Unlike most club-rap artists, Kidz in the Hall (Naledge and Double-O) have managed to forge their identity with slick in-depth lyricism and choice beats. From Camp Lo and Phonte (Little Brother) to Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) and the Cool Kids, KITH have collaborated with a balanced mix of underground and mainstream artists, making their latest album The In Crowd (Duck Down Records) a nationwide success. Double-O produced most of the album, with the exception of "Middle of the Map Pt. 2" (coproduced by Black Milk), and he used a unique approach to beatmaking by taking samples of classic hip-hop songs including Outkast’s "Elevators" on the song "Driving Down the Block" and Black Sheep’s "Flava of the Month" on "Snob-Hop." It’s that stylish blend of old-school sensibility and new-school flavor that has created a mainstream following from both BET and MTV. The upcoming year looks to be even more lucrative as Naledge is slated to release a solo album featuring production from 9th Wonder, Just Blaze and Pete Rock to name a few. It’s a little surprising to see that they’ll be performing at Beat Kitchen, but it’s also a fraction of the regular cost. (J. Min)
