MP3: Black Milk – “Dismal”

SPIN Premieres New Single From Detroit Rapper; No Poison No Paradise Tour Currently Underway

09.23.2013

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

“As many of his peers were flooding the market with instantly forgettable throwaways, Black Milk was toiling on his masterpiece.” – Washington Post

“His samples are elegant, his rhythms challenging and his drum kits tight.” – NPR

The Song:

Detroit rapper/producer Black Milk recently released the official track list for his upcoming album No Poison No Paradise, and has now dropped a new single entitled “Dismal.” Having structured the album conceptually as the semi-biographical tale of fictional character Sonny Jr., which includes non-linear elements of Sonny’s dreams, aspirations, and memories, Black Milk explains “I wanted each song to represent a different stage of Sonny’s life. On ‘Dismal,’ he’s battling with himself to regain his position at the top.” As a youth, Sonny Jr. dreamt of becoming a successful rapper or athlete, and the song describes a point in his life where he is dealing with feelings of failure and depression stemming from his life’s struggles, and also functions as an inner monologue where he must fight with his conscience to decide what he must do to move forward.

This type of multilayered meta-textual discourse within a single track is a particularly unique element of Black Milk’s album, and something that speaks to the substantive nature of this project. “It was enjoyable to create a song where i jump back and forth between the character’s voice and that of his conscience,” says Black Milk, who also experimented with a more electronically-tinged production style for this track, continuing to demonstrate his determination to progress and grow his artistic repertoire.

Black Milk’s 28-date No Poison No Paradise Tour with Quelle and DJ Sober is currently underway. Check below for tour dates.

Listen to the song here: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilksoundcloud/dismal

Check out the SPIN premiere here: http://www.spin.com/articles/black-milk-celebrates-dismal-with-gritty-funk-rap/

Pre-order No Poison No Paradise on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/no-poison-no-paradise-deluxe/id690380563?ls=1

Deluxe 12″ LP: http://www.fatbeats.com/collections/pre-order/products/black-milk-no-poison-no-paradase-deluxe-vinyl-edition-2xlp

Deluxe CD: http://www.fatbeats.com/products/black-milk-no-poison-no-paradise-deluxe-cd-edition

12″ LP: http://www.fatbeats.com/products/black-milk-no-poison-no-paradise-2xlp

CD: http://www.fatbeats.com/products/black-milk-no-poison-no-paradise-cd

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Tour Dates:

To purchase tickets: http://blackmilk.biz/shows/

Sep. 20 – Dallas, TX @ Dada

Sep. 21 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar

Sep. 22 – Las Vegas, NV @ Beauty Bar

Sep. 25 – Fresno, CA @ Fulton 55

Sep. 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex

Sep. 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar

Sep. 29 – San Jose, CA @ Pagoda

Oct. 1 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones

Oct. 2 – Phoenix, AZ @ Red Owl

Oct. 5 – Austin, TX @ Red 7

Oct. 6 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s

Oct. 7 – New Orleans, LA @ Hi Ho Lounge

Oct. 9 – New York, NY @ Santos Party House

Oct. 10 – Providence, RI @ Fete

Oct. 11 – Boston, MA @ Middle East

Oct. 12 – Burlington, VT @ Signal Lounge

Oct. 13 – Montreal, CANDA @ Cabaret Underworld

Oct. 14 – Ottawa, CANADA TX @ Ritual

Oct. 15 – Toronto, CANADA @ Mod Club

Oct. 16 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s

Oct. 17 – Toledo, OH @ Frankies

Oct. 18 – St. Louis, MO @ Blank Space

Oct. 19 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean

Oct. 20 – Iowa City, IA @ Gabe’s

Oct. 21 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry

Oct. 22 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop

Oct. 23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Smiling Moose

Oct. 24 – Washington, DC @ Liv

Please contact Michelle or Dan if interested in talking with Black Milk.

Black Milk Background:

Black Milk is a producer and rapper born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. As one of the most-celebrated auteurs of his generation of hip hop artists, he has conditioned fans and critics to always expect the unexpected each time he releases new music. Few producers have earned the notoriety and respect he has as a musician, and when that is coupled with commanding talent as an emcee, it’s no surprise that his solo releases are met with exalted anticipation. He has been making music professionally since 2004 and has collaborated with many noted artists including Slum Village, J Dilla, Elzhi, Phat Kat, Frank-N-Dank, Lloyd Banks, Canibus and Pharoahe Monch and Jack White of The White Stripes. In 2010 he released Album of the Year, which perfectly captured his soulful, jazzy style. He is currently putting the finishing touches on his new album, No Poison No Paradise, which is due out October 15th of this year.