Not sure if this should go here or in the articles section. Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong area.
Jusr read this, this morning about Blackroc 2. Thought I'd post it in case someone here had not read it.
"They can do no wrong. While developing the backbone of today’s American blues-rock, The Black Keys released an overlooked, under-appreciated collaborative album. In 2009, the dynamic two-piece hit the studio to record Blakroc, a rock/rap/R&B fusion with an all-star lineup of contributing artists including Ludacris, Q-Tip, Nicole Wray, Mos Def, and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard. While the album received critical acclaim and moderate success, reaching #7 on the U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums chart, the collaboration has managed to remain unexplored by much of the national audience addicted to the group’s latest heavyweight album Brothers. Although fans flock to drummer Patrick Carney and front-man Dan Auerbach to alleviate their need for consistent, compelling rock music, the hip-hop and R&B tones that saturate Blakroc opened new avenues for the duo. The album balances the unshakable and unmistakable Keys sound with a mosaic of eminent hip-hop icons.
Together the massive group of artists produced a vibrant menagerie of soulful sounds in record time. The eleven contributing artists spent only eleven days in the studio with the duo. The Black Keys, now leaders in the world of rock, expressed immense enthusiasm for the hip-hop, R&B collaboration. Auerbach stated that he and Carney “have been preparing for this record since we were 16.” A second Blakroc album is currently taking form with confirmed collaborators Wiz Khalifa and The Cool Kids. The personal investment and dedication into the project is stark; though the spotlight shines on a multitude of powerful people, Carney and Auerbach pound together as an unwavering heartbeat. Each track harnesses the same energy of The Black Keys and deviates into thrilling soul and hip-hop tributaries.
The album moves from track-to-track as a saga from episode-to-episode. Blakroc begins as a thrill ride from the other side of the millennium with “Coochie,” featuring Ludacris and Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Once the track takes off, the two emcees plow straight ahead, squealing the tires of the album from the onset. Mos Def keeps the pistons pumping with a seamless transition into the second track, “On the Vista,” which again emits an authentic ‘90s aroma with hues of Def’s Black on Both Sides and the Keys’ Thickfreakness bleeding through. Halfway through the album the album achieves liftoff. Listeners get their first taste of the soulful Nicole Wray, whose potent vocals on “Why Can’t I Forget Him?,” saturate the Keys’ pulse-pumping rhythm with succulent, seductive pleadings. As the saga continues to unfold, new artists and influences weave into the web of the album, never hesitating to push boundaries—always provoking head-bobbing and toe-tapping.
Blakroc remains one of the greatest kept musical secrets on the market. The record’s ability to blend genres and unite diverse listeners is a testament to the versatility and capability of The Black Keys. They don’t have to collaborate with a slue of multi-talented artists to prove themselves as leaders in American music. They do anyway. Because they can."
- Matthew Mabis (May 11, 2011)
"Don't touch the duct tape." ~ Dan "God" Auerbach
