Photo by Evan Daniels for ATG
Kidz In the Hall are educated, met the right people, forged a career from a circumstantial project people dug. ATG caught up with them in Grand Rapids, Michigan on a leg of their Crowd Control Tour to talk new album, new fame, being buddies with Just Blaze and recording in Jay-Z's studio.
ATG: So tell me about the Crowd Control Tour you guys are on. How's the first headlining show going?
Double O: It's been an interesting experience traveling with extra rules. We're used to accommodating [other acts on bills], weird to have a tour manager. It's fun, we travel with a sense of accomplishment.
ATG: Any highlights? Favorite moments so far?
Naledge: For me, favorites, has to be Cleveland. The best crowd. But that's because our album dropped yesterday. It was just that high of accomplishment.
DO: Getting to do our crew record, "Fresh Academy," live with guys like Donnis.
N: No matter how much I don't want to do old songs, no matter how tired, it's these crowds and their energy. It's "Groundhog Day," with the shows. They keep us fresh.
ATG: Congrats on the new album, Land of Make Believe. How have you guys progressed on this one?
DO: The first album was an introduction to the world and we wrote from that perspective. We always saw it as a precursor to Naledge's solo project, it was just a last minute bunch of songs with goal to be cohesive. Here, we've been on international tours and every little bit of fame influences. Also location: it's the first time since college that Naledge has been around the whole time. Lastly when we recorded, my vocals were stationary for weeks and gave me plenty of time to analyze.
ATG: Your first album had tons of guests. Why did you make your introduction so top-heavy with others' work? How did you decide who to work with this time around?
N: It has to be natural, not about who has hot songs. We've been lucky enough to know people, to have friends on labels that sing r&b hooks.
DO: The first album was the right place, right time. The concept of The In Crowd was ushering in a new batch of artists, a new generation we believed in. It was for the love. The goal was to get everyone on and have a snapshot of the moment.
N: Now it's about bringing it home.
DO: Yeah, we're finally comfortable on album three.
ATG: You got Just Blaze on "Take Over the World." How did that record come about?
DO: Effortless. The song was 60-70% done and I kept hitting a road block trying to make it sound bigger. A big dance jam. I had the luxury of calling up Just Blaze to talk it over. To realize, you're the missing ingredient get on this track. An hour later it was written.
ATG: Bassline Studios just closed its doors. Historic creative spot for hip-hop. It was in "Fade To Black." What was your experience like working in there?
DO: By the time we arrived it was just an insane amount of history. We mixed our first album there just as Jay-Z started working on "Show Me What You Got" for Kingdom Come. It's where we met Just Blaze, Buckshot, Jay Electronica for the first time. Actually "Take Over the World" was the last record we made [at Bassline]. We ended on a high note. There was a bar right below where all these old Roc-A-Fella Records guys like Rell would hang out and we'd argue about music. We had a dope, five-year run.
ATG: I know you guys keep up with music. What's in your iPod?
DO: Grizzly Bear, Clipse, Mike Snow, Donnis, Bun B, Jay Electronica, K-Os, your Kanyes and Lupes, The Ecstatic is always active, Janelle Monae. Just heard the new Gorillaz, it'll be hard to top those old records.
ATG: What are the plans after SXSW and this spring tour?
DO: Recording. Working. Shooting miscellaneous videos. We premiered one on "106 & Park" last week, more promo stuff man.
ATG: Lastly you guys have been at cusp of evolving face of suburban, electronic hip-hop. What advice do you have for your up and comers?
DO: Don't impersonate, people will find chinks in the armor. It's now about being worldly, you just never know where and how pop moves. And if it's not working where you are, move.
- Evan Daniels
Double O: It's been an interesting experience traveling with extra rules. We're used to accommodating [other acts on bills], weird to have a tour manager. It's fun, we travel with a sense of accomplishment.
ATG: Any highlights? Favorite moments so far?
Naledge: For me, favorites, has to be Cleveland. The best crowd. But that's because our album dropped yesterday. It was just that high of accomplishment.
DO: Getting to do our crew record, "Fresh Academy," live with guys like Donnis.
N: No matter how much I don't want to do old songs, no matter how tired, it's these crowds and their energy. It's "Groundhog Day," with the shows. They keep us fresh.
ATG: Congrats on the new album, Land of Make Believe. How have you guys progressed on this one?
DO: The first album was an introduction to the world and we wrote from that perspective. We always saw it as a precursor to Naledge's solo project, it was just a last minute bunch of songs with goal to be cohesive. Here, we've been on international tours and every little bit of fame influences. Also location: it's the first time since college that Naledge has been around the whole time. Lastly when we recorded, my vocals were stationary for weeks and gave me plenty of time to analyze.
ATG: Your first album had tons of guests. Why did you make your introduction so top-heavy with others' work? How did you decide who to work with this time around?
N: It has to be natural, not about who has hot songs. We've been lucky enough to know people, to have friends on labels that sing r&b hooks.
DO: The first album was the right place, right time. The concept of The In Crowd was ushering in a new batch of artists, a new generation we believed in. It was for the love. The goal was to get everyone on and have a snapshot of the moment.
N: Now it's about bringing it home.
DO: Yeah, we're finally comfortable on album three.
ATG: You got Just Blaze on "Take Over the World." How did that record come about?
DO: Effortless. The song was 60-70% done and I kept hitting a road block trying to make it sound bigger. A big dance jam. I had the luxury of calling up Just Blaze to talk it over. To realize, you're the missing ingredient get on this track. An hour later it was written.
ATG: Bassline Studios just closed its doors. Historic creative spot for hip-hop. It was in "Fade To Black." What was your experience like working in there?
DO: By the time we arrived it was just an insane amount of history. We mixed our first album there just as Jay-Z started working on "Show Me What You Got" for Kingdom Come. It's where we met Just Blaze, Buckshot, Jay Electronica for the first time. Actually "Take Over the World" was the last record we made [at Bassline]. We ended on a high note. There was a bar right below where all these old Roc-A-Fella Records guys like Rell would hang out and we'd argue about music. We had a dope, five-year run.
ATG: I know you guys keep up with music. What's in your iPod?
DO: Grizzly Bear, Clipse, Mike Snow, Donnis, Bun B, Jay Electronica, K-Os, your Kanyes and Lupes, The Ecstatic is always active, Janelle Monae. Just heard the new Gorillaz, it'll be hard to top those old records.
ATG: What are the plans after SXSW and this spring tour?
DO: Recording. Working. Shooting miscellaneous videos. We premiered one on "106 & Park" last week, more promo stuff man.
ATG: Lastly you guys have been at cusp of evolving face of suburban, electronic hip-hop. What advice do you have for your up and comers?
DO: Don't impersonate, people will find chinks in the armor. It's now about being worldly, you just never know where and how pop moves. And if it's not working where you are, move.
- Evan Daniels
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