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."
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.
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."
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.
