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Jabari Miles Evans, better known by his stage name Naledge, is an American
rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...
and one half of the hip-hop group
Kidz in the Hall Kidz in the Hall is an Americans, American Hip hop music, hip hop duo from Chicago, Illinois. History Group members Jabari Evans (Naledge) and Michael Aguilar (Double-0 (Kidz in the Hall), Double-0) met in 2000 during a talent show at the Un ...
. He is also an assistant professor of Race and Media at the University of South Carolina in School of Journalism and Mass Communication.


Life and career


Early life

Evans grew up in the South Side neighborhood of
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
. The son of mental health experts, Dr. Robert Evans and Dr. Helen Evans, Naledge displayed lyrical ability at an early age and by fourteen he had become a member of a local Chicago-based rap group called FFC (Famous From the Chi). In addition to his early musical accomplishments, he demonstrated an interest in academics, writing and publishing a book entitled “The Straight Jab” at the age of 16. Upon his graduation from Luther High School South, he attended the
University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...
, where he majored in
Communications Communication is commonly defined as the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether Intention, unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not onl ...
with a minor in
Sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...
. At Penn, Naledge became a member of the
Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University Bloomington, it has n ...
fraternity A fraternity (; whence, "wikt:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular ...
. While attending college he met classmate Michael Aguilar, a hip-hop producer now known as Double-O. The two began working together and formed the hip-hop group
Kidz in the Hall Kidz in the Hall is an Americans, American Hip hop music, hip hop duo from Chicago, Illinois. History Group members Jabari Evans (Naledge) and Michael Aguilar (Double-0 (Kidz in the Hall), Double-0) met in 2000 during a talent show at the Un ...
.


Kidz in the Hall

Upon Naledge's graduation from the
University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...
in 2004, he and Double-O signed with Rawkus Records and in 2006 released their first album,
School Was My Hustle ''School Was My Hustle'' is the first studio album from Kidz in the Hall, a Chicago hip hop duo. It was the first release from a reactivated Rawkus Records, after its catalog was purchased by Universal Music Group. Track listing #"Hustler's Int ...
. In early 2007, Kidz in the Hall created a song entitled "Work To Do" in support of democratic presidential nominee
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
, who has ties to Naledge's hometown of
Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
. They were among the first artists to support Obama in their music. The song features a sample from The Main Ingredient's version of
The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers ( ) are an American soul group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of the brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s. With a career spanning over seven decades, ...
original of the same name. In November 2007, Kidz in the Hall were officially signed to Duck Down Records, an independent label started by founding members of the
Boot Camp Clik Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York City, which is composed of Buckshot (of Black Moon), Smif-N-Wessun ( Tek and Steele), Heltah Skeltah ( Rockness Monsta and Sean Price) and O.G.C. (Starang Wondah, Top ...
. The duo's second album, '' The In Crowd'', was released in May 2008, with the lead single "Drivin' Down the Block," which samples
Masta Ace Duval Clear (born December 4, 1966), better known by his stage name Masta Ace, is an American rapper and record producer from New York City. A lead member of Mr. Magic's hip hop collective Juice Crew, he is best known for his guest appearance alo ...
's song "Born to Roll" for the hook and contains an interpolation of
Outkast Outkast (sometimes written as OutKast) was an American hip-hop duo formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992, consisting of Big Boi (Antwan Patton) and André 3000 (André Benjamin, formerly known as Dré). Widely regarded as one of the greatest an ...
's "Elevators (Me & You)" on the bridge. Many other tracks on the album use samples and interpolations of early 1990s hip hop, including their song "Snob Hop" featuring Camp Lo which uses the hook from Black Sheep's song "Flava of the Month" for the chorus. Their song "Blackout" was featured on the soundtrack of Madden '09. The group's most recent album Land of Make Believe was released on March 9, 2010, and features guests
MC Lyte Lana Michele Moorer (born October 11, 1970), better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, MC Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first female rapper to release a ...
, Just Blaze, Chip tha Ripper, Donnis, Amanda Diva and co-production by Just Blaze and Picnic Tyme. The album was declared the most "commercially viable" album the group has made thus far and received an XL rating in
XXL Magazine ''XXL'' is an American hip hop magazine, published by Townsquare Media, founded in 1997. History In August 1997, Harris Publications released the first issue of ''XXL''. It featured rappers Jay-Z and Master P on a double cover. In December 200 ...
.XXL Staff (March 9, 2010). “”.


Solo career

Naledge is also planning to come out with a solo album in the near future. He was quoted by rap website Hiphopdx, "My solo album is still in the process of being put together. I’ve been busy with shows, but I have some tracks in the works," says the rising MC. "I got beats from 9th Wonder, Black Milk, Double-O, Pete Rock and wo or three fromJust Blaze. Just Blaze has been my ‘yes man,’ okaying tracks for the album."Hiphopdx staff (2009).
He released a solo mixtape
.
Naledge has released solo work in the past, having dropped the
mixtape In the modern music industry, a mixtape is a musical project, typically with looser constraints than that of an album or extended play. Unlike the traditional album or extended play, mixtapes are labeled as laid-back projects that allow artists mo ...
br>Chicago Picasso
on June 30, 2009. The mixtape was in anticipation of the release of his solo album. It was hosted by Mick Boogie RTC and DJ Timbuck2, and featured guest artists include Chip Tha Ripper,
Jay Electronica Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah (born Timothy Elpadaro Thedford; September 19, 1976), known professionally as Jay Electronica (stylized as ), is an American rapper and record producer. Born and raised in New Orleans, he first saw recognition wit ...
, Mickey Factz,
Bun B Bernard James Freeman (born March 19, 1973), known professionally as Bun B, is an American rapper. He is best known as one half of the Southern rap duo UGK (Underground Kingz), a group he formed in 1987 alongside Pimp C. Aside from his work wi ...
,
Curren$y Shante Scott Franklin (born April 4, 1981), better known by his stage name Currensy (stylized as Curren$y), is an American rapper. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, he signed with the local record labels Cash Money Records and Young Mo ...
, with production by Double-O, Analogic, Picnic Tyme, Nez & Rio, and many others. The first single off the mixtape, entitled “Star Struck” (produced by Sa-Ra and featuring
Rus Soul Rus or RUS may refer to: People * East Slavic historical peoples (). See Names of Rus', Russia and Ruthenia ** Rus' people, the people of Rus' ** Rus, a legendary eponymous ancestor, see Lech, Czech and Rus * Rus (surname), a surname found in Ro ...
), was released on May 6, 2009. In June 2009, Naledge was featured in
Chicago Magazine ''Chicago'' is a monthly magazine published by Tribune Publishing. It concentrates on lifestyle and human interest stories, and on reviewing restaurants, travel, fashion, and theatre from or nearby Chicago. Its circulation in 2004 was 165,000, l ...
as one of the city's top singles. In September 2010, Naledge announced on his Facebook Page and Twitter account the release of his second upcoming mixtape " Twentysomething LP" hosted by DJ Moondawg on September 10, 2010. He also announced an exclusive preview of his mixtape on iTunes on September 7. In 2012, Naledge has created his company (Brainiac Society), with hope of helping local artists have a creative outlet to have their work heard. Additionally, in 2014 Naledge received his master's degree from the University of Southern California's School of Social Work
(link)
Aside from music, Naledge frequently speaks as guest lecturer at high schools, colleges and universities in the Chicago area and he is committed to doing community service within around the South Side area where he was raise
(link)


Discography

(with
Kidz in the Hall Kidz in the Hall is an Americans, American Hip hop music, hip hop duo from Chicago, Illinois. History Group members Jabari Evans (Naledge) and Michael Aguilar (Double-0 (Kidz in the Hall), Double-0) met in 2000 during a talent show at the Un ...
) ;Studio albums *''
School Was My Hustle ''School Was My Hustle'' is the first studio album from Kidz in the Hall, a Chicago hip hop duo. It was the first release from a reactivated Rawkus Records, after its catalog was purchased by Universal Music Group. Track listing #"Hustler's Int ...
'' (2006), Rawkus Records *'' The In Crowd'' (2008), Duck Down Records *'' Land of Make Believe'' (2010), Duck Down Records *'' Occasion'' (2011), Duck Down Records ;Mixtapes *''Detention'' (2007), Major League Entertainment *''Geniuses Need Love Too'' (2008) *"The Professional Leisure Tour" (2009) LRG *''Semester Abroad'' (2011) ;Singles *"Wheelz Fall Off ('06 'Til...)" (2006), Rawkus Records *"Drivin' Down the Block" (2008), Duck Down Records *"Love Hangover" (2008) *"Take Over The World ft Colin Munroe and Just Blaze" (2010) *"Jukebox" (2010) ;Music videos *"Wheelz Fall Off ('06 Til...)" (2006) *"Drivin' Down The Block" (2008) *"Love Hangover (feat. Estelle)" (2008) *"I Got It Made (Reebok Classic)" (2009) *"Jukebox" (2010)


Solo Discography

;Mixtapes *" Will Rap For Food: The Mixtape" (2006) *" The Crown Jewel" (2007) *"
Chicago Picasso The Chicago Picasso (often just ''The Picasso'') is an untitled monumental sculpture by Pablo Picasso in Daley Plaza in Chicago, Illinois. The 1967 installation of ''The Picasso'', "precipitated an aesthetic shift in civic and urban planning, br ...
" (June 30, 2009) *" Naledge Is Twenty Something" (September 10, 2010) *" Night At The Elysian (With Tony Baines)" (2012) *" Chicago Picasso 2" (2012) *" Brain Power" (2013) *" Brain Power 2" (2014) Chicago Picasso 3 (2017) Twenty Something 2 With DJ Moondwag


Guest appearances

*2004: " Love Me" (
Just Blaze Justin Gregory Smith (born January 8, 1978), known professionally as Just Blaze, is an American record producer and DJ. Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Smith attended Rutgers University for three years before dropping out to pursue a career in mus ...
Remix) *2012: "Stand Up" *2012: "The Sandlot" * 2012: "Nah Mean?" *2016
Yung Berg Christian J. Ward (born September 9, 1985), known professionally as Hitmaka, is an American record producer and former rapper. Ward began rapping under the stage name Iceberg in 2001, at the age of 14. His career was cut short, due to his time ...
That N***** Ain't do nothing Featuring Naledge


References


External links


Kidz in the Hall Website
* http://www.kidzinthehall.com/
Naledge's websiteUniversity faculty website
{{authority control 1983 births African-American male rappers 21st-century American male rappers Living people Rappers from Chicago 21st-century American rappers 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American musicians