by Daria Fennell

    "My Adidas
         walked through concert doors
         and roamed all over coliseum floors..." 
           {"My Adidas" by Run-DMC}

The year is 1986.  "My Adidas" by Run-DMC is being blasted out of the boombox of a young kid from Far Rockaway, Queens.  This kid is also a fan of Eric B. & Rakim, KRS-1 and Boogie Down Productions, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Aretha Franklin.  These artists and their classic music inspire the kid to make a life for himself in the music industry.  This young kid is Kerry "Krucial" Brothers.

All grown up, Krucial is now a grammy-award winning, multiplatinum selling songwriter and producer, an entrepreneur, and an MC. He is also founder and co-CEO of Krucial Keys Enterprises.  The other co-CEO of Krucial Keys Enterprises is the incomparable Alicia Keys.   Krucial Keys Enterprises provides songwriting, producing, recording, mixing and a full-service recording studio. 

After being behind the scenes for years, Krucial is now readying his debut as an MC by releasing an EP and full-length album entitled, "Take Da Hood Back."  "Take Da Hood Back" features Krucial's protege, Illz, a native of Brooklyn, New York.  The "Take Da Hood Back" EP will be released February 2006 followed by the "Take Da Hood Back" full-length album in June 2006.

"The first time I wanted to take music seriously is when Run-DMC was coming out.  I was a little kid.  I went from being an aspiring rapper to getting more and more into music."  Krucial has written, produced, arranged, and composed for artists such as Alicia Keys, Keyshia Cole, Mario, Angie Stone, and Nas.   Krucial has also played an important role in the multi-platinum success of Alicia Keys' albums, "The Diary of Alicia Keys" and "Songs in A Minor."  Along with Keys, Krucial served as main producer and writer of "The Diary of Alicia Keys" and "Songs in A Minor." 

Krucial cites Russell Simmons and Quincy Jones as two successful music executives who inspired and motivated him to become the successful music industry professional he is today.   "I was definitely influenced to be an entrepreneur by Russell Simmons first.  Russell represented what hip-hop was.  He managed all of my favorite rappers like Run-DMC.  With him being from Queens and me being from Queens, I thought maybe I can do it too.   He made me want to be more involved in using hip-hop to change my destiny."  Krucial was just as enthused to be in the music industry by music mogul, Quincy Jones.   "Quincy has worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Sammy Davis Jr. to Michael Jackson.   He broadened his horizons.  That's what I want to do in my career.  Quincy and Russell both represent growth."

Now it's time for Krucial to take it back to the old school.  Time to take it back to the original reason he wanted to be in the music game in the first place.   Krucial is now the MC he has always been and wanted to be.   When Krucial's "Take Da Hood Back" EP & full-length album are released, it will be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.  With tight production, Krucial's clever lyricism, and the stand-out flow of Illz, "Take Da Hood Back" is guaranteed not to disappoint.  "Originality started out as one of hip-hop's rules.   You sounded like somebody else, you got dissed.   Nowadays, you sound like everybody else, you get signed," Krucial rightly observes.
     

When "Take Da Hood Back" is released, run don't walk to your nearest music store.   Once you take a listen, you will realize that one can never knock Krucial's hustle.  His creativity and hard work got him in this game and his creativity and hard work will keep him there. 

Daria Fennell is a freelance writer for Chronicmagazine.com.  Her work has been featured on iRoster.com and Vibe.com.