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The MCing half of progressive rap duo <a href="spotify:artist:0tW9One3A84zFepeEVQB4b">Kidz in the Hall</a>, Naledge was born Jabari Evans in Cincinnati, OH, but grew up on Chicago's South Side since he was two years old. Raised by two Ph.D.-educated parents, the high-school valedictorian academically had an easy time in school and found his niche in poetry and writing. However, it was cousin Memo, one-third of Chicago production outfit <a href="spotify:artist:2oRGnrXPku7WJMT8gVyh8A">the Molemen</a>, who convinced him to transform his writing prowess into hip-hop rhymes. He first met his DJ/producer partner, <a href="spotify:artist:4D7y5m4HiGQsvas7pey4DV">Double O</a>, in 2000 on a recruiting visit to the University of Pennsylvania, and the two became good friends and musical collaborators. While still attending Penn, Naledge acquired a solo deal with Rawkus Records, but ended up bringing <a href="spotify:artist:0tW9One3A84zFepeEVQB4b">the Kidz in the Hall</a> brand under Rawkus management as well, once he and <a href="spotify:artist:4D7y5m4HiGQsvas7pey4DV">Double O</a> finally decided to start the group. Soon after Naledge graduated from Penn in 2004, he released The College Graduate mixtape, which was a nod to <a href="spotify:artist:5K4W6rqBFWDnAN6FQUkS6x">Kanye West</a>'s breakout debut album, The College Dropout. After a few <a href="spotify:artist:0tW9One3A84zFepeEVQB4b">Kidz in the Hall</a> mixtapes and an aggressive Internet-promoting campaign, Naledge and <a href="spotify:artist:4D7y5m4HiGQsvas7pey4DV">Double O</a> dropped their debut, School Was My Hustle, in 2006. Naledge's solo debut, tentatively titled Naledge Is Power, was intended to come out not long after <a href="spotify:artist:0tW9One3A84zFepeEVQB4b">the Kidz in the Hall</a> LP, but the two wound up severing ties with Rawkus and signed on with <a href="spotify:artist:3ho167y1Ac7ANj2qkbJUCJ">Boot Camp Clik</a> imprint Duck Down in 2007. ~ Cyril Cordor, Rovi
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