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About

Kidz In The Hall are an alternative Hip-Hop group comprised of MC Naledge and DJ Double-O.

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 for turning his words into not just pieces of literature, but songs. And though a standout baseball player all through 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. 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...

Kidz In The Hall released their first national record in 2007 entitled School Was My Hustle, which laid the foundation for their fan base.

In 2008, they followed up School Was My Hustle with The In Crowd, which solidified the group’s presence in Hip Hop and showcased the friends they’d made on their journey. The album featured Estelle on their hit, “Love Hangover,” Travis of Gym Class Heroes, The Clipse, Bun B, Camp Lo, Little Brother, Sean Price, Buckshot, The Cool Kidz and more. “Drivin Down The Block” was the group’s stand out track. MTV gave the video a “Discover & Download” program and the video even peaked at #6 on TRL.

In 2009, Kidz In The Hall’s accolades landed them a global Reebok shoe deal. They were enlisted to create a remix to Special Ed’s song “I Got It Made.” The track was offered for free in participating Foot Locker locations for customers who purchased ‘Classic Reeboks.” Cut outs of Kidz In The Hall were also featured in over 500 Foot Locker locations across the country.

Today, Kidz In The Hall are fresh off the release of their third studio album, Land Of Make Believe on Duck Down Music Inc.

The new single Jukebox has been downloaded over 350,000 times on iTunes.

Land of Make Believe features production by Just Blaze on “Take Over The World” ft. Colin Munroe and appearances by MC Lyte, Marsha Ambrosius, Amanda Diva, Chip Tha Rapper, Donnis, Tim William and Russoul.

Melding Hip-hop, R&B and Pop/Rock, the album is “Extraordinary music for ordinary people” comments Double- O, DJ of K.I.T.H. A sonic department from previous albums, The Land Of Make Believe dares to push the boundary between who you are, who you think you are and the constant struggle getting to where you want to be. This album allowed K.I.T.H to reflect and analyze both strengths and weaknesses redefining their goals and aspirations. Naledge, MC of K.I.T.H comments, “the moment we have worked for has come to a crossroad. We’ve never taken time to look ourselves in the mirror and analyze what this industry has made us. As a lyricist, I used this album to serve as a soundtrack to my aspirations and to my downfalls, but also as a chance to evaluate who I am as a man compared to whom I envisioned myself to be.”

Flickin’ perfectly illustrate that dichotomy of imagination and reality. “The title is a colloquial Chicago term. It’s the idea that at any point in time, something is photo ready…a person’s car, shoes, haircut is picturesque. Confidence is key” comments Naledge. Other songs like Will II Win ft. Marsha Ambrosius and Take Over The World ft. Colin Munroe (co-produced by Just Blaze) further illustrate the drive to succeed and the internal lessons needed to accomplish just that. Tracks like Running ft. Tim Williams & Do It All Again exemplify the need to hustle and never give up.

Fans can catch Kidz In The Hall live in concert on their current Crowd Control Tour.