Talib Kweli – Keep It In The Pocket Kero One Remix / New Tour Dates

Talib Kweli – “Keep It In The Pocket” Kero One Remix / New Tour Dates

Bay Area Rapper/Producer Gives West Coast Makeover To Talib Kweli Track

Critical Praise for Kero One:

“Kero makes hip-hop that’s not incredibly experimental yet it carries a consistently solid “kick-back-and-chill” type of resonance.” – EQ Magazine

“Music Vibes: 9 of 10” – RapReviews.com

“The production on Early Believers is beautiful.” – LeisureLab.com

“Kero relies on excellent production, live instrumentation and honest lyrics from his point of view to make an album that flows from start to finish and will most likely end the year in more than a few top ten lists.” – Evolving Music.com

The Song:

With Kero One’s recently released sophomore LP Early Believers receiving high acclaim and great reviews, the Bay Area-based rapper and producer is staying busy. Already back at work in the studio, Kero, whose production skills are featured throughout Early Believers, was hit up by DJ Deckstream to remix Talib Kweli’s “Keep It In The Pocket” for Soundtracks 1.5, a compilation project also featuring remix production from the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff. Up until now this remix was only available exclusively in Japan. For fans of Kero living stateside, this remix will serve as an extra-special treat.

With “Keep It In The Pocket (Kero One Remix),” Talib Kweli is given a touch of the guitar and synth-infused jazzy sounds that have become a recognizable and loved staple of Kero’s productions. Up-tempo and melodic with a bouncing bass line, the remixed track is a perfect fit for Kweli and meshes seamlessly with the rappers vocals. Throughout the track Kero keeps things interesting with clever chord changes, unique percussion, and flawless guitar solos. On the intricacies of the production process Kero says, “The original was pretty hard to beat. The original version had no chorus, however, so I took one of Talib’s vocals and made it into a hook. I also put my vocals on the hook to back up his existing vocals and to thicken up the hook.” After a few listens, it’s safe to say that Kweli should hit up Kero for some beats on his new album.

Talib Kweli – “Keep It In The Pocket” Kero One Remix

Upcoming Kero One Tour Dates:
Fri-May 15 San Francisco, CA Masonic Center
Sat-May 16 Hollywood, CA House Of Blues
Fri-May 22 New York, NY Irving Plaza
Sat-May 23 Seattle, WA King Cat Theatre
Sat-May 30 San Francisco, CA Poleng Lounge

The Background:

Former web designer by day and rapper/producer/DJ by night, Kero One, stands as a true testament to the do-it-yourself success story. His early career was marked by endless hours of researching, cold calling, and networking to gain exposure for his debut, self produced project Windmills of the Soul. Persistence paid off with a little help from fate when one of the 50 copies of his album was picked up in a tiny record store in Tokyo, Japan. Success was immediate, as Windmills of the Soul became a hit overnight, which opened the floodgates for international touring and performance opportunities. Three years later, after a Best Hip Hop Album of 2006 award and collabos with Talib Kweli and Mark Farina, Kero One is back with his sophomore album entitled Early Believers, via his label, Plug Label. Modulating from soulful jazz tinged tracks to upbeat synth-driven party bangers, Kero One features some his favorite vocalists such as Giles Peterson prot√©g√© UK singer Ben Westbeech, Finland’s own modern day “Stevie Wonder,” and Portland’s Ohmega Watts. Early Believers will be released in April 2009, just in time for spring cleaning and summer fun.Web editors contact Michelle to speak to Kero.