Double-O
Encyclopedia
Michael Aguilar, better known by his stage name Double O, is an American
producer
and one half of the acclaimed hip-hop group Kidz in the Hall
.
, Double-0 was introduced to music early by his father who was also a DJ and a guitarist/singer in a band during his youth in Belize. Even though Michael Aguilar Sr. ended his music career in its infancy, his love for music was apparent and passed down to his sons. “Even when we didn’t have much money I can always remember there being a loud system in the house” says Double-0 of his early years. “He was always concerned with having a proper sounding system in the house and later the car.” He later attended the University of Pennsylvania
where he competed in track. Double-O is an accomplished track runner, having won multiple Ivy League championships and competing in the 2004 Olympics for Belize
. While attending college he met fellow classmate Jabari Evans, a rapper now known as Naledge
. The two began working together and formed the hip-hop group Kidz in the Hall
.
) in 2000 during a talent show at the University of Pennsylvania
. They began recording songs, making demos, and performing at local shows which eventually led to Double-0 and Naledge
forming Kidz in the Hall. Double-0 made a connection with Just Blaze
through a job he had at T-Mobile, and Blaze soon recognized their immense talent. Blaze then aligned himself with the duo and oversaw their debut School Was My Hustle
. Kidz in the Hall signed a group deal with Rawkus Records, and released the album to critical acclaim in 2006.
In early 2007, Kidz in the Hall created a song entitled "Work To Do" in support of democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama
, who has ties to Naledge's hometown of Chicago
. 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 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
. 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
's song "Born to Roll" for the hook and contains an interpolation of Outkast
'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
, 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 was well-received critically, receiving an XL rating in XXL Magazine.XXL Staff (March 9, 2010). “http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=72993”.
)
Studio albums
Mixtapes
Singles
Music videos
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and one half of the acclaimed hip-hop group Kidz in the Hall
Kidz in the Hall
Kidz in the Hall is an American hip hop duo from Chicago, Illinois.-History:Group members Jabari Evans and Michael Aguilar met in 2000 during a talent show at the University of Pennsylvania. They began recording songs, making demos, and performing at local shows which eventually led to Double-0...
.
Early life
Born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Double-0 was introduced to music early by his father who was also a DJ and a guitarist/singer in a band during his youth in Belize. Even though Michael Aguilar Sr. ended his music career in its infancy, his love for music was apparent and passed down to his sons. “Even when we didn’t have much money I can always remember there being a loud system in the house” says Double-0 of his early years. “He was always concerned with having a proper sounding system in the house and later the car.” He later attended the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
where he competed in track. Double-O is an accomplished track runner, having won multiple Ivy League championships and competing in the 2004 Olympics for Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
. While attending college he met fellow classmate Jabari Evans, a rapper now known as Naledge
Naledge
Jabari Miles Evans, better known by his stage name Naledge, is an American rapper and one half of the acclaimed hip-hop group Kidz in the Hall.-Early life:...
. The two began working together and formed the hip-hop group Kidz in the Hall
Kidz in the Hall
Kidz in the Hall is an American hip hop duo from Chicago, Illinois.-History:Group members Jabari Evans and Michael Aguilar met in 2000 during a talent show at the University of Pennsylvania. They began recording songs, making demos, and performing at local shows which eventually led to Double-0...
.
Kidz in the Hall
Double-O first met his future groupmate Jabari Evans (NaledgeNaledge
Jabari Miles Evans, better known by his stage name Naledge, is an American rapper and one half of the acclaimed hip-hop group Kidz in the Hall.-Early life:...
) in 2000 during a talent show at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. They began recording songs, making demos, and performing at local shows which eventually led to Double-0 and Naledge
Naledge
Jabari Miles Evans, better known by his stage name Naledge, is an American rapper and one half of the acclaimed hip-hop group Kidz in the Hall.-Early life:...
forming Kidz in the Hall. Double-0 made a connection with Just Blaze
Just Blaze
Justin Smith, better known as Just Blaze, is an American hip hop music producer from Paterson, New Jersey. Blaze is also the CEO of Fort Knocks Entertainment. He is most well known for producing Jay-Z songs on the albums The Blueprint, The Blueprint 2, and The Black Album. He is also known for...
through a job he had at T-Mobile, and Blaze soon recognized their immense talent. Blaze then aligned himself with the duo and oversaw their debut School Was My Hustle
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 since Rawkus Records was reactivated independently after its catalog was purchased by Universal Music Group. It was created in the fall of 2010 in the basement of Naledge's mom...
. Kidz in the Hall signed a group deal with Rawkus Records, and released the album to critical acclaim in 2006.
In early 2007, Kidz in the Hall created a song entitled "Work To Do" in support of democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, who has ties to Naledge's hometown of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. 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 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
Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York, which is composed of Buckshot , Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz , Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C....
. The duo's second album, The In Crowd
The In Crowd (album)
-References:...
, was released in May 2008, with the lead single "Drivin' Down the Block," which samples Masta Ace
Masta Ace
Duval Clear , known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is a rapper from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony"...
's song "Born to Roll" for the hook and contains an interpolation of Outkast
OutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
'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
Black Sheep (hip hop group)
Black Sheep is an alternative hip hop duo from Queens, New York, composed of Andres "Dres" Titus and William "Mista Lawnge" McLean. The duo is from New York but met as teenagers in North Carolina, where both of their families relocated. The group was an affiliate of the Native Tongues, which...
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
MC Lyte
MC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:...
, Just Blaze, Chip tha Ripper, Donnis, Amanda Diva
Amanda Diva
Amanda Diva is a female rapper, actress, and former replacement of the musical group Floetry.- Personal life :...
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 was well-received critically, receiving an XL rating in XXL Magazine.XXL Staff (March 9, 2010). “http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=72993”.
Discography
(with Kidz in the HallKidz in the Hall
Kidz in the Hall is an American hip hop duo from Chicago, Illinois.-History:Group members Jabari Evans and Michael Aguilar met in 2000 during a talent show at the University of Pennsylvania. They began recording songs, making demos, and performing at local shows which eventually led to Double-0...
)
Studio albums
- School Was My HustleSchool Was My HustleSchool Was My Hustle is the first studio album from Kidz in the Hall, a Chicago hip hop duo. It was the first release since Rawkus Records was reactivated independently after its catalog was purchased by Universal Music Group. It was created in the fall of 2010 in the basement of Naledge's mom...
(2006), Rawkus Records - The In CrowdThe In Crowd (album)-References:...
(2008), Duck Down Records - Land of Make Believe (2010), Duck Down Records
Mixtapes
- Detention (2007), Major League Entertainment
- Geniuses Need Love Too (2008)
- "The Professional Leisure Tour" (2009) LRG
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. EstelleEstelle (musician)Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
)" (2008) - "I Got It Made (Reebok Classic)" (2009)
- "Jukebox" (2010)