The Black Keys have collaborated with the once king of hip-hop, Damon Dash to produce Blakroc. An amazing eclectic mix of rock and hip-hop tones, featuring an all-star line up of: Mos Def, RZA, Pharoahe Monch and M.O.P.’s Billy Danze to name a few. Check exclusive videos and album content here.

So Damon Dash disappears for years and then suddenly he’s everywhere pushing amazing new hip hop. Perhaps there was more to the R-O-C than Jigga after all.

The Blakroc project that Hip Hop impresario Damon Dash helmed is pretty impressive. Putting to work blues rockers The Black Keys to lay down the heavy duty riffs and licks was a pretty genius idea. The list of guests is just as impressive with contributions from the versatile list of artists like Raekwon, RZA and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard of the Wu-Tang Clan; Jim Jones; Mos Def; singer Nicole Wray; Pharoahe Monch; Ludacris; Billy Danze; and Q-Tip.

The first video What You Do To Me features Jim Jones, Billy Danze and soulstress Nicole Wray. Hefty…

Make sure to check out Mr. Jim Jones in a Metropark exclusive Two In The Shirt Flawless Tee in Turquoise:

Still available at Metropark HERE

Cop the record from the Blakroc Site. It’s really good. Plus you can check out some awesome webisodes about the making of the record. Webisode numero uno, the Blakroc Sessions:

“We really should have done some Rihanna Rocawear umbrellas when that song became a hit.  We could have made a load of money on those.  I’m still kicking myself.”

For all of the chaos that was left in the wake of the Roc-A-Fella break up, there is still some positivity that can be found if a person searches through the rubble of the Dynasty.

Aside from being business partners in their musical venture, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Damon Dash also decided to take a crack at the fashion industry.  A true hustler knows that various paychecks becomes much more beneficial than a single check so the two needed to find a means to use their exposure to broaden their brand.

Officially launched in 1999, the line has developed clothing for adults and children and has expanded by creating handbags, jewelry and even sunglasses.

Unfortunately the break up found Dash selling his stake in the enterprise to Jay for $20 million.  Jigga would later sell his own rights in March 2007 to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million.  Jay, however, was still given the ability to oversee the marketing, licensing and product development.   

As Jay caught up with Women’s Wear Daily, Mr. Carter actually gave his former business partner his due for his work with the clothing line.  He also added how their different mentalities in business were a reason behind the rift.

“Dame did a great job when he was here.  I just feel that I have a different way of running things, which I think is working out well. I let people make mistakes, and push them to be creative. I let a design team design. When they feel good about something they have created, it makes them want to do more. It makes them want to do their best. People are happy here. I’m not a controlling manager and I have a great team that makes me confident that things can run well when I’m on the road, and I’m proud of that.”

Jay also expressed how the brand has been absorbed by the community and established itself within the marketplace.

 “Rocawear has always been a part of the whole overall culture.  It’s connected to everything that I do.  So, coming in full time was important to me.  It’s something I really believe in and something I want to protect.” 

Always known to be a trendsetter, Hov explained how the actual idea of the brand was sparked back in 1997 while the rapper was on stage.

“I would be onstage performing, and I noticed that all the kids were wearing iceberg jeans.  The same jeans that I would wear.  So, we thought, ‘Why should we let Iceberg get all this business when we can do it ourselves?”

Acting as a catalyst to having young African-American males ditching sports jerseys and throwing on button ups, Rocawear was able to hit the fashion industry by storm.  As FUBU was, the new brand from Jay and Dame was fully embraced by the urban community. 

Estimates show that Rocawear has annual sales of $800 million.  In March 2009, reports stated that the brand launched its first social networking site which offers things such as style news, music and fashion.

Kenshin from RockSmith is a busy man, creating mad crazy videos for the festive season and filming his young pioneers on the streets of NYC. Big ups for the video, I guess the bar is set for Cipher to come through, so be on the look out yo.

But This is the album on my wish list this year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BLAKROC

has been hyped up for a while now but it’s dropped and i have seen bits and parts of the trailer but I’m saving up my pennies this week ! This is the uncut master piece which puts authentic Hip Hop artists with The Black Keys, who produce the vicious Blues Rock sound. A truly unique collaboration which has made this passion project a sure shot for success.

Jay-Z did an interview with Women’s Wear Daily about Rocawear now and then, back when Dame Dash was running the show.  Here’s what he had to say concerning the two…

Via NecoleBitchie:

“Dame did a great job when he was here,” Carter said. “I just feel that I have a different way of running things, which I think is working out well. I let people make mistakes, and push them to be creative. I let a design team design. When they feel good about something they have created, it makes them want to do more. It makes them want to do their best. People are happy here. I’m not a controlling manager and I have a great team that makes me confident that things can run well when I’m on the road, and I’m proud of that. ”

“We really should have done some Rihanna Rocawear umbrellas when that song became a hit. We could have made a load of money on those. I’m still kicking myself.”

So Damon Dash decides to link with the Black Keys and put together an album in 11 days.

Here is the Mighty Mos, Jim Jones, and the Black Keys making magic:

Geeked doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel about this album.

I will be copping this at midnight. Peep the rest of the videos and read the story behind the album here.

————

Mos Def’s best work is still coming.

Blakroc is set to drop from V2 Records on November 27th.

PREVIEW: VISIT Blakroc’s Website
WE GIVE IT: 17/20 Watts

Regardless of any preconceived notions you may have regarding rap-rock, it’s hard to ignore a group with a lineup as stacked as Blakroc.

With the bluesmen of the Black Keys laying the foundation for tracks featuring the likes of Mos Def, Raekwon, Q-Tip, ODB (from the grave, obviously), RZA, Jim Jones and others, the collaboration, headed by hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, was set to turn heads, if nothing else. With the release of the group’s self-titled debut though, Blakroc is sure to shatter any of your dispositions against the genre.

Taking on a clearly Delta Blues inspired sound, the guys from the Black Keys refuse to assume  a “backing band” roll throughout the record, and for good reason. Behind each of the notorious vocalists, the duo groove with a heaviness that would make their Delta predecessors proud.

Black Keys, who Dash has said are his favorite band, position themselves around the vocalists on the tracks, rather than behind, giving each track a noticeably more cohesive sound. Never is hesitation heard in the backing tracks on the record, leaving the remarkable vocal roster to perform at their best.

While the collaboration may seem at first to be nothing more than your run-of-the-mill rap-rock novelty, the lineup of vocalists from track to track is hard discount. While not every track is single-worthy, each is still a success in its own right. Nicole Wray’s vocals are some of the smokiest sounding on the record (see “Why Can’t I Forget Him”), featuring a relaxed longing that complements the Black Keys’ blues backing remarkably.

NOE, who has often been cited as sounding like Jay-Z (we believe it now), achieves a flow on “Hard Times” that would make Hova himself blush. Perhaps the most notable of the vocalists on the record, though, is Mos Def. His comfort with a live band is obviously attributable to his past work, but important nonetheless.

In the end, Blakroc takes the novelty associated with the rap-rock genre and shatters it. With a refreshing and groove-heavy sound, the 11 artists of Blakroc have effectively resurrected a dead concept, or at least reminded us that it could still be done well. At this point, I guess all we can do is sit back and wait for the sophomore release from rap-rock’s talented new entrepreneurs.

– John Luposello

Dame Dash’s latest project is gearing up to hit stores. As previously reported, Dame’s been busy preparing a collaboration with rock/blues group the Black Keys. Now as the holiday season kicks in to full swing, the final project between the mogul and the band is set to hit stores. BlakRoc Records is preparing to release their collaborative effort, BlakRoc on “Black Friday” on November 27, the day after Thanksgiving.

Independent record stores that carry the album will appropriately deem the day “Blak Friday.”The album will be exclusive to iTunes digitally upon release. Produced by and featuring music by The Black Keys, BlakRoc hosts a star-studded line up of MCs including Mos Def, Q-Tip, RZA, Raekwon, Pharoahe Monch, Jim Jones, NOE, Nicole Wray and Billy Danze. The album will feature no samples and incorporate all live instruments and vocals.

Time is the only thing we have…time to do better, time to fix, time to get it right, time to love, time to change. We are not in control of the time, just our choices of what to do with it. All we can do is cherish it right now and even this second has passed.

“It’s why I was sitting on money (as he said) 4 years ago when he heard my cd,
I lost my home and his boys live rent-free
I sacrifice more but he hands out his boys cd….
he would have chosen Damon over Beyonce if he were Jay-Z
he proves more to his homies than his family:

The black man is too scared to cherish, honor and protect the value in me.”

His name is Willie,

Sadly, I see males promoting only male artists in the south. I’m not one so I can only speculate. Are they scared to look like kings again? Do they want to just be warriors forever? They don’t want to seem as if they are working towards obtaining a queen, I guess? The few times you see representation of a female that was permitted is when she is exemplified as nothing more than a sexual object and not an intellectual one.

There is the 1% of the males that get it.

Maybe because obtaining a queen is to respect her as one. As long as they are warriors, they can simply use the females they come across and stay in a barbaric state.

They can promote the jewels they have seized and adorn around their neck or the transportation vehicles they escort their male companions in. They can be against evolution and civilization, even though that is the woman’s purpose. They can impregnate then abandon females as they go along their trek of becoming old, lonely fools.

Yet another leak off Damon Dash’s latest musical venture BlakRoc!  This time The Black Keys are teaming up with M.O.P’s very own Billy Danze, soul stress Nicole Wray, and legendary Q-Tip for the superb cut “Hope You’re Happy”.  Who would ever have imagined hearing these artists going in with a Blues-Rock band on the same track?  Obviously times are changing and music marks no exception.  Make sure to check out The BlakRoc Project on Black Friday, November 27th.

DOWNLOAD LINK: UserShare

SOURCE: HypeBeast

Dame Dash isn’t done talking about the demise of Roca Fella Records. We thought a tear would drop when he said he got it tatted on his arm.  Peep the video when you

Jim Jones – Hit Em Up