ALBUM REVIEW - Kidz in the Hall - The In Crowd (2008)

Along with the recent release of Keith Sweat's new album as well as The Roots' latest offering, both R&B and hip-hop seem to be headed in the right direction. Up-and-coming duo Naledge (the MC) and Double-O (the DJ), better known as Kidz in the Hall, only further that trend with their sophomore offering (and Duck Down Records debut), THE IN CROWD.

Building off the strength of their solid 2006 debut on Rawkus Records, KITH continues their trend of solid lyricism over equally-solid production, channeling the ghosts of backpack-rap's past and making it work. The lead single, "Drivin' Down The Block (Low End Theory)," effectively uses its chopped-and-(barely) screwed Masta Ace sample to accentuate the H-Town-flavored beat. Of course, the chorus references the classic A Tribe Called Quest album, THE LOW END THEORY, which many critics consider to be one of the definitive hip-hop albums of all time. The lyrics remain witty throughout this song and the rest of the album, with a touch of sophistication and just-plain COOL. At its essence, the album (as well as the bulk of KITH's music) serves as a tribute to the golden age of hip-hop, and does it extremely well.

On their own, each track sounds disjointed and out-of-place. However, in the whole scheme of things, the album flows EXTREMELY well from beginning to end. There isn't a single lame duck that comes to mind when recalling each track, and the guest verses rarely outshine Naledge's rhymes.

However, given the independent nature of Duck Down (and even Rawkus) Records, it can't be ignored that this is not commercial-friendly music. This is hip-hop boiled down to its core, offering old-school flavor with a new-school twist.

This album will likely provide nostalgia for fans of backpack rap, while giving the newer generation a glimpse of a chunk of an era that many consider to be hip-hop's finest.

Recommended tracks:
"Drivin' Down The Block (Low End Theory)"
"Drivin' Down The Block REMIX (ft. Pusha T, Bun B, & The Cool Kids)
"Paper Trail (ft. Phonte of Little Brother)"
"Inner Me"
"Love Hangover (ft. Estelle)"
"The Pledge (ft. Sean Price & Buckshot)"