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Native son of soul

Durham's Darien Brockington
http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1692848.html

BY CRAIG D. LINDSEY, Staff Writer

Darien Brockington walks around N.C. Central University unnoticed these days. The 30-year-old Durham native returned to the school this fall after leaving in 2000.

But every now and again, somebody recognizes him and hips those around him to who he is.

"I mean, there is, on occasion, somebody that'll walk up to me and be, like, 'Are you Darien Brockington?' or 'Did you sing with The Foreign Exchange?'" says the college junior. "Or I might hear a random 'D-Brock!'"

The people who recognize Brockington (especially those who holla at him as "D-Brock") know him more as an R&B vocalist, the job that took Brockington away from his studies so long ago. With a throaty, church-bred voice that can be both sensitive and sensual, the man has been best-known as a "singing hype man" (that's what he calls it), recording hooks for Little Brother and other members of North Carolina's Justus League hip-hop crew.

In 2006, Brockington went from hook guest shots to fronting his own songs as he released his debut album, "Somebody to Love." Although the album, which included production work from Justus League beatmen 9th Wonder and Khrysis, was well-received (The N&O said it was "Brockington's album-length declaration that he's ready for prime time"), the album didn't skyrocket Brockington's career. Though he cites a lack of marketing from West Coast-based ABB Records as a factor, he does lay some blame on himself for not speaking up.

"I mean, in essence, it was a situation where, you know, me being the hungry artist, me really putting the effort and energy into an album which I personally feel was good," he says. "But it's only as good as the engine behind it. And unfortunately, the engine was focused on other things. Not me."

That appears to be the reason Brockington is back in school today (as a double major, he's studying accounting and music industry), to make sure that what happened to him during that time never happens again.

"As I've gotten older, I've wised up a little bit, and I'm realizing that, you know, there's more than one way to get to where you wanna go," he says. "And I think that school, most definitely, deserves my attention and my focus and [is] an additional means to get to where I ultimately want to get to."

But he's certainly not putting his music career on pause. He's taking the lessons he has learned and channeling them through his new album, "Affected: The Story of John Doe," scheduled to drop sometime next year. Brockington notes there will be more live instrumentation this time around, as opposed to the sample-heavy music created on "Love."

"It's just a very organic experience," he says, "and I find myself loving the experience just as much as I did when I did 'Somebody to Love.'"

Like breathing

Brockington has continued to work live, touring and serving as a backup singer on shows for The Foreign Exchange, the hip-hop/soul outfit created by Little Brother's Phonte Coleman and producer Nicolay Rook. Brockington has done work on both Foreign Exchange albums, 2004's "Connected" and last year's "Leave It All Behind," and has performed backup for Coleman (along with fellow Durham vocalist YahZarah) on shows since "Connected" was released. From the way Brockington speaks, the man is at his most natural -- and most evolved -- when he's with the Exchange.

"It's almost like breathing," he says. "I mean, we've shared a bus together. We've argued. We've laughed and whatever else. We stick together. We've done it.

"But now, as I grow as a musician and as [Phonte] grows as a musician, this is a perfect platform for people to see his growth, as well as my growth as well as YahZarah's growth, as well as the band's growth. Now it's cool to bring all of those elements together, but improved."

Come on home

Brockington, Coleman and YahZarah will once again share the stage Saturday, when they perform at the Pour House Music Hall at the soulSPARK showcase, part of this year's SPARKcon festivities. Most likely, those same folks who are comfortable calling him "D-Brock" at NCCU will be quite at ease hearing him perform live -- which is exactly the way he wants it.

"When I'm on the stage, man, the honest-to-goodness truth is I just like people to feel like they're at home," he says. "I want you to feel like I'm welcoming you into my house and we're just having a good time. That's what's important to me."

craig.lindsey@newsobserver.com, 919-829-4760 or blogs. http://newsobserver.com/unclecrizzle