Joel Armogasto Martinez, known professionally as The Kid Mero, is a Dominican-American writer, comedian, TV personality, voice actor, and social media influencer. He gained fame alongside fellow Bronx native Desus Nice with their hit Complex TV podcast *Desus vs. Mero*, which premiered on December 18, 2013. Their comedic partnership extended to MTV’s *Guy Code* and Viceland’s *Desus & Mero*, which ran from October 17, 2016, to June 28, 2018. They later transitioned to Showtime with *Desus & Mero*, which debuted on February 21, 2019.

Raised in the Bronx, Mero attended P.S. 072 Dr. William Dorney and I.S. 117 Joseph H. Wade Intermediate School before being expelled from Monsignor Scanlan High School in ninth grade. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School and pursued higher education at Bronx Community College and Hunter College, studying to be a science teacher while working as a paraprofessional at his former middle school.

In 2012, Mero began writing for Vice’s Noisey, where he authored 69 music reviews in all-caps. His distinctive style and humor caught attention, leading to his notable achievement of setting a world record for the kazoo solo in September 2014, a feat he discussed in an interview on *Time Crisis* with Ezra Koenig.

Mero lives in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, with his wife Heather Martinez, a teacher, and their four children. His diverse career and unique voice have made him a prominent figure in entertainment and social media.