In the Crowd [PA]

Performer: Kidz in the Hall
Artist: DJ GI-Joe; Phonte; Masta Ace; Travis McCoy; Camp Lo; Donnis; Chip Tha Ripper; Estelle; Skyzoo; Lil Eddie; Fooch; Guilty Simpson; Black Milk; Tim William; Sean Price; Buckshot; The Cool Kids; Pusha T; Bun B
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Recording information: Bassline Studios, New York, NY; Music House Studios, Detroit, MI; Poom Poom Studios, New York, NY; Sound Clash; SoundScape Studios, Chicago, IL. Photographer: Robert Adam Mayer . After wowing underground heads and hip-hop purists alike with their excellent debut on Rawkus, the MC/producer duo known as Kidz in the Hall move up a class. On THE IN CROWD, their sophomore effort on Duck Down Records, the formula is the same--namely throwback production (think early 1990s) from Double-O and above-the-bar lyricism from Naledge. The crew's nostalgia-heavy approach is balanced with a fair measure of inventiveness. The lead single, "Drivin' Down the Block," is a prime example, as Double-O flips an unmistakable quote from Masta Ace's "Born to Roll" into a chopped-n-screwed style hook. Black Milk, Camp Lo, Phonte of Little Brother, Guilty Simpson, Buckshot, Sean Price, Pusha T, Bun B, and Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes make up the guestlist. Kidz in the Hall's primary gift is malleability: Double O can sound like anybody, and Naledge can flow over anything. On tracks like "Drivin' Down the Block" and "Mr. Alladatshit," where they set their sights on Banger and Lupe Fiasco, respectively, the results are thrilling if uninventive. Elsewhere, the results are merely uninventive, as on "Snob Hop," which apes Camp Lo so bad the Kidz decided to just have Camp Lo actually rap on the track, or the hand-wringing "Inner Me," which contains such treacly musings as "Does heaven have a currency?" The record can be a bit diffuse, flowing more like another artist's greatest hits than a self-contained statement, but to their credit, they do mostly sound like hits. Kidz in the Hall straddle the indie/bling divide interestingly -- and, most importantly, entertainingly. ~ Clayton Purdom

Vibe (p.72) - "On songs like the bass-heavy lead single 'Drivin' Down the Block,' the Kidz' confidence immediately explodes....Two albums in, it appears that these Kidz are alright."

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