Black Milk & Nat Turner Release Second Volume of The Sunday Outtakes
In Preparation for Their U.S. Tour, The Detroit Producer and His Live Band Release Bonus Cuts from Acclaimed LP The Rebellion Sessions
05.16.2016
Critical Praise for Black Milk:
“Black Milk’s solo career represents a constant cycle of adopting and mastering new production styles and then abandoning them before they become crutches.” – Pitchfork
“His samples are elegant, his rhythms challenging and his drum kits tight.” – NPR
“Cross has no need for these extras; in his world of soul-tugging productions and machinegun-as-velvet delivery they are merely distractions. On this realization, and in the moment, it was hard not be floored by the obvious: this is what talent with genuine poise really looks and sounds like.” – Dallas Observer
“Striking an impressive balance between being rehearsed and spontaneous, he proved his chops as a multitalented artist once again.” – Okayplayer
“It feels like Christmas every time Black Milk blesses us with a new record.” – FreeOnSmash
The EP:
Last night, acclaimed rapper and producer Black Milk released The Sunday Outtakes Pt. 2, recorded with his live band Nat Turner. The Sunday Outtakes series features tracks recorded during Black Milk and Nat Turner’s marathon 2015 recording sessions in Dallas, Texas, which did not make the final tracklist for Black Milk’s acclaimed instrumental The Rebellion Sessions LP. Following February’s Sunday Outtakes, two track mini-EP Sunday Outtakes Pt. 2 is very much of a piece with The Rebellion Sessions, featuring effortless funk from Malik Hunter on bass and Zebulun “Z” Horton on drums, and brilliant accents and solos from Aaron “Ab” Abernathy on keys. The first track, “Sunday Outtake 4” features atonal, Ennio Morricone-type horns laid over an insistent free jazz groove. The second track, “Sunday Outtake 5,” is short but sweet, featuring a wordless chorus over a twinkling four chord progression.
One of the most prodigious and versatile talents in the world of Hip-Hop, Black Milk, enlisted powerhouse live band Nat Turner for The Rebellion Sessions, which he calls “a fusion of Jazz and Funk orchestrated from a Hip-Hop producer’s standpoint.” The project was met by critical acclaim, with Pitchfork calling it “a raw and unhindered affair that brings to mind organic hip-hop experimenters like Dilla and A Tribe Called Quest.” The Rebellion Sessions at times recalls the works of Fela Kuti, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Sly & The Family Stone, D’Angelo, and Robert Glasper, while building off Black Milk and Nat Turner’s incredible live show, honed over the course of years and more than 90 shows played worldwide in 2015 alone.
Announcing the project last month via The FADER, Black Milk and Nat Turner shared the non-album vocal mix of “The Rebel,” featured on the instrumental album as “4 Blacks.” Lead single “The Knock” debuted via AFROPUNK, who noted that the track “cuts straight to the point, opening with a pleasant and steady stream of afro-beat-laden jazz rhythms which are adorned with ambiguous and complimentary backing vocals.” With the release of instrumental LP The Rebellion Sessions, rapper/producer Black Milk and live band Nat Turner will be headed back to the U.S. for The Rebellion Tour in June. Currently playing shows in Europe, Black Milk and Nat Turner will be performing select tunes from The Rebellion Sessions in addition to songs from Black Milk’s extensive catalog.
The Rebellion Tour Dates:
6/15/2016 Pittsburgh – Spirit
6/16/2016 Philadelphia – Johnny Brenda’s
6/17/2016 New York City – The Studio at Webster Hall
6/18/2016 Burlington – Signal Kitchen
6/19/2016 Buffalo – Iron Works
6/22/2016 Minneapolis – 7th St Entry
6/23/2016 Milwaukee – Cactus Club
6/24/2016 Nashville – Foobar
6/25/2016 Atlanta – Aisle 5
6/27/2016 Asheville – The Mothlight
6/28/2016 Charlotte – Snug Harbor
6/30/2016 DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
7/08/2016 Lansing – Common Ground Festival
7/09/2016 Chicago – Subterranean
7/25/2016 San Diego – Soda Bar
7/26/2016 Santa Ana – Underground
7/27/2016 Las Vegas – Beauty Bar
7/28/2016 San Francisco – Brick & Mortar
7/29/2016 Los Angeles – The Echoplex
7/30/2016 Fresno – Summer Sweat Festival
7/31/2016 Sacramento – Harlow’s
8/01/2016 Portland – Doug Fir
8/02/2016 Boise – Neurolux
8/03/2016 Denver – The Other Side
8/04/2016 Albuquerque – Sister Bar
8/06/2016 Phoneix – Monarch Theatre
Tickets: blackmilk.biz/tours
Listen to Sunday Outtakes Pt. 2: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/sets/sunday-outtakes-pt-2
The Rebellion Sessions can be purchased on CD and is available for pre-order on vinyl: https://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/album/the-rebellion-sessions
Stream and purchase The Rebellion Sessions on Bandcamp: https://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/album/the-rebellion-sessions
Stream The Rebellion Sessions on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6WoHpfnPOr4ES4YTXsxcJs
Purchase The Rebellion Sessions on iTunes: https://itun.es/us/KVo_ab
Please contact Michelle or Rory if interested in talking with Black Milk.
Black Milk Background:
As one of the most celebrated producers and rappers of his generation of hip-hop artists, Black Milk has conditioned fans and critics to expect the unexpected with each release. His first offering of 2016 is a live instrumental LP, The Rebellion Sessions, created in conjunction with the band Nat Turner (Aaron “Ab” Abernathy on keys, Malik Hunter on bass, and Zebulun “Z” Horton on drums). The album, out April 4th, is a product of a week-long jam session among the guys. It was recorded in one week and mixed and mastered by Black in another in December of 2015. Although the guys have appeared on Black’s previous works, The Rebellion Sessions is the first project created amongst the four as a collaborative unit. The album builds off Black Milk and Nat Turner’s incredible live show, honed over the course of years and more than 90 shows played worldwide in 2015 alone during Black Milk’s Play Like Hell Tour. This May, the guys will take their new show on the road, kicking off their Rebellion Tour in Europe before hitting the US in June and July.
Links:
official site | twitter | facebook | youtube | soundcloud | bandcamp
Sunday Outtakes Pt. 2: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/sets/sunday-outtakes-pt-2
The Rebellion Sessions: https://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/album/the-rebellion-sessions
Sunday Outtakes: https://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/album/sunday-outtakes
Bio, pictures and streams available here: http://www.audibletreats.com/black-milk