Blakroc

Blakroc is a rap rock collaboration album by Ohio-based blues rock band The Black Keys and several hip hop and R&B artists. The project has been overseen by Damon Dash, co-founder and formerly owner of a share in Roc-a-Fella Records. Its contributors will be Raekwon, RZA, and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard of the Wu-Tang Clan; Jim Jones, formerly of The Diplomats, and NOE, formerly a DipSet affiliate; Mos Def; singer Nicole Wray; Pharoahe Monch; Southern rapper Ludacris; Billy Danze, one half of M.O.P.; and Q-Tip, formerly of A Tribe Called Quest.

Recording
After Damon Dash began listening to The Black Keys, who he says became his favorite band, he reached out to the musicians to meet in person. Dash suggested that they enter the studio with Jim Jones, with whom Dash has recently partnered to form Splash Records. While recording, 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 days recording. Included in the project will be 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 has formed an independent record label in conjunction with the band.

The first single for the album, “Hoochie Coo”, features a singing duet between The Black Keys’ guitarist Dan Auerbach and Mos Def, with rap verses from Jim Jones; it was released on September 14h, 2009.