Kidz in the Hall

For the sketch comedy troupe, see The Kids in the Hall.

Kidz in the Hall is an American alternative hip hop duo formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 2004, comprising Double‑O (Michael Aguilar) and Naledge (Jabari Evans). They debuted in 2006 with School Was My Hustle on Rawkus Records, reactivating the label, and later signed with Duck Down Records. The duo released critically acclaimed albums including The In Crowd (2008) and Land of Make Believe (2010), blending introspective lyricism with classic boom‑bap sampling. Known for their socially conscious themes and dynamic performance, Kidz in the Hall carved a distinctive niche in the independent rap scene.

Kidz in the Hall
Origin	Chicago/New Jersey, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Rawkus Records (2006–2007) Duck Down Records (2007–present) Interscope (2018–present)
Members	Naledge Double-0
Website	http://www.kidzinthehall.com/

History

Group members Jabari Evans (Naledge) and Michael Aguilar (Double-0) met in 2000 during a talent show at the University of Pennsylvania. They began recording songs, making demos, and performing at local shows which eventually led to Double-0 and Naledge forming Kidz in the Hall. Double-0 made a connection with Just Blaze through a job he had at T-Mobile. Blaze then aligned himself with the duo and oversaw their debut School Was My Hustle. Kidz in the Hall signed a group deal with Rawkus Records, and released the album in 2006.^[1]

In early 2007, Kidz in the Hall created a song entitled "Work To Do It" in support of democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who has ties to Naledge's hometown of Chicago. They were among the first artists to support Obama in their music. The song features a sample from The Main Ingredient's version of The Isley Brothers original of the same name.^[2]

In November 2007, Kidz in the Hall were officially signed to Duck Down Records, an independent label started by founding members of the Boot Camp Clik. The duo's second album, The In Crowd, was released in May 2008, with the lead single "Drivin' Down the Block," which samples Masta Ace's song "Born to Roll" for the hook and contains an interpolation of Outkast's "Elevators (Me & You)" on the bridge. This song was featured on the game Midnight Club Los Angeles: Complete Edition from Rockstar Games. Many other tracks on the album use samples and interpolations of early 1990s hip hop, including their song "Snob Hop" featuring Camp Lo which uses the hook from Black Sheep's song "Flava of the Month" for the chorus. Their song "Blackout" was featured on the soundtrack of Madden '09. The group's most recent album Land of Make Believe was released on March 9, 2010 and features guests MC Lyte, Just Blaze, Chip tha Ripper, Donnis, Amanda Diva and co-production by Just Blaze and Picnic Tyme. The album was declared the most "commercially viable" album the group has made thus far and was well-received critically, receiving an XL rating in XXL Magazine.^[3]

Discography

Studio albums

• School Was My Hustle (2006), Rawkus Records
• The In Crowd (2008), Duck Down Records
• Land of Make Believe (2010), Duck Down Records
• Occasion (2011), Duck Down Records
• Free Nights & Weekends (2017)
• "Adulting Anonymous" (2023)

Extended plays

• Wishful Drinking (2013)^[4]

Mixtapes

• Detention (2007), Major League Entertainment
• Geniuses Need Love Too (2008)
• "The Professional Leisure Tour" (2009) LRG ^[5][6]
• "Semester Abroad" (2011)

Singles

• Wheelz Fall Off ('06 'Til...) (2006), Rawkus Records
• Drivin' Down the Block (2008), Duck Down Records
• Love Hangover (2008)
• Take Over The World ft Colin Munroe and Just Blaze (2010)
• Jukebox (2010)
• Pour it Up (2011)

Music videos

• "Wheelz Fall Off ('06 Til...)" (2006)
• "Drivin' Down The Block" (2008)
• "Love Hangover (feat. Estelle)" (2008)
• "I Got It Made (Reebok Classic)" (2009)
• "Jukebox" (2010)
• "Break It Down" (2011)^[7]
• "Occasion" (2011)
• "Pour it Up" (2012)