Blakroc

After Damon Dash, {{nowrap|co-founder}} and former {{nowrap|co-owner}} of Roc-A-Fella Records, began listening to Ohio-based rock duo the Black Keys (which he says quickly became his favorite band), he reached out to the musicians to meet in person. Dash suggested they enter the studio with his friend and associate, New York City-based rapper Jim Jones, with whom Dash had recently partnered to form Splash Records at the time.{{cite web |last=Langhorne |first=Cyrus |url=http://www.sohh.com/2009/05/jim_jones_talks_dipsets_h.html |title=Jim Jones Announces DJ Webstar Duet Deal, "I Got A Lot Of Music On the Airwaves'" [Video |publisher=Sohh.Com |date=2009-05-27 |access-date=2010-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507202148/http://www.sohh.com/2009/05/jim_jones_talks_dipsets_h.html |archive-date=2010-05-07 |url-status=dead }}

While recording with co-producer and engineer Joel Hamilton at Studio G, Brooklyn rapper Mos Def interrupted the session and ended up recording with them as well. With new artists being called in to work on the album, it was completed after eleven weeks of 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 founded an independent record label in conjunction with the band.

Damon Dash, co-founder of the project has endorsed BlakRoc Camaros, limited edition Chevrolet Camaro automobiles to promote the album and brand.{{cite web |url=http://blakroccamaro.com/ |title=Carl Black Automotive Group | Chevrolet Camaro SS |publisher=BlakRoc Camaro |access-date=2010-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124122849/http://blakroccamaro.com/ |archive-date=2010-11-24 |url-status=usurped }} The Black Keys have stated they did not take part in the promotion.{{cite web|url=http://www.hotfeeder.com/entertainment/hilarious_black_keys_drummer_patrick_carney_on_not_growing_a_beard_damon_dash_and_danger_mouse_2560508 |title=Hilarious Black Keys Drummer Patrick Carney on Not Growing a Beard, Damon Dash, and Danger Mouse |publisher=Hotfeeder.com |date=2010-06-03 |access-date=2010-12-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227083607/http://www.hotfeeder.com/entertainment/hilarious_black_keys_drummer_patrick_carney_on_not_growing_a_beard_damon_dash_and_danger_mouse_2560508 |archive-date=February 27, 2011 }}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 72/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/blakroc/blakroc |title=Reviews for Blakroc by Blakroc |publisher=Metacritic |date=2009-12-03 |access-date=2015-09-05}}

| rev1 = BBC

| rev1Score = (favorable){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/2x3q |title=Music - Review of Blakroc - Blakroc |publisher=BBC |date=2009-11-30 |access-date=2015-09-05}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2Score = {{rating|9|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/blakroc-blakroc |title=Blakroc - Blakroc | Reviews | Clash Magazine |publisher=Clashmusic.com |date=2009-06-04 |access-date=2015-09-05}}

| rev3 = NME

| rev3Score = (7/10){{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/blakroc/10986 |title=NME Reviews - Album review: Blackroc - 'Blakroc' (V2/Cooperative) |publisher=Nme.Com |date=2009-12-03 |access-date=2015-09-05}}

| rev4 = The Observer

| rev4Score = {{rating|4|5}} {{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/01/blakroc-album-review|title=The Observer Review | location=London | work=The Guardian|first=Gareth|last=Grundy|date=2009-11-01}}

| rev5 = Pitchfork Media

| rev5Score = (6.7/10){{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13747-blakroc/ |title=BlakRoc: Blakroc | Album Reviews |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2009-12-01 |access-date=2015-09-05}}

| rev6 = Slant Magazine

| rev6Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/blakroc-blakroc/1926 |title=Blakroc: Blakroc | Album Review |publisher=Slant Magazine |date=2009-11-27 |access-date=2015-09-05}}

| rev7 = Spin

| rev7Score = (5/10){{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/blakroc-blakroc-blakroc |title=BlakRoc, 'BlakRoc' (BlakRoc) |publisher=SPIN |access-date=2015-09-05}}

| rev8 = The Seattle Times

| rev8Score = (favorable){{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2010340279_cds24.html?syndication=rss|title=The Seattle Times Review|publisher=Seattletimes.nwsource.com | date=2009-11-24}}

| rev9 = The Washington Post

| rev9Score = (favorable){{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/30/AR2009113003794.html |title=Quick Spins: Review of Blakroc's self-titled album |work=Washingtonpost.com |access-date=2015-09-05}}

}}

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."{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13747-blakroc/ |title=Album Reviews: BlakRoc: Blakroc |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2009-12-01 |access-date=2010-12-12}}

In early September 2011, a trailer surfaced for Blakroc 2.{{cite web|author=Andrew Martin |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/the-black-keys-patrick-carney-says-blakroc-2-isnt-/56780/ |title=The Black Keys' Patrick Carney Says 'Blakroc 2' Isn't Coming Out | Prefix |publisher=Prefixmag.com |date=2011-09-26 |access-date=2015-09-05}} In an interview with Atlanta radio station 92.9 Dave FM later that month, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney said, "Blakroc 2 is not coming out soon... there are no plans for that."{{cite web|url=http://www.donewaiting.com/2011/09/26/videothe-black-keys-have-no-current-plans-to-release-blakroc-2/ |title=Video: The Black Keys Have No Current Plans to Release Blakroc 2 |publisher=Donewaiting.com |date=2011-09-26 |access-date=2015-09-05}} Carney said that the trailer is actually an unauthorized video that was pieced together around 2009. They recorded "about eight songs" at the time, 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.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/44120-the-black-keys-second-hip-hop-album-blakroc-2-is-not-actually-happening/ |title=The Black Keys' Second Hip-Hop Album, BlakRoc 2, Is Not Actually Happening | News |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2011-09-26 |access-date=2015-09-05}}

{{Track listing

| title1 = Coochie

| note1 = featuring Ludacris and Ol' Dirty Bastard

| writer1 = {{hlist|Dan Auerbach|Patrick Carney|Ludacris|Ol' Dirty Bastard}}

| length1 = 4:08

| title2 = On the Vista

| note2 = featuring Mos Def

| writer2 = {{hlist|Auerbach|Carney|Mos Def}}

| length2 = 2:39

| title3 = Hard Times

| note3 = featuring NOE

| writer3 = {{hlist|Auerbach|Carney|NOE}}

| length3 = 2:38

| title4 = Dollaz & Sense

| note4 = featuring RZA and Pharoahe Monch

| writer4 = {{hlist|Auerbach|Carney|Pharoahe Monch|RZA}}

| length4 = 3:47

| title5 = Why Can't I Forget Him

| note5 = featuring Nicole Wray

| writer5 = {{hlist|Auerbach|Carney}}

| length5 = 4:16

| title6 = Stay Off the Fuckin' Flowers

| note6 = featuring Raekwon

| writer6 = {{hlist|Auerbach|Carney|Raekwon}}

| length6 = 2:31

| title7 = Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)

| note7 = featuring Mos Def and Jim Jones

| writer7 = {{hlist|Auerbach|Carney|Jim Jones|Mos Def}}

| length7 = 3:23

| title8 = Hope You're Happy

| note8 = featuring Billy Danze, Q-Tip, and Nicole Wray

| writer8 = {{hlist|Auerbach|Billy Danze|Q-Tip|Nicole Wray}}

| length8 = 2:11

| title9 = Tellin' Me Things

| note9 = featuring RZA

| writer9 = {{hlist|Auerbach|RZA}}

| length9 = 2:39

| title10 = What You Do to Me

| note10 = featuring Billy Danze, Jim Jones, and Nicole Wray

| writer10 = {{hlist|Billy Danze|Jones|Wray}}

| length10 = 5:14

| title11 = Done Did It

| note11 = featuring Nicole Wray and NOE

| writer11 = {{hlist|Auerbach|Carney|NOE}}

| length11 = 3:29

}}

Note

• "Coochie" does not appear on versions of the album released through several digital providers.
• On the physical version of the album, "Done Did It" runs to 4:38 and includes studio chatter at the end following a short period of silence

The Black Keys

• Dan Auerbach – guitar, production
• Patrick Carney – drums, percussion, production

Technical

• Joel Hamilton – production, engineering, recording (all tracks), mixing (tracks 2, 8, 9, 11)
• Adam Ayan – mastering
• Tchad Blake – mixing (tracks 1, 3–5, 7)
• Clay Holley – mixing (tracks 6, 10)

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [http://www.blakroc.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215161811/http://www.blakroc.com/ |date=2015-02-15 }}

{{The Black Keys}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Keys, The}}

Category:2009 collaborative albums

Category:Rap rock albums by American artists

Category:The Black Keys albums