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Producer Brothers tries other side of the mic
01/21/2006 1:48 AM, Reuters
Gail Mitchell
Known for his work with Alicia Keys, songwriter/producer Kerry "Krucial" Brothers is stepping
out from behind the control boards with his own solo rap
project.
But this is not "another R&B producer-turned-rapper
scenario," Brothers insists. "It's the other way around."
It was at open-mic sessions around New York where the
journeyman MC first met Keys. Their friendship branched out
into a fruitful creative partnership as co-owners of Krucial
Keys Enterprises. Now Brothers feels the time is right to shift
back into his original rapper mode.
An eight-song introductory EP featuring Brothers and
18-year-old protege Illz will come out around the end of
February by way of Krucial Keys subsidiary Krucial Recordings.
A full-length album, "Take Da Hood Back," is planned for June.
Mixing conscious tracks, party jams, boom beats and smooth
cuts, the album represents "what hip-hop is about," the Queens,
N.Y.-bred Brothers says. "Too many artists are getting caught
up in being one-dimensional. There's more to my music than can
be put in one little box."
Contrary to what might be expected, the EP does not contain
contributions from Keys or other special guests. "That would be
the easy thing to do," Brothers declares. "It's not about
trying to use hype. That's not what this is about."
Currently considering several distribution proposals,
Brothers says he chooses to remain on the indie side despite
his major-league connections.
"In the future, if (a major distributor) understands my
vision and agrees -- even after we cut the deal -- that might
be an option," Brothers says with a laugh. "But with the
knowledge I have and with today's technology, being independent
is the best way to get my music out the way I need to."
Additional projects on the Krucial Recordings docket
include Brooklyn, N.Y., rapper Illz's album debut next year.
"He rhymes more sense and depth than guys twice his age,"
Brothers says.
Beyond the hip-hop label, Brothers says Krucial Keys plans
to diversify into publishing, TV and film. In the meantime, he
is enthused about a "big honor": working on rap icon Rakim's
next album. Brothers' other production credits include Nas,
Usher and Keyshia Cole.
As for partner Keys, she has wrapped filming on the
Universal Pictures action comedy "Smokin' Aces," whose cast
includes Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia and Don Cheadle. And UPN is
developing a drama loosely based on Keys' childhood.
So when are she and Brothers heading back into the studio?
"We work on things here and there all the time," he says.
"But we're not going to seriously pursue an album until the
latter part of this year."
In the meantime, Brothers will hit the college tour circuit
in April/May. His single "Take Da Hood Back" is available for
listening at krucialkeys.com.
Reuters/Billboard
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