HHC does the track-by-track thing to Damon Dash and The Black Keys’ rock-meets-rap project, out at the end of November…

BLAKROC
‘BLAKROC’
(BLAKROC RECORDS)

1. ‘COOCHIE’ FEAT. LUDACRIS & OL’ DIRTY BASTARD
An inspired up-from-the-vault collabo, Luda and the late great Dirt McGirt basically run around town looking for chicks to get involved with. ODB holds down Jeanine (from Queens) and Renee (from BK) while Luda tackles Anna (from Alabama). Includes the perfectly-ODB line, “She had a body like a horse, if you know what I mean.”

2. ‘ON THE VISTA’ FEAT. MOS DEF
He takes a lot of flak at times, but here the Mighty Mos sounds comfortable flowing over a low-key, bluesy backing. Not totally sure it needs the spoken word outro though…

3. ‘HARD TIMES’ FEAT. NOE
Noe, from Baltimore and down with the Byrd Gang, sounds like Jay-Z’s lyrical doppleganger. Not bad, but hard to stop yourself becoming distracted by the likeness. Possibly the first time The Black Keys have been behind a track with anti-snitching sentiments.

4. ‘DOLLAZ & SENSE’ FEAT. PHAROAHE MONCH & RZA
The Wu man’s in his Bob Digi zone here, but the Black Keys lay down a more complete musical backdrop than some of his minimal production tendencies. Letting Monch add on to the super-scientifical shenanigans is a good combination.

5. ‘WHY CAN’T I FORGET HIM’ FEAT. NICOLE WRAY
With a voice that suggests she held down a previous incarnation as an early ’60s soul singer, Ms Wray brings a break from the straight-up rapping – which sets things up just lovely for…

6. ‘STAY OFF THE F*%$#N’ FLOWERS’ FEAT. RAEKWON
Brooding, atmospheric backdrop? Check. Rae dropping one long, effortlessly stream-of-consciousness crime narrative? Yep. More potent that his well-received ‘Cuban Linx…’ follow-up? Maybe. Album highlight? Yup. Bonus: Comes with the phrase “pissing Merlot out”!

7. ‘AIN’T NOTHING LIKE YOU (HOOCHIE COO)’ FEAT. JIM JONES & MOS DEF
Aka the one that’s been buzzing around the web for a while now, this sees the odd couple of Jim and Mos combining to great, bluesy effect, with the low-slung beat astutely anchoring Jones’s vocals.

8. ‘HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY’ FEAT. BILLY DANZE, Q-TIP & NICOLE WRAY
Tip starts by flowing tightly in tandem with the beat, but this is all about the MOP man and his weighty vocals smashing the track. After listening you might be wondering why he doesn’t ditch his fickle rap fans and join a rock band full time.

9. ‘TELLIN’ ME THINGS’ FEAT. RZA
RZA reportedly turned up to the BlakRoc studio sessions with crystals in his pockets, and here he’s firmly in his own world, singing and spitting with the wicked randomness of someone either astral enlightened or on the verge of a breakdown. “We was like Mork and Mindy/Yeah nigga I told her I was from space and this girl believed me.” Quite.

10. ‘WHAT YOU DO TO ME’ FEAT. BILLY DANZE, JIM JONES & NICOLE WRAY
Another appropriately bluesy track conjured up by the Black Keys and more winning rhymes from the rap contingent. After listening you might be wondering why Jim and Billy don’t team up and join a blues-rock band…

11. ‘DONE DID IT’ FEAT. NOE & NICOLE WRAY
Not a bad track, but a strange one to end on, with Noe’s street-level cliches (”A drug dealing dream is a dream nonetheless”) not quite striking as poignant a note as some of the previous moments.

BONUS OUTRO SKIT!
Billy talks shit to the Black Keys, makes fun of their hirsute styles, before exiting the studio!

Check It: ‘Ain’t Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)’