Can college rap save Hip Hop? (Kidz in the Hall) by BLieve
If rap listeners could overlook the childish name of this duo, they might just pause in between slurps of some wonton soup to digest every line that Naledge cooks on Double-O's ingredients. While processing the sound waves flowing out of your speakers, you realize it is one you have heard before. Underground listeners might compare it to The Realness (Cormega) without the violence and more of the aspirations. Or Pete Rock, CL Smooth from a more philosophical perspective. Mainstream listeners might see it as Kanye West without the arrogance and the white girls, or maybe even Illmatic taking place on a college campus instead of the Queensbridge projects.
Image Naledge is Power
While the production and lyrics are thoroughly on point, it is the subject matter that is the real breath of fresh air. Coming from middle class families, Naledge the emcee from Chicago and Double-O the DJ/producer from Jersey, the relevance of their topics are undeniable. Focusing less on the tired out violence and drug references, we hear more about the average kid's struggles while growing up. Both are University of Pennsylvania graduates and both are educated. This and the fact that neither of them are gangsters should make them easier to relate to despite what most 15 year olds believe. They are your average kids in your average neighborhood with dreams being successful. Their image is one that they actually live, not one that is forced by marketing executives.
The music industry has catered to the poor and the rich, but rarely to those in between. The middle class kids are left with no identity and are almost forced to choose from messages directed to those above or below them. Angry white kids band together claiming injustice on events that have never occurred to them (remember the Young Black Teenagers) and ignorant Asians buy bootleg Versace from their uncles to make themselves feel rich. Either way, they fit in poorly. But with groups like Kidz in the Hall gaining some recognition, the music industry might begin to realize there is a market for the middle class after all. I mean come on, they are a good 50 percent of the population.
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Yea their name comes from a crappy TV show and it sounds anything but revolutionary but there is no denial that the duo has talent. Double-O paints the setting with his unique production reminiscent of hip hop's glory days while Naledge fills in the plot with subject matter few have covered. It will only be a matter of time before Kidz in the Hall is a household name even if it is an unimpressive one.
Track 1: Wheelz Fall Off Album: School Was My Hustle (Details)
{A HREF=" http://systemrebels.com/ "}SystemRebels.comAbout the Author
Main penman for The Observer. Discovering new talents and reviving old ones.
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