Published: Friday - October 10, 2008
Words by Jay Casteel
Kerry 'Krucial' Brothers (Photo: Krucial Keys)
If you aren't familiar with Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, you are definitely familiar with the music he's created. The New York-based producer is the man who helped R&B superstar Alicia Keys mold her sound from the beginningr, and has continued to help her evolve over the years.
From helping craft Keys' debut Songs in A Minor, to producing for the likes of Nas, Rakim, and Keyshia Cole, Krucial has stayed true to his love for music. As he mentions in our feature interview, he's been fortunate enough to pick and choose who he wants to work with, and instead of producing for anybody for a check, Krucial says that he only works with artists he believes in. So far, his formula has worked.
Read on, as he explains how he and Alicia Keys came to meet, his surprise of her climb to stardom, and his feelings toward creating music and not letting his success get to his head.
BallerStatus.com: Ok, so you got your biggest break when you helped produce Alicia Keys first two albums. Can you talk about helping first craft Alicia Keys' sound then and the process of that?
Krucial: I really started by producing hip-hop and rap tracks. I had a rap group, and I really used to do beats for myself and for the group. I always kept in contact with other people that did music, and she was one of them. I would usually have ciphers or open jam sessions at the house 'cause I had some equipment there. She would come through, along with some other friends, and it got to the point where we started doing stuff together. She had just actually started to work on her first album, and wasn't happy with the producers she was working with at the time. She liked what we were doing, and presented me with an opportunity to produce on her album that I was very intimidated by because I didn't know about producing R&B, coming out on a major level like that. I agreed though because I really believed in her. There was no expectations of what was gonna come out really, things just started happening.
BallerStatus.com: When you were working on that first album, did you have a feeling or any thought of how big it'd become?
Krucial: Not at all. Like I said, it was one of those things where it was like "Ok, I believe in you and you believe in me, so let's just give it a shot." It was like not being aware of where it would go, just having fun with it. When it took off, when the album debuted at #1, I was like really in shock, like they were kidding me. It was cool with no expectations.
BallerStatus.com: You mentioned how Alicia would come through and hang out in the studio during ciphers and sessions. What was that like? Did she mess around and freestyle with your guys?
Krucial: She would sing, she would freestyle. Everybody was doing everything, even rappers singing who couldn't sing. It was open session, everybody was doing whatever. There was no pressure. It was just friends hanging out.
BallerStatus.com: After the success of Alicia's debut album, how much of the industry opened up for you, production-wise?
Krucial: Definitely, doors opened, but I was still more selective. Working with people ... I was never the type like "Oh, I just wanna work with anybody and everybody." I usually only wanna work with people I believe in. I got spoiled that first time, and I got really picky. I didn't just wanna work with anybody for the money. The doors were always there, but I wanted to connect with people where I felt their vibe and they felt my vibe. That's basically what I've been doing working with other artists. I've gotten a chance to be in the studio with like Nas and Rakim, Keyshia Cole, and the list goes on.
BallerStatus.com: You produced her latest album too. I understand you and Alicia have a really good friendship. Why do you think she trusts you so much in helping mold her albums over these years?
Krucial: During the first album, we formed a production company by the name of Krucial Keys. We saw it was working and people was like "Y'all really a team." When you look at history and see the success of teams like us, it only made sense for us to combine and always continue.
BallerStatus.com: Would you say you produce for R&B or more hip-hop?
Krucial: I would say I produce more music (laughs), whatever the style is. I'm in the process now of working on various styles. I'm working with Robert Randolph, an artist named Reese, and just working on different styles of music that people are not familiar with me doing or don't expect me to do. Of course, people are gonna know me more for R&B production because that's been the most successful so far, but I just do music.
BallerStatus.com: Is there anything specific you think people know you for, or something you think distinguishes your production?
Krucial: I guess we all individuals, so we all have a unique-ness. But I can't pin-point what that is, like what makes me different. I just do what I do and what appeals to my ear. My ear makes me unique. I don't feel like I have one set sound, I'm always evolving.
BallerStatus.com: You've also have numerous production credits in film. Have you ever produced or plan to do more in-film type work such as scoring and things of that nature?
Krucial: For "Glory Road," we took some time to do the music for the scoring of a couple scenes. I'm also in the works of scoring for a couple independent films, which I can't speak on yet.
It's definitely different. When you're doing music, you're going straight from scratch, from the imagination, and your feelings. When you're making music for movies, you're doing it off of visuals, so you're playing off what you're seeing. That's the main difference. It's not like I can come up with any music and that's gonna fit the scene I working on. You look at the scene and you make music out of how it makes you feel.
BallerStatus.com: The game is a little different today. It seems there are tons of producers out there, so what kind of things do proven producers like yourself do to stay relevant and keep themselves as sought after producers?
Krucial: Basically, studying the craft. I'm always a student, and I'm learning from the legends that are doing it before me, and I'm learning from the up-and-comers in the game. You gotta always stay a student, master your craft, and strip any weaknesses you have. Once you focus on you and what you're doing and every kinda falls in place.
BallerStatus.com: So even though you've won all these awards, you're still able to keep that mindset huh?
Krucial: Definitely. Getting into music was really just for the love and for the passion. For me, it's show and prove that this works. A lot of people are like "Yea, yea, whatever ... passion ... I need to get money." That might work, and you might have that mind state, but I was fortunate enough to be living proof that you can have the passion, have the love, and keep your humility with it. I didn't do this to win awards, or to sell a millions records. I do this because I love it.
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