Ask Jabari Evans and Michael Aguilar, better known as Naledge and Double-O of Kidz in the Hall, what they rely on to keep their energy alive while burning the midnight studio oil and their answers are rather different. Naledge sticks to sweets (“Red Bull and Sour Patch Kids”) and Double-O chooses to grab a drink (“Clear alcohol, preferably vodka or whatever I have in the kitchen”). While they’re opposites in that respect, their creativity is always on the same page. Just take a listen to their third studio album, Land of Make Believe. The 15-track effort features originally crafted beats and lively records like the up-tempo jam “Jukebox.”

Rap-Up.com sat down with the team at skateboarding boutique Concrete in New York City. After Naledge grabbed a black and gray pair of Supra sneakers off a rack, he and his partner in rhyme, Double-O, discuss sexual encounters, University of Pennsylvania frat parties, and why lawyers don’t have it as good as they do.

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Think about male hip-hop figures and their trademarks. At times, the symbol—a material object or signature action—receives more attention than the artist does, which is why Mr. John Dough is hell-bent on keeping this part of his brand in pristine condition. Lil Jon has his pimp cup. Sean Combs has his “Diddy” bop. What does Philadelphia rapper Freeway have? His beard. “I use this good shampoo and conditioner [on it],” he admits. “I keep it moisturized and soft, comb it. I take a lot better care of it than when I first got on.” For a man who makes a barbershop visit every two weeks to keep it properly trimmed, would it be wrong to think he put a name to the lengthy strands so near and dear to his heart? “No, I haven’t,” he continues with a laugh, “but I’m sure some other people might have.”

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Sexual healer Raheem DeVaughn has been wooing the female persuasion for years, validating them and making them feel extra special. The R&B loverman isn’t one-dimensional though. He’s a socially-conscious altruist, ready to put his stamp on the world with his third album, The Love & War MasterPeace, available now.

Besides tender sentiments, Raheem touches on global media and politics, teams up with Ludacris on “Bulletproof,” gets a hand from Ne-Yo on “I Don’t Care,” and showcases a soul fest with Jill Scott, Chrisette Michele, Chico DeBarge, and Anthony Hamilton on “Nobody Wins a War.”

Hot on the heels of his mixtape Mr. February aka March Madness, Radio Rah reveals his famous relative, how his kids respond to bad music, and whether or not he’d give up his craft to be ballin’ like Donald Trump.

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If you’re looking for the hitmaking formula, just ask Claude Kelly. As the songwriter behind Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.,” Britney Spears’ “Circus,” Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You,” and R. Kelly’s “Echo,” he has applied his Claudratic Formula to hits for some of music’s biggest names.

The New Yorker took his degree from Berklee College of Music and set off with a dream in tow. With no plans after graduating, Claude decided to throw himself into the game head-first. “Screw this! I’m going to try and write a song and see what happens,” he recalls as the first words he uttered before putting pen to paper.

Good thing he did. Not long after writing his third track, he nabbed a spot on a compilation CD created for Japanese clothing line A Bathing Ape. Next Akon stepped in and asked for Claude’s expertise. It wasn’t long before Leona Lewis, Whitney Houston, and even the King of Pop came knocking.

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When most people think of Houston artists, Beyoncé, Scarface, and Chamillionaire are some of the names that come to mind. Now 24-year-old H-Town native Bertell Young hopes to add himself to that list. The R&B singer, who simply goes by Bertell, has achieved success on Southern airwaves with his single “She Bad” featuring fellow Houstonian Bun B.

After overcoming life on the streets and homelessness, Bertell signed a record deal with Capitol Records and is now prepping his March 23 debut Goin’ Hard alongside hitmaker Bryan-Michael Cox. Get to know this rising star, from his humble beginnings to his ambitious pursuits.

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While mostly known for their work with hip-hop and R&B acts, hitmaking duo Tricky Stewart and The-Dream are branching out into pop/rock territory with Katy Perry’s sophomore album, the follow-up to 2008’s One of the Boys. The Grammy-winning Stewart took time out from his holiday vacation to speak with Rap-Up.com about one of the projects he’s most excited about for 2010.

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Dondria certainly knows how to put on a show. Just check out her YouTube channel, which has nabbed 3 million views and counting. It’s the reason Jermaine Dupri signed her to his label, So So Def Records. The day she got the call, Dondria thought it was a joke.

“When he called my phone, he left a message,” she reveals. “I called everybody in my phone book! I put the message on three-way, like, ‘Oh my gosh, does this sound like him?’” It did, and Dondria flew to Atlanta and has been working with J.D. ever since. Two singles (“Can’t Stop” and “You’re the One”) and a mixtape of R&B remixes (Dondria Duets) later, and now the Sachse, Texas native is readying her debut album, Dondria vs. Phatfffat.

After flying home from Atlanta, Rap-Up.com caught up with the 22-year-old songstress to discuss what Phatfffat loves to eat, her ideal duet, and the first thing she does in the morning.

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“Like clouds in a sky/ Some men do cry/ Just look in my eyes,” alternative-R&B singer Mateo sings on his self-penned single “Human.” The “urban-mod” singer-songwriter, who happens to be in touch—and rhythmically in tune—with his more sensitive half, is the exotic new face of MySpace Records. Originally discovered by his manager (and former MTV VJ alum) Quddus Philippe, after placing “Human” on his label’s social networking site, Mateo, a former business consultant, has paid his dues and then some over the past three years. From writing music for UPN’s “Eve” sitcom to performing songs off his five-part cinematic mixtape series, Underneath the Sky, in L.A. showrooms, the piano-touting newcomer is at last unveiling an intimate introductory course to the masses with his EP, Get to Know Me: Live at Swing House.

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If you’ve been keeping tabs on who has sat in the director’s chair for some of the hottest music videos, then you already know about Chris Robinson. The visionary filmmaker has directed classic clips for Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” Nas’ “One Mic,” and Busta Rhymes’ “Pass the Courvoisier, Pt. II,” in addition to more recent fare like Wale and Lady Gaga’s “Chillin’,” Keri Hilson’s “Slow Dance,” and Jordin Sparks’ “S.O.S. (Let the Music Play).” And beyond the music video realm, Robinson directed and released his first feature film ATL to critical acclaim in 2006, proving that he’s more than a one-trick pony when it comes to telling a cinematic story.

Speaking with Rap-Up.com, Robinson reflected on his favorite music videos to shoot, why he loves working with Alicia Keys more than any other artist, what would inspire him to make a sequel to ATL, and his favorite new rapper.

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