Kidz In The Hall

In the mid-2000s, alternative hip-hop duo Kidz in the Hall became the new face for the revamped <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rawkus+Records%22">Rawkus Records</a>, the underground rap powerhouse responsible for introducing groundbreaking acts like <a href="spotify:artist:0Mz5XE0kb1GBnbLQm2VbcO">Mos Def</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0lEssBAxQl2In4RpaB1C2Y">Talib Kweli</a> before its operations were temporarily closed in 2004. <a href="spotify:artist:3mNw1TJQPbkdMUBjfY1qoJ">Naledge</a>'s intelligence, imagery, and lyricism combined with the progressive and often jazz-inflected sounds of DJ/producer <a href="spotify:artist:4D7y5m4HiGQsvas7pey4DV">Double O</a> easily recall the early-'90s aesthetic of hip-hop groups such as <a href="spotify:artist:3fJ60AcIgLzQkVitEvA7uq">Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5cMgGlA1xGyeAB2ctYlRdZ">Gang Starr</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5Rzqmz1zAszembFHGZQuAt">Souls of Mischief</a>.

A native of Chicago, <a href="spotify:artist:3mNw1TJQPbkdMUBjfY1qoJ">Naledge</a> (born Jabari Evans) was always the creative and lyrical type of guy, writing poetry and short stories since he was 13, but the New Jersey-bred <a href="spotify:artist:4D7y5m4HiGQsvas7pey4DV">Double O</a> (born Michael Aguilar) had always been a techie, first DJing in the ninth grade and then composing beats in college. They first met each other at their alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. After witnessing <a href="spotify:artist:3mNw1TJQPbkdMUBjfY1qoJ">Naledge</a>'s rhyme skills at a talent show during his recruiter's visit, impressed audience members pointed him toward the talented DJ. Over the years, the two Ivy Leaguers worked together and became good friends. Once <a href="spotify:artist:3mNw1TJQPbkdMUBjfY1qoJ">Naledge</a> graduated, he again hooked up with <a href="spotify:artist:4D7y5m4HiGQsvas7pey4DV">Double O</a>, who had relocated to Los Angeles as an engineer for Sony Studios, and the two decided to unite professionally as Kidz in the Hall. <a href="spotify:artist:3mNw1TJQPbkdMUBjfY1qoJ">Naledge</a> was already signed as a solo act to the reborn <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rawkus%22">Rawkus</a> and simply brought the Kidz in the Hall duo over to the label.

The amount of (mostly Internet) press coverage greatly increased after prolific producer <a href="spotify:artist:2gpPCu8rjzdobGqDZJpHiR">Just Blaze</a>, a fellow techie, friend, and mentor of <a href="spotify:artist:4D7y5m4HiGQsvas7pey4DV">Double O</a>, co-signed the group's efforts. <a href="spotify:artist:3mNw1TJQPbkdMUBjfY1qoJ">Naledge</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4D7y5m4HiGQsvas7pey4DV">Double O</a> heavily promoted themselves through the Internet and released several mixtapes to build up anticipation for their favorably received <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rawkus%22">Rawkus</a> debut, School Was My Hustle, in October 2006. Their 2008 effort The In Crowd found them moving to the Duck Down label, working with producer <a href="spotify:artist:77zgRkcehIGCAtROXkXkb3">Black Milk</a>, and making an impact with their “Drivin' Down the Block” single. Land of Make Believe followed in 2010 with more club tracks and some electro-influenced sounds. ~ Cyril Cordor, Rovi