Album Stream: Black Milk – If There’s A Hell Below

The New York Times Debuts An Advance Stream of the Detroit-Bred Rapper/Producer’s Fifth Solo Album, Features Include Blu, Pete Rock, Bun B, Random Axe

 10.21.2014

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

The Album:

With an official release slated for October 28th, Detroit-bred rapper/producer Black Milk shares an advance stream of his fifth solo album, If There’s A Hell Below, via the New York Times. The album will drop via Black’s own Computer Ugly label, and includes first-time collaborations with Blu, Bun B, and Pete Rock, in addition to appearances from past cohorts Random Axe, Ab, and Mel. Digital, CD, and vinyl pre-orders of the album are available on iTunes and Bandcamp. 

The advance album stream follows a series of hard-hitting singles from Black, including “Scum,” which released last week and reunites the Random Axe crew (Black, Sean Price, Guilty Simpson). “This blistering concoction from Donut Town’s torchbearer finds the trio of tried and true verbalists getting busy on a cut that knocks and stomps the whole way through,” says Okayplayer of the track. Last month, Black Milk released the album’s third single, “Gold Piece,” with UGK‘s Bun B, a song Milk describes as a “story about how the only role models for young guys in the hood are the older guys that hustle on their blocks.” These aforementioned songs followed the bouncy “Detroit’s New Dance Show” and the self-reflective “What It’s Worth.”

“I’m never one to say which album of mine is the best, that’s for the fans to decide,” says the critically acclaimed Black Milk, “but at this point I feel like I’m making the best music of my career on a creative level and on a technical level. I think you’ll hear that in this new album.” Black is currently on his Fall Tour run with live band Nat Turner. Following jam-packed shows in NYC, Philadelphia, and Montreal, the group of musicians will be closing the tour with dates in Ottawa, Toronto, Chicago, and Toledo. This follows a recently concluded European Tour, which Black performed throughout August. Speaking on a past tour, LA Weekly shared praises, saying “Master of Ceremonies Black Milk was expertly both directing and starring in this show.”

Listen to the advance edited album stream via New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/arts/music/pressplay.html

Pre-order the album, If There’s A Hell Below, on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/if-theres-a-hell-below/id917026740

Pre-order digital and physical versions of the album: https://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/album/if-theres-a-hell-below

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