Kidz In The Hall: Down The Block In Austin (SXSW 2008)
Published: Monday - March 24, 2008
Words by Nadya Nataly
Kidz In The Hall standing on the street in Austin, Texas during 2008's SXSW Photo: BallerStatus.com / Nadya Nataly
One is from the windy city of Chicago, the other is from the city that never sleeps, New York, and together they epitomize Kidz In The Hall. Using the University of Pennsylvania as a breeding ground and making music since their college days, Naledge and Double-O confidently stand on the corner of 6th and Congress in Austin, TX at SXSW ready to take on the world. Now well into their sophomore year, with a brand new single, "Drivin' Down The Block," and this time riding without the Rawkus wheels, these fellas are more than eager for the next step.
Fans could be seen muddled from wall to wall, drinking and waiting for the artists to perform Wednesday night (March 12). So only naturally after hitting the stage at the Habana Annex the night of before with the likes of Sean Price, Buckshot, Percee P, Guilty Simpson, and DJ Rhettmatic, the energy and excitement still lingers strongly in the essence of the day. After an overwhelming head bopping ambience at the show, Naledge states, "It being a Duck Down/Stones Throw showcase, you can imagine the certain amount of love and appreciation people have for real hip-hop, so it was great to see that many hip hop-heads all in one spot, you know what I mean?"
Launching the week into full force, Kidz In The Hall have avidly been interacting with fans, artists, and journalists at the venues, the conferences, and on the streets. Bringing their charismatic, comical, and distinctive swagger to the city of Austin, they look at it as another day in the life of making good music and bringing good music to the people. With buoyancy, a smirk, and rolls of laughter from his partner Naledge, Double-O says, "You know this week, uh... like a twelve person orgy. I think we can do it. You know, last year we got to eight, but certain people weren't necessarily ready. They didn't hit the gym, so that we can make it to twelve. So, we can do it to twelve this time. 12 people one time!"
With one more show, at The Whiskey, on Thursday night (March 13) to close out their lists of performances in Austin, tons of jokes, and laughter, the duo agrees that being at SXSW has been rewarding to them and their fans. Once departing, Texas, Kidz In The Hall will also be on tour with Gym Class Heroes in April and consciously preparing for the release of their latest project.
Openly making it clear that there are no hard feelings against Rawkus, they are currently working with people whom believe in their vision and more involved in their projects, resulting in a far more refreshing and exciting time for the self-motivated hip-hop double act. Describing their new album, The In Crowd, due to hit stores on May 13th as "GREATNESS," Double-O also adds, "Our first album, School Was My Hustle, was more of 'this is who we are and this is where we're from' so, expect an evolution and a mission statement to the music industry. This is our statement."
Enthusiastically, Nalege adds, "What we do is like wine and it only gets better with time. We have more focus to the music, it's easier, and it's more natural; it's just ill. We make good music. And now were getting to the point where we're making great and timeless music."
Not feeling like a cookie cutter or industry molded artist, the twosome are self-assured that their music will speaks for its self. "We don't make whack music, we do what feels right."
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