Leon & Raphael return again with another priceless car deal. Own the largest Lincoln ever built. Again, all vehicles come with Kidz In The Hall’s new album, “THE IN CROWD” in stores now

Naledge: Well Prepped

Not only a Just Blaze protege, but also University educated, Naledge goes by a befitting moniker.

Alongside his partner Double O, Naledge is set to help try to bring Rawkus back to their late ’90’s success, a time where everyone and their mother looked for a Rawkus record (well, backpackers and coffee shop chicks anyway).

These are the transcripts of an interview with Naledge aired February 26th, 2006 on DJ Hyphen & J. Moore’s “Sunday Night Sound Session” on Seattle’s KUBE 93.3 FM.

MVRemix: Introduce yourself to the people…

Naledge: This is your boy Naledge Born, Prince of Chicago. The rebirth of Rawkus Records. You know the demo. “Broke Diaries” the album coming soon this August, look for it. Check it, bootleg it, [laughs] pawn it, whatever.

MVRemix: Just listen to it any way you can…

Naledge: Get your hands on it ‘cause it’s going to be something.

MVRemix: Yeah man, you mentioned Rawkus Records, congratulations you guys made the announcement a couple of weeks ago that you signed there, you and Double-O. How did you guys first link up? It was in college right, to form Kidz In The Hall?

Naledge: Yeah, it’s kind of ironic ‘cause I was coming into school, Double O was leaving out. I kind of met him on a recruiting visit. I used to play baseball, Double O ran track… we forged a relationship from there. The rest is history. We always kept in touch and it’s just ironic how things work. I went to an Ivy League school thinking that would be the most non-musical experience of my life and it turned into being something that was the complete opposite. You know? So…

MVRemix: How did the deal actually come about with Rawkus Records?

Naledge: Shout out to John Monopoly, I don’t know if people are familiar with John, he’s president of G.O.O.D. Music, but he runs Hustle, which was basically his baby since back in the day when he ran party promotions. He’s done marketing and consulting. He’s just a person that knows how to cross T’s and dot I’s. He’s a deal maker, one of the hottest executives in the game right now. He basically saw me as a talented emcee and being the next thing out of Chicago and me carrying the torch. He also realized that I was bringing back the golden era so to speak. That’s what he likes to call it. He’s like, “You’re a throwback emcee and I got the perfect deal for you.” He was very close with Brian and Jared and Rawkus, he knew they were trying to make a resurrection happen and he basically came to them and said that I’m the perfect artist for the job. Which, in due to time, we will see.

MVRemix: So at what point did you catch the eyes of Just Blaze? ‘Cause I know you have some affiliation there.

Naledge: That’s a very round about kind of situation. Just is actually real cool with Double O, they’re both from Jersey and they knew each other just from travels, they’re both real into technology. Anybody who knows Just knows he’s a gadget head and so is Double O. Both of them were like computer majors. So some of their conversations are way out there but they have a friendship that way and musically they talked about production all the time. Eventually, after they’ve had a good relationship, Double O just kept tellin’ him, “You need to hear Naledge, Naledge is dope… Naledge is dope… Naledge is dope.” Finally, Just took me out of that pile that sits on his desk and popped it in, I think put it on his iPod, and went away with it for a minute and came back and said, “Yo this is fresh, I wanna do something with you.” So we recorded like two joints, and that was my demo. That’s pretty much what got me the deal and garnered me most of my interest. And he hosted my mixtape, “Off The Love, Off The Strength.”

MVRemix: I know that he produced a track you did with Cornel West called “My Country” that was off the last mixtape. Is that joint gonna to make the album, and if not is he doing any other beats on the album? I know he’s executive producing it…

Naledge: Yeah, yeah, you can look for a lot from Just on the album. We got some surprises. We got some stuff we can reveal and stuff we can’t reveal. Now “My Country,” everybody loves that song, I think it might end up being the crown jewel of the album when it’s finished. The finished version. Right now, the streets kind of have the mixtape version…

MVRemix: It’s still kind of a snippet huh?

Naledge: Yeah, I mean instead of letting people leak it all over the net, we figured we’d just put it on a mixtape and let people hear it that way. If people are clamouring for it anyway, we might as well let ‘em hear it. I’m all for the people man, I’m all for hip-hop. That’s my main goal: to bring back a feeling that I felt when I bought Rawkus LPs. The feeling I got when I popped in ‘Resurrection’ for the first time; the feeling I got from Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Gangstarr and all of that stuff. I’m coming to say this isn’t outdated and this is something that’s still relevant and this is… We need balance in Hip Hop and I think I provide balance.

Original Article (More…)

We have the debut video of Molemen Records newest artist Astonish. The 22 yr. old rapper coming from Chicago is releasing his first album Feb. 26, 2008.

With his debut album being produced by the Molemen (MF Doom, Slug, Aesop Rock, Saigon, Murs, Capital D, Cormega, Juice, Vakill, Rasco, Planet Asia, Rhymefest, Naledge (Kidz in the Hall), Vinnie Paz (Jedi Mind Tricks) this newcomer is someone to look out for.

KIDZ IN THE HALL INK DEAL WITH DUCK DOWN RECORDS - GROUP’S SOPHOMORE LP, THE IN CROWD, TO BE RELEASED IN MARCH 2008

Duck Down Records, in an effort to continue to expand its roster, is proud to announce the signing of Kidz in the Hall. Double-0, the Producer/DJ and Naledge, the Lyricist/MC, Kidz In The Hall are looking to become one of hip-hop’s most admired acts, destined to leave a legacy of artistic brilliance and after recently finishing their latest mixtape, “Detention,” and tour dates with Redman and their forthcoming sophomore LP, “The In Crowd,” they are well on their way to doing so.

Kidz In The Hall were previously signed to Rawkus Records and released their debut, “School Was My Hustle,” on the imprint, but felt Duck Down Records would be the home that could help propel them to the next level and as Matty Marcus (founder of Major League Entertainment) asserts it’s a win win for all parties and a unique joint venture between Duck Down and Major League entertainment as both companies will be intimately involved in all aspects of marketing and promotion “the Major League team could not be more excited to partner with Duck Down Records for the next Kidz in the Hall album (entitled “The In Crowd”). The loyalty the label has shown to their roster over the years was a definite selling point and Dru Ha and the Duck Down team are the perfect partners to elevate the Kidz In The Hall brand to the next level. This new exciting partnership is a welcomed change and a breath of fresh air for our entire team.”

Kidz In The Hall group members Naledge and Double-O are equally excited about the union as Double-O adds “I think that this deal is an excellent opportunity to spread our wings. Duck Down Records has proven that they can successfully promote independent acts on a major scale and their enthusiasm in our music let’s us know that they are 100% behind making the Kidz In The Hall movement successful.”

Kidz in the Hall’s upcoming sophomore LP “The In Crowd” is set for release in March 2008 on Major League/Duck Down Records and the group will be available for interviews immediately.

Click here for more info and a FREE Download of Kidz In The Hall’s latest Mixtape “Detention” mixed by: Mick Boogie! Note: The free download will only be available for three days at: http://www.duckdown.com/kidzinthehall/

Also included is a video link/teaser for Kidz In The Hall’s forthcoming single “Driving Down The Block”: http://www.zshare.net/download/52088646716ada/