“BK & Associates” is Blake Knight of ill harmonics fame teaming up with many of the best heads currently recording in the hip-hop underground. Their first record on Uprok Records is collaborative effort, combining many top notch emcees and crews over Knight’s masterful production skills and beats.

“It has long been my dream to have a project that would showcase my production skills and feature the skills of the best up-and-coming MCs,” Knight says.

Knight is an accomplished veteran producer, having worked on at least 25 different projects for various styles of music like hip-hop, R&B, and more. He has produced successful MC KJ-52, and handled the chores on NFL Atlanta Falcon Ray Buchanan’s upcoming debut for BEC. Knight even earned a Dove Award nomination for work on E-roc’s album “The Return.”

“’BK & Associates’ is an album that constructs a bridge between the underground and the mainstream,” Knight asserts. One listen to the album, and one can tell that the juxtaposition of passionate rappers with Knight’s classy, jazzy, smoothed out style was a stroke of genius.

The album was recorded from March till September of 2001 at Knight’s Corral Studios in Dallas, TX. Knight made the beats at home and then sent A-DATs to the MCs. “I personally recorded Playdough, Mars ILL, Othello, Buchanan, as well as a couple others, though.” 

Knight’s production combines earthy samples, catchy loops, live instrumentation, and innovative techniques to come up with a perfectly fitting track for each artist.

The project features hand-picked artists of varying styles and influences, that touches and reaches fans of different voices: from East Coast to West Coast, touching on fresh underground beats, using jazzy live instrumentation, and occasionally giving it up for some flat out fun head bobbing tracks. 

Topics range from the serious struggles of life, to the joys of music, as well as reflections on character and love. 

Playdough drops a thoughtful track that details the journey for success and recognition in a music world that seems to sometimes leave talented artists out in the desert of unknowns. Blake’s vocal work on the harmony laced chorus to KJ-52’s “What I Love” provides just the extra flavor that makes this track a classic. Mars ILL speaks on life in their cut “Theme Music,” which features the turntablism of the crews very own DJ Dust. LA Symphony drops a very catchy song called “Rhythm to the Rhyme” that features Pigeon John, Flynn, and Sharlok Poems. A fast paced head nodder, this catchy jam speaks on the hardships of waiting for their chance to rock the world and their own perseverance in the midst of setbacks. Peace 586 and the Tunnel Rats come together to create a gem, “What’s Real,” dealing with the search for something of lasting significance over an Asian-music influenced track. Tracks by John Reuben (and friends) and MG! the Visionary are light hearted and exude a lot of fun and energy. 

Several new artists are also featured on this project: Sivion of Phat Kats represents nicely on a jazzed-out track that is sure to please the new heads. Blake even lends a hand in delivering a heavily vibed spoken word track while being backed up by the dynamic live band, Earthsuit. 

“BK & Associates” is a great rogues gallery of hip-hop artists, produced masterfully by Blake Knight. Don’t miss it!

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