Kidz In The Hall - The In Crowd: Album Review

Kidz In The Hall, The In Crowd (Duck Down, 2008)
Hipster rap duo Kidz In The Hall put out an album on the new Rawkus a couple of years ago, but it didn't perform very well in the marketplace. I guess having their lead single sound like a budget version of the worst Jay-Z song evar wasn't the most inspired bit of A&R. So now they've signed with Duck Down and are focusing on their strength, such as it is: making songs that kinda sound as if they could've been made in the 1990s.

• Kidz In The Hall @ MySpace

BLACK OUT

Clearly an homage to "Don't Sweat the Technique." It's got a similar upright bass sound, and when the beat drops out, you can hear those "I Ain't No Joke" drums. Naledge spits: "I'm biracial - half black, half amazing." Which is the kind of corny shit he spits throughout the album.

PAPER TRAIL

Nothing against the kid. He seems like a nice guy. But obviously, this album's saving grace is its '90s-esque throwback production. What it lacks in rhythmic complexity - or any kind of interesting drum sound, for that matter - it more or less makes up for in... well, sounding like the kind of shit I used to listen when I was in high school.

DRIVIN' DOWN THE BLOCK

For example, here's a song (that sounds like one of those early '90s Masta Ace bass records) that's actually about riding around in your car listening to The Low End Theory on cassette. Kids these days obviously couldn't relate. Not only do cars no longer have tape decks, but who in the fuck can afford to ride around in their car for the sole purpose of listening to music?

LUCIFER'S JOYRIDE

If there's a downside to this album, and of course there has to be, it's that the production is so reliant on wanton sampling (how can they even afford this?), and, worse, it gets extra R&B-ish towards the middle. Presumably, they were trying to appeal to women, but how many women would really be checking for some shit like Kidz In The Hall? Probably the same number of women used to check for '90s-era Masta Ace, Rakim, and Tribe, i.e. like five of them.

SNOB HOP

I guess it makes sense to have Camp Lo lend guest raps (this album is chock full of nuts guest raps) on one of the albums more '70s-sounding numbers, but they kinda get buried in the busy production. They should have brought in the guy who used to produce those Camp Lo records. Oh, that's right, a group where one of the guys is a producer can't bring in outside producers. That just wouldn't make sense business-wise.

MR. ALLADATSHIT

Another issue with this album: For having gone to an Ivy League school (and not letting us forget about it), Naledge doesn't seem to have a whole lot to rap about, other than how he's the man, and how he stays higher than giraffe pussy, and how he rides around in cars. Who the fuck does he think he is, Pimp C (who's shouted out here)?

LOVE HANGOVER

Featuring Estelle, the English broad with the fucked up teeth (I know) who did that song with Kanye, this sounds more like an Estelle record featuring Kidz In The Hall than vice versa. And why would I want to hear some shit like that?

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN

Remember when I was saying this album gets extra R&B-ish (and hence teh ghey) towards the middle? Well, this and that last song were about the worst of it. You wonder how the TIs at Duck Down signed off on them. This can't possibly be good for their brand image.

MIDDLE OF THE MAP PT. 1

The first of two tracks in a row featuring dudes from Detroit. It sounds like they might have actually had Black Milk produce these two. They sound way more manlier than anything else on this album.

MIDDLE OF THE MAP PT. 2

The second of two tracks in a row featuring dudes from Detroit. This one is similarly gully, but it loses points for featuring Guilty Simpson, who I don't think is a very good rapper.

THE IN CROWD

From the sublime... to the homosexual. This is like Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" meets Cage's "Scenester" - but in a bad way. And this is the title track! If I was in charge, this album would've been called Middle of the Map, Pts. 1 and 2.

THE PLEDGE

The one track featuring labelmates from Duck Down - specifically, Buckshot and Sean Price. But it sounds more like a Kidz In The Hall record featuring those two than a legit Duck Down record. But the one featuring Masta Ace sounds like a Masta Ace record? I don't get it.

INNER ME

The requisite emo track at the end of the record. You know, to help tie things together thematically. I guess at least Naledge doesn't have any kids to rap about. *shudders at the thought*

DRIVIN' DOWN THE BLOCK (REMIX)

A remix of the single, featuring Bun B, Pusha T, and the Cool Kids. Pimp C was gonna be on it, but he's dead now.

COMMENTS: Kidz In The Hall are clearly onto something, they just need to step their manliness up a thousand percent or so. The first song, the single, and the ones with the guys from Detroit all crank, but a lot of the rest of this sounds like motherfucking R&B music. Don't let me find out Naledge had sex with Erykah Badu. I thought she was with Jay Electronica these days. I swear, menopause can't come soon enough for that skeeze.

BEST TRACKS: "Middle of the Map Pt. 1" "Middle of the Map Pt. 2"

BONUS VIDEO: "Drivin' Down the Block"

Comments

[i Fux aka Etheraldinho aka Farouq Obama]

I copped the album but I havent completely fucked with it yet. Just skimmed. But I am going to go on in with the listening on the drive home from work, which with traffic is a good hour or so. If I can drive and listen without going into space mode, then I will garner that the album is a success. But if somewhere during my drive I start thinking about how good my girl fucked me this morning and wanting to repeat that performance once I get home, then I figure the album is wack. Well Maybe not cuz if you had what I had this morning , no raps can keep your attention for a whole album. Not even Naledge who I find somewhat boring anyways. BTW the new Buckshot/9th album bangs in that mid 90's way that I assume the Kidz were trying to get this album to sound like.

[CHUN]

Safe all the talk about fucking with a record for the privacy of your own bedroom/rented closet. He complains about a lack of manliness on wax and you want to fuck a record... Seriously

[daesonesb]

I think someone needs to do some things on how suge knight just got knoccked the fuck out.. They ran the story on CNN for god sakes.

[yeah ok then]

is that little vic album actually legit enough to be on the poll? has he risen above the level of a myspace rapper? i only heard of his shit because a friend of mine went to high school with him and sent me a link to check it out. i didn't realize anyone else actually heard of it. from what people who know him told me he's a rich douchebag kid from long island who payed a lot of money for big name guests on his album. i guess that's how you get credibility in the rap game nowadays. by paying for it with your parents money. if people start taking him seriously it's gonna really make me second guess the credibility of a lot of rappers.

[Bol]

^I can't speak on how he got his album to be any good, but if I had to rank these albums, it would probably be top 5.

I wasn't checking for it. It just so happened to be in the pile of shit I get sent in the mail. I put it in one day and was like, whoa. Nullus.

[teh-thomas]

this was a really funny review bol. i like how you keep calling them the guys from detroit. it makes it sound so ominous. and what's with people not feeling guilty simpson?

[Liam]

yeh apart from the budget r&b this album is alright. anyone heard the new el-p stuff? his remix of jay-z's 99 problems is nice

[fade]

yea that drivin down the block el-p rmx is the best thing about them

steppin out meets scenster ...ha

[jihod]

First beggars can't be choosers! We only had three other albums worth purchasing this year, the JOint byBuckshot & 9th Wonder, Jazz Liberatorz & The Roots album. Everything else has been acceptable like Pete Rock, Fat Joe, Chaundon, AZ, & Rick Ross. Then you have your weak ass albums by Foxy Brown & Sheek Louch, they're shit was just awful. Personally Kidz in the Hall is the best rap album you can purchase this year. They're 1st album was good but this is better in every single way! All the guest like Skyzoo, Sean Price, Pusha T, Phonte, Buckshot & Black Milk shine on this album. Now the likes of Travis(from gym class hereos), Cool Kids, Bun B & Guilty Simpson just suck in my opinion but even they were good on this album. Double-O is obviously the talent & brains (despite Naledge's Ivy education), every track is in the good to amazing range. The real problem on this album is the Naledge guest overshadowed on every track. He lacks charisma & is an average lyricist. Keep in mind I want to like him as a rapper but realistically he has lots of room for improvement . If you're gonna spend you money one album this year buy this & support good HIP-HIP!
1. Kidz In The Hall- The In Crowd
2. Jazz Liberatorz- C'lienz o'diel
3. The Roots- Rising Down
4. Buckshot & 9th Wonder- The Formula
5. Rick Ross- Trill
6. Pete Rock- NY's Finest
7. AZ- Undeniable
8. Chaundon- Carnage
9. Fat Joe- Elepahant in The Room
10. Foxy Brown- Brooklyn's Don Diva
11. Guilty Simpson- Ode To the Ghetto
12. Sheek Louch- Silverback Gorillaz

!!!2008 SUCKS, MC'S STEP YA GAME UP!!!

[TyTy]

Anyone else think they are kind of biting Handsome Boy Modeling School with that cover?

http://www.mtv.com/shared/media/images/artist/h/handsome_boy_modeling_school/az_official/281x211.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/White-People-Handsome-Modeling-School/dp/B000654OVK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1210785675&sr=8-2

[Dezza McFlii]

I guess im one of the four.... cuz i love Masta Ace, Tribe, and Kids in the hall, nothing like lyrical ish....1 down 4 more to go?

anybody out there...

...anybody?!?

[Bomb]

What the fuck?
That video is horrible.

[Horus]

Masta Ace was on a song with the Cunninglynguists (another underrated group), called "Seasons". One of my all time favs...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9khJP_mR8Iw

[dfjuk-e]

el-p remix is beast
www.myspace.com/elproducto

[Double-0]

Lol.. gotta love you Byron Crawford... At least you enjoyed 2 of the tracks on the album.... But dammit bol... do not be one of these budget ass journalists... to me budget journalists are no different than run-of-the-mil dance rappers.. so get your facts right...

1. Our first single on our FIRST album was Wheelz Fall Off not Don't Stop and Don't Stop came out well b4 Show Me What U Got...

2. Blackout is an ode to Eric B & Rakim - Kno-The-Ledge.. lol

Lack of manliness?? lol love the commentary... keep that shit up son!! That means that I'm getting ALL THE WHITE VAGINA SON!!! ALL OF IT!!

[Double-0]

And how can you mention manliness and NOT like Guilty Simpson..

[Bol]

^I contain multitudes.

[Double-0]

multitudes of what son???

lol.. oh how have times have changed... I remember when we thought you were white kid and you were tryna interview naledge and get him to talk shit about kanye.. lol

[jihod]

^Lol! @ Double-O Versus Bol!

[Double-0]

no versus really... I respect the unabashed hate that young byron crawford brings... Hate is like Gummy Berry Juice... I just wanted to him at last hate with the facts intact..

[Ty Lawson]

I LISTENED TO THE ALBUM AND I WAS NOT DISAPOINTED BECAUSE ACTUALY I WAS NEVER IMPRESSED. I ONLY LISTENED TO SEE HOW THE GUYS FUSED WITH THE GUEST APPEARENCES BECAUSE IMMA BIG FAN OF UNDERGROUND HIP HOP (BUCKSHOT,SEAN P,MASTER ACE,ETC.) WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS SINCE THERE WAS SO MANY FEATURES HOW COME STONES, BUCKSHOT'S YOUNGER COUSIN DIDN'T MAKE AN APPEARENCE ON THE ALBUM EVEN THOUGH HE'S A LIL MORE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES HE STILL DOES HAVE AN UNIQUE FLOW AND INTELLIGENT WORD PLAY. I GUESS BECAUSE HE'S NOT NATIONALY KNOWN, BUT ANYWAY I HOPE THEY COME BETTER ON THE NEXT ALBUM I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP ON EM JUST YET BECAUSE I DO SEE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND I THINK THEY COULD DO IT.

[tbits]

"I remember when we thought you were white kid and you were tryna interview naledge and get him to talk shit about kanye.. lol"

This isn't actually a bad thing in a few ways.

[Dun]

The album's first track was not biting off Eric B & Rakim, that song was made in the same mold that the very first song from Tribe's Low End Theory (Excursions).

Go back and listen to the Tribe song and you'll see way more of a similarity than from Don't Sweat the Technique.

These dudes are Tribe heads and a throwback to the 90s and I can appreciate them, although anybody familiar with Naledge's rhymes like I am can obviously see he dumbed (and slowed) down his lyrics and rhymes for this album.