TAKIN’ DA HOOD BACK

TOUR-Mag catches up with Kerry “Krucial” Brothers on his EP, Take Da Hood Back.

You may not know who he is at first glance but your ears have already been introduced to his genius. For years he’s been the man responsible for the melodic soul moving tracks that set the stage for Alicia Keys’ mesmerizing vocals. He’s put in work and things are definitely paying off. Krucial, hip-hop artist turned producer is finally granted the opportunity to come full circle to his original passion- that mic in his hand, on stage, spittin’ lyrical flows… Few people know that this is how Kerry “Krucial” Brothers got his start in the music biz.

After making such a dynamic contribution to the music community already, with production credits on several multi-platinum projects, including, Keyshia Cole, Christina Aguilera and not to mention his number one gal, Alicia Keys - Krucial is returning to his first love of hip-hop with his EP, Take Da Hood Back.

When did you first realize your gift and ear for music; and say to yourself “this is what I want to do”?
Well basically I didn’t realize… [laughs] I just had the love for music and the passion to try and make my music. my first real love was definitely hip-hop. I grew up in a home where my parents played the classic soul music all day. And I guess I absorbed that as a child. But it was really hearing those big beats outside really did something for me and made wanna work toward that direction. I felt like hip-hop was my first music. I started out as an aspiring MC, and I kinda fell into production cuz being with different groups and crews; looking for DJ’s and producers to get beats together… after a while it got kinda hard for me especially coming from all the way Far Rockaway; I had to travel to Harlem, Brooklyn or the Bronx to do tapes. So I started getting my lil equipment together, and just started really making beats so that I can rap on ‘em. I was doing my rap circuit getting out there, lyricist lounges, and mixtapes…People started noticing my beats and was like “you made that track? make me one”. I wasn’t thinking “oh I’m a producer now,” it was more like “oh you like the beat? I can do that for you.”

How did you come to link up with Alicia Keys?
I got the opportunity to work with Alicia, who was also striving tryna do her thing with various groups. During that time, it was mid-90’s and everybody used to go to Washington square park. And you could find anybody from signed to unsigned artists there in ciphers and that’s where I met her. I started taking ciphers back to my crib and she used to be one of the regulars. She would get on the keyboard and I’d be on the MPC or the SB12 at that time and we started making music. She asked me if I wanted to work on her album, the rest is history.

What was your first thought?
When she brought the opportunity to me, I was very intimidated., but like I said I came from hip-hop, Like “oooh ok I can do it,” but I wasn’t to confident that I can do R&B. you know? I’ve always been a person that’s very driven and my father always instilled in me that if your gonna do something, do it your best. It made me step it up and learn more. Go back to my parent’s records and say “ok, this is my favorite joint, why did I like it?” Tyrna figure out how I can bring that out in my production.

Thinking about music more analytically?
Yes. Absolutely and studying and learning from her [Alicia] as a musician herself has really helped me step it up and I help her step it up as well.

Do you remember your first paying project?
My first paying project, I did a track for a female rapper named Nikky Barnes, she was signed to Columbia. It didn’t really come out but, that was the first time I really went through the whole system. I would always do tracks and get some money here an there but officially getting paid from a record label would have to be Nikky Barnes back in 97.

How was Krucial Keys formed? Who introduced the idea?
It was basically my idea and it was a mutual agreement. Alicia was doing a music was various producers but she was never happy with what she got out of it. But every time we worked together the chemistry always worked. So we just decided to start a production company.

What are some of the things you do as a part of your creative process?
Well sometimes I put on my favorite joints just to get me in the zone, whatever kind of energy I’m trying to create, I thrown on all my favorite songs to get that feeling I want. And I just vibe with it, get in that mode like “oh that’s my joint!” when you get all happy and loud, singing out of key [laughs] and to get that positive energy going and then I shut it off , turn my equipment on and get into it while I still have that feeling and work off of that.

Or sometimes I just sit in silence and I just have a melody or beat or lyrics in my head and I immediately grab some paper or my two-way and jot that down. Or I can be in my car, listening to some of my old stuff and think “oh man it sounds better now” you know? It varies all the time.

How do you describe that feeling when you’ve found that perfect combination?
It’s the high man! For people who do music that’s the high… It’s like “Whhheeeeew!” [laughs] you don’t want it to end….They say music is the universal language… The beauty of it, is when you love it so much and then other people love it too, then its even more gratifying, cuz then your like “wow, its not just me…”

You recently released an EP…
Yes! It’s called “Take Da Hood Back”. It’s 8 joints. I’m going back doing a 360…Everyone knows what I did with R&B, and production-wise but not too many people know that I MC. But I’m taking that time to express myself. I feel like theres a lot of things missing…there’s a big void in the game. Whatever I feel I can do instead of sitting back and complaining and being mad about “this aint this or that aint that..” I’m going out there and trying to make a difference. Going back to the roots with more knowledge that I had years ago and with more experience. It’s just a little taste….I didn’t just want to put out a single, cuz I had things on hold for the last 5 or 6 years…So I didn’t just wanna put out one single, so I said “I’m gonna give em a handful and put out an EP” hold everybody off till the album comes out the top of next year.

You have some of your tracks up on Myspace?
Yea I have a couple of songs – a couple of freestyles featuring my young artist Illz; my protégé. I’ve been working with him for the last five years. People gonna be impressed…When they get to hear what we really gonna do? Aww man…You getting on it early! [laughing]

Where did you meet your artist Illz?
I met Illz in queens. Um, actually my neighbor rang my bell like, “I got this kid, you need to hear…” So I’m like “Ok, alright, hold on…I’ll be out there in a minute…” So I go out there check him out, he was like 13 at the time. They having a cipher, everybody on the block knew I was doing production. He was just going off the top and killing it! He was half their age…everyone else was like twice his age, in their 20’s and he’s hanging with them and after a while they tryna get all extra cuz they tryna impress me. So he came out like “yall tryna steal my shine?!” and just started eaten em all up! [laughing] So I gave him a beat CD and said to him, ‘let me see what kind of songs you can write.” He got back to me the next week with 3 songs and the subject matter, insight, flow…I couldn’t believe he was only 13. So I was like “yea, he got it, he’s the full package”… so watch out! That’s all I gotta say I cant tell you no more… [laughing]

What are some of your favorite songs from “Take Da Hood Back”?
That’s very hard to do…I’m definitely in different zones at different times. If I’m in that rebellious, angry mood then its “Take da hood back”; If I’m ready to just get in my jeep, roll the windows down and ride around like crazy then its “They don’t understand”, if I’m up in the club or whatever I wanna hear “Up in the kitchen”. You know what I mean? It varies…But as a whole I love the way the all connect together. It’s like a mini-album. If you really following [the tracks] its like a story. I love all of them for different reasons.

What has been your hardest obstacle to overcome in order to get where you are today?
Well, where I am is a pretty good position. But it’s not where I’m supposed to be – only - You know what I mean? I’m trying to move it up to the next level and get more position. Just like your magazine is called “Turn Off UR Radio” we tryna bring more quality music to the radio for people that love hip-hop and that’s the hardest obstacle right now. We do the internet and satellite [radio stations] and fans call up show love, and people who aren’t fans check in cuz they heard “oh this producer dude is up there” then they like the music and say “it’s hot, its hot” we get some play, and then, problem is - when I leave you don’t hear the record no more. It’s getting to that play list. You gotta battle with those majors cuz we’re an independent company and basically we’re trying to bring true hip-hop straight from the heart for people who love the music and get some rotation. When you know ur hearing garbage being played 20-30 times on the radio, that’s really not the true essence of hip-hop, from DJ’s who claim they’re hip-hop DJ’s and stations who claim they’re hip-hop stations.

….Its the politics of the game. The the hardest part of the game is playing the politics. And I’m a straight forward person, I’m a man of my word and you wish that if people know you that way that would treat you with the same respect. But that’s not how the business is. That’s another reason why I took so long to do the artist thing, because I couldn’t deal with the BS and the politics. But I had to learn that the industry is what it is and it’s not gonna change for you. But you have to figure out how you can fit in and do your thing and make a difference while keeping your integrity. That’s the biggest battle of how I got where I am. Because besides being on stage and in the studio, everything else is just hell.

What two words describe the music industry today, in your opinion?
Surviving…that’s one word. LOL. It’s just surviving right now…I don’t feel like we’re getting a true representation of real hip-hop. We’re getting a great representation of commercial rap music, but not the real hip-hop and the essence of the hip-hop culture is just surviving.

How would you describe yourself in one word?
True.

What artists out right now, that you’d like to work with that you haven’t yet?
Immortal Technique is doing his thing…Corey Gunz, my artist Illz, Styles P, Papoose, Saigon…there’s a few other cats doing there thing out there.

Who are your top 5 favorite artists of all time?
Rakim, Public Enemy, KRS 1, L.L., and Stevie Wonder.

Favorite word or phrase?
You gotta work like a slave to eat like a king.

Word or phrase you hate?
Keep it real?

Ok now just for fun, complete this sentence; Krucial feels like?
The Man.

Hip-Hop tastes like?
Cherry quarter-water… LOL

Anything you ‘d like to add?
Thanks for the interview, I enjoyed it!

Find out more about Krucial on myspace - myspace.com/krucial

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