The Kid Mero

Joel Armogasto Martinez, known professionally as The Kid Mero, was born on May 15, 1983, in Washington Heights, New York. His family later moved to the Bronx, where he spent his formative years across several neighborhoods. Mero developed an early talent for comedy but initially pursued a career in education, studying to be a science teacher at Bronx Community College and Hunter College, while also working as a teacher’s assistant. He began his professional career in media by writing for Vice’s music platform, Noisey, in 2012. He authored 69 articles, primarily album and mixtape reviews, between November 2012 and March 2014, all characterized by a distinct all-caps writing style.

Mero’s career gained momentum through his collaboration with Desus Nice. Their comedic partnership began with the Complex TV podcast “Desus vs. Mero,” which premiered on December 18, 2013, running for 46 episodes. This led to their inclusion in MTV’s “Guy Code” for its fifth season, which premiered on January 14, 2015. Their work together continued with “Desus & Mero” on Viceland, a half-hour late-night show that ran from October 17, 2016, to June 28, 2018. Following this, they transitioned to Showtime with a new iteration of “Desus & Mero,” which premiered on February 21, 2019, and concluded in 2022.

Beyond his collaborative efforts, Mero has also engaged in solo projects and other acting roles. He made his acting debut in “Vampires vs. the Bronx” (2020) as Tony and had a voice cameo in “In the Heights” (2021). In 2023, he launched two podcasts, “Victory Light” and “7 PM in Brooklyn” with Carmelo Anthony, showcasing his diverse interests and continued presence in the media landscape. He has also lent his voice to animated series such as “Neo Yokio” (2017-2018), “Star vs. the Forces of Evil” (2019), “Black-ish” (2020), “Crank Yankers” (2021–2022), “Hamster & Gretel” (2024), and “Primos” (2024–2025).