Biography

Kru-cial

Adj.

1. a. Extremely significant or important: a Krucial problem

b. Vital to the resolution of a crisis

Music is in a serious crisis and the resolution is KRUCIAL.

Kerry “Krucial” Brothers was born in Brooklyn and spent much of his life in Harlem, but was actually raised on the 3-sided island better known as Far-Rockaway, A place Krucial has often-described as, “Yea, it’s the beach but it’s not the Bahamas”.

Kerry “Krucial” Brothers is a man far ahead of his time. Even as a young boy Krucial was always a visionary, a move-maker and a person to take things into his own hands. By 9 years old he was writing his first poems, stories and rhymes. By 14 he put together his first group that produced their own songs, and by 16 he had the brilliant idea to produce and direct the first video for the group, working along with his partner at that time and a college film student who majored in cinematography.

Growing up on the mean, abandoned streets of Far Rockaway and being the eldest of 5 brothers and sisters, taught Krucial to be independent very early. He learned quickly about the life struggles that parents barely out of their teens would bring and he witnessed first-hand the demise of a neighborhood once the deadly substance, called crack, hit the streets. “It was crazy growing up. At home we had project wars, and at school we had race riots” recalls Krucial.

But through all of this, his one saving grace, the thing to have hope for, to believe in, to strive for, was music.

Music was everywhere. At home he absorbed his parents old LP’s playing everything from The Temptations to Barry White and his Orchestra, Parliament and the Funkadelics to Aretha Franklin, Patti Labell and the Blue Bells to Marvin Gaye. But out in the street, Krucial was inspired by Hip Hop echoing from every corner. To him this was a music that talked about realities of everyday life. “This was the first music that I could claim as MY music. I used to Listen to Cool Dj Red Alert rock late night radio playing KRS-1 and BDP, Eric B and Rakim, Run DMC, Public Enemy and I loved the production of Marley Marl, Rick Ruben, The Bomb Squad, Beatminerz and Dj Premiere to name a few. I just knew I had to be apart of this”

While many of his friends were caught up in the drug game, dying over dirty money that could buy gold chains to claim eager eyed young dames, Krucial had a different vision and he knew the only way to manifest it would be by taking things into his own independent hands. “I always wanted my own business and I always wanted to do music. I knew now was the time that I should put the 2 together and make the music business my business”.

As an MC he moved with the best of the best. Whether Uptown with S&S and Ron G, spittin’ on the Rock & Will Hard Pack mixtapes or Downtown with Bobitto live on stage at the Nuyorican Poets Café or the Lyricist Lounge Krucial was there. Be it freestylin’ on Harlem street corners, or Brooklyn blocks with the thugs or in Washington Square Park with the backpackers, Krucial fit in everywhere.

As a producer he has created a sound that mixes hard break beats with classical strings, or soulful bass lines with horns that make your body move and face twist up. Krucial has taken all the sounds in his head, all the influences from Brooklyn, Harlem and Project City AKA Far Rock and has created the ingredients vital to the resolution of this crisis in music.

He has produced, written, arranged and composed songs that appeared on soundtracks such as Dr. Doolittle, Drumline, Shaft and Ali and worked with artists like Rakim, Mario, Angie Stone, Nas, Keyshia Cole, and of course Alicia Keys. With Keys he was the main producer, writer, and reason why both ‘Songs In A Minor’ and ‘The Diary Of Alicia Keys’ have gone on to sell over 17 million albums collectively world-wide and counting.

He is the Founder and co-CEO of KrucialKeys Enterprise, A Grammy award winning, multi-Platinum selling producer and writer, a recording and mixing engineer, founder and co-owner of KrucialKeys studio, manager, mentor and Incredible MC with an independent album in the making,-He is truly a all time visionary and master mind.

These are Krucial times!!

Pun intended.

This is only the beginning for this young mogul as the rest is being written as these words are being read.