Blakroc

Blakroc
Studio album by The Black Keys
Released	November 24, 2009
Recorded	2009
Genre	Rap rock, alternative hip hop, alternative rock, blues rock
Length	35:35 (CD version) 31:27 (Amazon/iTunes version)
Label	V2
Producer	Damon Dash (exec.), Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney, Joel Hamilton
The Black Keys chronology
Attack & Release (2008) Blakroc (2009) Brothers (2010)
Singles from Blakroc
"Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)" Released: September 14, 2009

Blakroc is a rap rock collaboration album by Ohio-based blues rock band The Black Keys and several hip hop and R&B artists. The project has been overseen by Damon Dash, co-founder and formerly owner of a share in Roc-A-Fella Records. The album was recorded at Studio G by co-producer Joel Hamilton. Album guests include Raekwon, RZA and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard of the Wu-Tang Clan, Jim Jones and NOE of ByrdGang, Mos Def, singer Nicole Wray, Pharoahe Monch, Ludacris, Billy Danze of M.O.P., and Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest.^[1]

Recording

After Damon Dash began listening to The Black Keys, who he says became his favorite band, he reached out to the musicians to meet in person. Dash suggested that they enter the studio with Jim Jones, with whom Dash recently partnered to form Splash Records.^[2] While recording with co-producer Joel Hamilton at Studio G,^[3] Mos Def interrupted the session, and ended up recording with them as well.^[1] With new artists being called in to work on the album, it was completed after eleven weeks recording. Included in the project are vocals from deceased rapper and former Roc-A-Fella Records artist Ol' Dirty Bastard, tapes which were signed over to his brief Roc4Life venture under Def Jam with the intention of an eventual album release. In order to release Blakroc, Dash has formed an independent record label in conjunction with the band.^[1] The first single for the album, "Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)", features a singing duet between The Black Keys' guitarist Dan Auerbach and Mos Def, with rap verses from Jim Jones; it was released on September 14, 2009.

Blakroc 2

In early September 2011, a trailer surfaced for Blakroc 2, the second album from Blakroc, the collaborative hip-hop project from the Black Keys and Damon Dash,^[4] however, later that month in an interview with Atlanta radio station 92.9 Dave FM, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney said, "BlakRoc 2 is not coming out soon... there are no plans for that."^[5]

Carney said that the trailer is actually an unauthorized video that was pieced together about two years ago. They recorded "about eight songs" two years ago, but the album was never completed. A publicist has confirmed that there is no release date set for Blakroc 2. The trailer was posted on the YouTube channel of Damon Dash's DD172 media collective.^[6]

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
BBC	(favorable)[7]
Clash	[8]
NME	(7/10)[9]
The Observer	[10]
Pitchfork Media	(6.7/10)[11]
Slant Magazine	[12]
Spin	(5/10)[13]
The Seattle Times	(favorable)[14]
The Washington Post	(favorable)[15]

The album was generally received well by critics. The album reached Number 1 and Number 7 on the US Billboard Heatseakers chart and US Billboard Top Rap Albums respectively. Nick Neyland of BBC music stated in his review "this is a surprisingly compelling and welcome rejoining of the rap and rock worlds that successfully captures the off-the-cuff nature of the recording sessions."^[16]

Promotion

Damon Dash, co-founder of the project has endorsed BlakRoc Camaros, limited edition Chevrolet Camaro automobiles to promote the album and brand.^[17] The Black Keys have stated they did not take part in the promotion.^[18]

The song "What You Do to Me" was featured in a 2011 Zales Diamonds Valentine's Day commercial and the fourth season premiere of True Blood as well as the True Blood volume three soundtrack.

Track listing

Chart positions

References

External links

• Blakroc official website
• Interview with Blakroc co-producer and engineer Joel Hamilton