“A breath of fresh air.” That term has become so cliché in Hip-Hop because its been thrown around by so many people who think they’re worthy of it. But if so many artists claim to be a breath of fresh air, then why is air quality in Hip-Hop still very poor? But when it comes to the tandem of Naledge and Double-O better known as the Kidz In The Hall, they’re so original that an overused phrase like that doesn’t even suit them. So instead, people should just refer to them as one of the Hip-Hop acts that is actually pouring life back into the genre (that’s saying that hasn’t been coined yet).

Dubbed the new version of Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Gangstarr, Eric B. & Rakim, and A Tribe Called Quest with Naledge taking the lead part of MC and Double-O the part of DJ/producer, they first made headway back in 2006 with their debut album, School Was My Hustle. Their single “Wheelz Fall Off (06 Til…)” (a remake of the Souls Of Mischief’s classic ‘93 Til Infinity) helped solidify their entry into a Hip-Hop fraternity that’s desperately in need of some new blood—and they’re back to give Hip-Hop another blood transfusion with their second album, The In Crowd.

The first thing you'll notice about the CD is firepower it contains (in referance to guest appearances). But none of them sound forced together like the case is on other artists projects. Every feature complements the music without taking away from the people that you actually want to hear on the album (i.e. Kidz In The Hall). The album kicks off with “The Black Out.” Over a base line reminiscent of Eric B. & Rakim’s “Juice (Know The Ledge)” Naledge does what the track suggests, and blacks out. “Nice ‘round mics like I was Scott Pippen/fresh off tour, so yes I stay trippin.’”

Phonte Coleman of Little Brother lends a hand on “Paper Trail.” With the soulful track provided by Double-O, Phonte drops lines like, “I always gotta do my job and stay on top of mine/it wasn’t written lil’ n*gga, it was prophesized/in ’03 I dropped Listening and/it took me to Paris, New York, and Michigan and.” Naledge: “I’m something like a star when it comes to the verbal spar/ride tracks to the like of NASCAR.” The simple sounds of “Drivin’ Down The Block” contains a voice sample of Masta Ace from his song “Born To Roll” and an interpolation of Outkast’s “Elevators (Me and You)” as Naledge takes on that persona of a high roller wanting to been scene by people when he drives by them.

John Legend’s new protégé Estelle adds a little bit of London flavor to “Love Hangover.” Estelle shines on the catchy hook and the bridge, as Naledge talks about the trials and tribulations of relationship life. Detroit beatmsith/MC Black Milk and rhyme veteran Guilty Simpson take part on “Midwest Thang (Part 1 & 2).” Over two completely different sounding beats—the MC’s involved show just how they all can fit together.

Boot Camp affiliates Buckshot and Sean Price are front and center on “The Pledge.” The somber and mellow production provides lines like Naledge’s, “F*ck the next top model, I’m the next top rapper/if n*ggas want problems, we can’t probably make it happen/music is my passion/but it sort of seems that stress is my hobby, cause it always seems to follow me” to Sean Price’s; “When I rap duke, I think stupid/like Frankenstein, Frankenberry, or Frank Lucas/I smoke a nick of weed, and sold a nick of crack/now I watch the Knicks listening to Nickelback” and Buckshot’s; “Welcome to the new school, Buck is the principal/talkin’ to my kids in the hall, tryin’ to convince ‘em all.”

“Drivin’ Down The Block” remix consists of a cocaine dealer, an underground king, and a couple of kids that are way too cool (in other words Pusha T from The Clipse, Bun B, and The Cool Kids). Some might think the one half of coke lords wouldn’t mesh good with the likes of Naledge and The Cool Kids, but Pusha T keeps his stash at home, and blends in nicely with the rest of the group.

Other songs like “Snob Hop” (feat. Camp Lo), “Lucifer’s Joyride” (feat. Travis from Gym Class Heroes), “Mr. AllDatSh*t,” “The In Crowd,” and “Inner Me” help tie together another well-constructed album by the new comers.

Naledge’s lyricism is sincere and genuine, as he touches on a wide variety of topics, and manages not to get out shined by all the people that are featured on the project. And as for the production of Double-O, this was just another display of how there are a lot more talented producers living in the world of Hip-Hop, rather than the usual suspects that come up in the same conversations over and over. Soon it won’t be long before he starts spreading his expertise to other MCs that are in need of assistance, and there are plenty of them out there who could use it.