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Liberator 6.3
Black Milk
Popular Demand
(Fat Beats)

Many in hip-hop circles are calling this kid the "Next Dilla." To say he is the successor of the Mighty Jay Dee will not be true until Black Milk's discography and production credit lists are comparable. However, Black Milk has indeed mastered the Dilla-esqu slice and Dice technique on "Popular Demand" tracks like the "Intro," "Three+Sum" and his ode to Dilla's "Donuts" release on "I'm Out." Black Milk is good at piecing together lush sound portraits using a variety of sound color's from his MPC's Pad palette. He plays with soulful harmonies and string sections from R&B classics as well guitar riffs from rock classics. He also embarks on filtering in live elements. Black is sick with his percussion choice and arrangements almost every time. Like Pete Rock, Dre, Jermaine Dupri and Dilla, Black Milk not only produces but also takes a stab at the mic as well. As a child of the 80's, young Black rhymes about girls and the acquisition of a few toys many young men want. "Popular Demand" also has the street narratives -- "Watch 'em" -- and rhymes in verses that give insight to the Motor City's sometimes violent and dark subculture. A sincere ode to the non-groupie girls as well as a story about an adventure he had with two groupies appear on this release as well. He, of course, covers how he is a beast on the boards and mic (equally) and how he does not care to be slotted into anyone subgenre of rap much less cater to any one particular fan base. You may not get your wig pushed back with a barrage of unpredictable, sharp witted, mind bending, writing but you will feel a new cadence you never heard before. There are some murderous features from fellow Detroit representatives Guilty Simpson, Elzhi and T3 from Slum Village (who both kill "Action"), Baatin, Phat Kat and One Be Lo from Binary Star. All in all the lyrics are not overtly violent or offensive, but occasionally they "curse to get their point across (Q-Tip)." In addition, this release is worth coping just for the bonus instrumental/vocal version of his 06 release "Broken Wax," "U's a Freak B__ " and "Tell Em" which, when first heard, proved to me that Black perhaps could pull off both rhyming and beat making. "Popular Demand" confirms that Black Milk now leads the charge for New Motor City Soul sound, which was invented and pioneered by Dilla.
(Original Gage)