Italian production duo
Crookers, aka Francesco "Phra" Barbaglia and Andrea "Bot" Fratangelo, formed in 2003 and first began remixing tracks by
AC/DC,
Armand Van Helden, and
N.E.R.D. They achieved their big breakthrough in 2009 when they hooked up with U.S. rapper
Kid Cudi on the U.K. number two hit "Day n' Nite," and after signing to Interscope a year later, they released
Tons of Friends, a collaborative studio album featuring the likes of
Kelis,
Pitbull, and
will.i.am. After returning to their underground roots with 2011's more low-key
Dr. Gonzo, Bot left the group to pursue a solo career, leaving Phra to carry on the
Crookers name alone. The album
Sixteen Chapel followed in 2015 and featured the single "I Can't Wait" with vocalist
Jeremih. ~ Jon O'Brien