It’s like, “Hey, dude. Where do I start?”
Passalacqua came to fruition when Brent Smith and Bryan Lackner became aware of each other’s presence in the Detroit underground during the mid 2000’s— Brent ‘Blak’ Smith as a spoken word artist and collaborator in the group ‘Cold Men Young,’ and Bryan as a solo artist, rapping under the name ‘Mister.’ Smith and Lackner were acquaintances as children, but spent their formative years apart. They reconnected during a new wave of local hip-hop and the advent of social media to form the duo, naming the project after an eccentric classmate they both remembered from their middle school years.
The first song they conceived was ostensibly about the fact that they had spent so much time apart, adequately titled, “Been a Minute.” The track would eventually appear on their self-titled EP produced by Dr. B (Nottingham, UK). This song grew to become synonymous with the sweaty summertime party in the motor city, and was encapsulated in video form by Detroit production team, The Right Brothers. Their follow-up record, Zebehazy Summer, was produced by local DJ Ernie Guerra (ERNO), and engineered, mixed and mastered by Justin Weiss. This record provided the stimulus to make Passalacqua a household name in the Detroit music scene.
With the release of Zebehazy, the boys had perfected their live show. They introduced a theatrical element to the stage that was altogether lacking in the stereotypical ‘rap show’ happening in Detroit at the time. Their undeniable proficiency as emcees earned the respect of their peers, and their live show took them to the next level, making them more relatable to a mainstream audience.
Their vocal styles are complimentary and range in influence from Jay-Z to Frank Zappa, without sacrificing originality. The beauty of this group is only further appreciated by the personalities of the two. They are tactful and community-driven, with equal gifts of empathy and gab. The boys have never been afraid to get outside of their box (if they ever even had a definable box in the first place). Whether they are serving free ice cream scoops for kids outside the Detroit Institute of Arts, or teaming up with provocative director Colin Duerr — if Passalacqua is a place, then everyone is welcome.
- Special thanks to Ryan Clancy