his involvement with the iconic opening song of the hit TV show Martin. In a new interview with Bag Fuel, Capri explained that his voice was sampled from a performance on Def Comedy Jam and used in the opening of the show without his permission. While the song became a staple for Martin and aired across eight different networks over a span of 30 years, Capri says he was never compensated for his contribution.
“They took my voice from Def Comedy Jam, sampled it, put it on the Martin show,” Capri explained. “Never got no permission from me, never asked for my rights, nothing. This show’s been on eight different networks for 30 years. Now if it was a money thing for me, I would’ve been like, ‘Yo, where’s my bread?’ I ain’t never did that.”
Despite the lack of payment, Capri had initially let the situation slide during the show’s run. However, his feelings changed after both Martin star Martin Lawrence and co-star Tisha Campbell denied that it was Capri’s voice and attempted to credit someone else. This denial, Capri says, has led him to reconsider his position and potentially take legal action. “They tried to credit somebody else,” he said. “Now I’m thinking about taking action. I let it slide for all these years, but I’m not letting it slide anymore.”
The legendary DJ’s comments shed light on how the entertainment industry sometimes overlooks the contributions of those who help create iconic moments, especially when it comes to sampling and voice usage. Despite this setback, Capri has continued to enjoy a distinguished career, building a legacy in the hip-hop and DJ scenes.
This revelation comes on the heels of other public moments where Kid Capri has spoken out on various matters. Last summer, he called out Travis Scott after the rapper allegedly disrespected a fan in France. A video went viral of Scott pushing away a young fan who was simply asking for a picture. Capri, known for his humility and respect for fans, expressed his disappointment in Scott’s actions, saying, “Celebs get where they get and then they forget.”
As Kid Capri continues to reflect on his career and the ways in which the industry operates, it’s clear that his voice, both literally and figuratively, remains an influential part of hip-hop culture. Whether he chooses to pursue legal action or not, his candid reflections serve as a reminder of the sometimes-overlooked contributions that have shaped the entertainment industry.
