* En anglais uniquement
The MCing half of progressive rap duo
Kidz in the Hall,
Naledge was born Jabari Evans in Cincinnati, OH, but grew up on Chicago's South Side since he was two years old. Raised by two Ph.D.-educated parents, the high-school valedictorian academically had an easy time in school and found his niche in poetry and writing. However, it was cousin Memo, one-third of Chicago production outfit
the Molemen, who convinced him to transform his writing prowess into hip-hop rhymes. He first met his DJ/producer partner,
Double O, in 2000 on a recruiting visit to the University of Pennsylvania, and the two became good friends and musical collaborators. While still attending Penn,
Naledge acquired a solo deal with Rawkus Records, but ended up bringing
the Kidz in the Hall brand under Rawkus management as well, once he and
Double O finally decided to start the group. Soon after
Naledge graduated from Penn in 2004, he released The College Graduate mixtape, which was a nod to
Kanye West's breakout debut album,
The College Dropout. After a few
Kidz in the Hall mixtapes and an aggressive Internet-promoting campaign,
Naledge and
Double O dropped their debut, School Was My Hustle, in 2006.
Naledge's solo debut, tentatively titled Naledge Is Power, was intended to come out not long after
the Kidz in the Hall LP, but the two wound up severing ties with Rawkus and signed on with
Boot Camp Clik imprint Duck Down in 2007. ~ Cyril Cordor