"Digital Freedom is having the ability to share our music and musical experiences w/ anyone and everyone at anytime."
   - Naledge & Double O of Kidz In The Hall

Kidz In the Hall
When Chicago native Jabari Evans began developing his literary gift in elementary school, he'd write short stories, poems, and anything else that would come to mind. By fifteen, he was deep into what would turn out to be his first published piece of work, a book titled “The Stiff Jab,” chronicling his life as a middle class, black male on Chicago’s rough Southside. With this writing came an evident passion forturning his words into not just pieces of literature, but songs. And though a standout baseball player allthrough his childhood and high school years, Evans began devoting some of that extracurricular time to
another passion; hip-hop.

Meanwhile, as Jabari, aka Naledge, was playing baseball, battling other rappers, and flirting with girls as he made his way through high school, a kid from New Jersey named Michael Aguilar, aka Double-0, was rocking the biggest parties taking place on the campus of The University of Pennsylvania alongside
legends like Biz Markie and Kid Capri. A standout track star (who would later go on to compete in the 2004 Olympics in Greece), Double-0 was most known outside of the locker room for his DJ skills, monopolizing the hip hop parties as “THE DJ” to hire if you wanted to have a successful event.

During a recruitment visit to the University of Pennsylvania during his senior year of high school, Naledge decided to enter a talent competition and see how his mic skills would hold up against the college kids. After a few freestyles and a clear dominance on stage, he was congratulated as the winner. Many of the students - now fans - urged Naledge to introduce himself to the DJ from New Jersey, Double-O, who at the time was still DJing parties on campus, but had also began dabbling in music production. Naledge, who went by J-Naledge at the time, impressed Double-0 during their brief time together, enough so that before the kid from the Southside of Chicago entered his freshman year at Penn, he and Double-0 formed a partnership that eventually spawned, Kidz in the Hall.

After the summer of 2000, Naledge and Double-0 pulled together their resources in efforts to begin recording songs. After creating a makeshift studio inside of an off-campus apartment, the duo made demo CD's and performed at local shows on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey underground hip hop scene. Any opportunity they had to hit a stage or a booth they did. After graduating, Double-0 made a move from the college campus in Philly to Los Angeles with the intentions of being closer to the industry while Naledge finished up at Penn. By the time Naledge graduated and moved out to continue their musical journey, Double-0 had already made some solid connections with industry executives and heavy weights. Most notably was super producer Just Blaze, who after hearing some music, knew that Naledge and Double-0 had something the world needed to hear. He quickly put his stamp of approval on the project and even committed to overseeing their debut album. “Kidz In The Hall is a breath of fresh air in this tired rap world we're living in right now. With the right push they could make a serious impact on what the rap game has become.” (While Double-0 produced all songs on the Kidz album, Just Blaze will be a large contributor to the Naledge solo project as well) After some positive meetings and continued musical growth, the team of Naledge and Double-0 knew it was their time.

And the two have not looked back since…

In January 2006, Naledge, with partner Double-0 alongside, signed a joint venture, solo deal with Rawkus Records - the most credible underground hip hop label of all time, and Hustle Period - the brainchild of industry heavyweight John Monopoly, who is credited for much of the success of superstar and fellow Chicagoan, Kanye West. When offering the deal, Rawkus owners Jarret Meyer and Brian Brater informed Naledge that they were about to make a huge resurgence and resurrect the label. Just as important, Rawkus assured the lyricist that he was their top priority and would be the new face of the legendary label. With the solo deal signed, Naledge and Double-0 had some more business to handle. In August 2006, while the two were continuing work on Naledge’s project, it was decided that Kidz In The Hall would begin shopping their group album, which was already finished and 6 years in the making. While the album was briefly shopped around, creating excitement among A&R’s in the industry, the owners at Rawkus quickly made the guys a deal they could not turn down. With already having Naledge signed to a solo deal and the intention of keeping the Naledge and Double 0 brands close to home, Rawkus signed the duo to a group deal to release the Kidz In The Hall debut album, “School Was My Hustle,” near the end of 2006.

When you listen to final product, “School Was My Hustle,” you quickly get the feeling that not only do these two fit together like pieces of a puzzle, but they also have what it takes to bring back a genre which has been dormant for several years, with an album that is unique and refreshing. The title of the album says it all and makes it clear to critics and fans alike that the group stays true to who they are, depicting a story that’s far different from most hip hop songs these days. In fact, they are quite proud of their upbringing. And in a genre riddled with drug talk and violence, Kidz In The Hall tells listeners that while some of the street talk is real and not to be taken lightly, it does not have to be the life you lead. Their message is strongly rooted in the idea that there are options, and those options can create a wealth of possibilities beyond life on the block. On “Wassup Jo,” the third track on the album, Naledge raps, “ I do this for the thugs, I do this for the hipsters, I do this for the backpack n*ggas holdin’ their fists up…” Similar lines throughout the album reassure listeners that the message is not being sent to one group of people, but instead it’s a message that anyone from anywhere can associate with. It’s extraordinary music made for ordinary people. In the words of Naledge, “The reason why we make dope music is because it isn't forced or filtered. Musically, we are two like-minded individuals and we strive to make a unique sound that is unordinary but portrays the lives of ordinary people. Hip Hop is like literature and not everybody is interested reading the same things. The rap game is full of either cheap comic books or people pretending to be Shakespeare; no one is providing ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ - like shit anymore. To me, ordinary people provide some of the most masterful and relatable stories.” Naledge’s point could not be more apparent than on a song like “Hypocrite” where the rapper, often referred to as the Prince of the Chi, pokes fun at the serious issue of being faithful in a relationship while also calling out some girls for their “groupie” tendencies. And if relationships and social messages are not enough to convince a listener of the duo’s talent, much of the album is made up of songs like “Cruise Control,” “Wheelz Fall Off,” and “Don’t Stop,” which will have listeners not thinking too hard, but instead bobbing their heads as Double-0’s beat knock and Naledge exudes an energy that resonates the enjoyment he gets out of making music.

Kidz in the Hall is looking to become one of hip-hop's most admired acts, destined to leave a legacy of artistic brilliance. Double O, the producer/DJ and Naledge, the lyricist/MC, are reviving a format that Gangstarr, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, and Run DMC established as the set standard in early-'90s hip-hop. With their debut release, “ School Was My Hustle” Naledge and Double 0 are ready to wow both listeners and critics with not just songs, but anthems about life.