Album: Esteemed Producer and Emcee Black Milk Releases No Poison No Paradise Today
Critics Deeming It a Contender for Top 10 Hip Hop Album Year-End Lists
10.15.2013
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 Album:
Today, esteemed producer and rapper Black Milk releases No Poison No Paradise, his fifth full-length solo album on Fat Beats Records x his own Computer Ugly label. It’s been a full three years since his previous album, Album Of The Year, and NPNP has already been welcomed with rave reviews from critics, with HipHopDX deeming it “one of the best albums of the year.” With the exception of “Sonny Jr. (Dreams),” which he co-produced with Grammy award winners Dwele and Robert Glasper and “Deion’s House,” which was produced by Detroit-based band Will Session, the album was produced entirely by Black Milk.
Black’s visceral storytelling skills are put on display in NPNP as we follow the dreams of semi-autobiographical character named Sonny Jr., about his experiences growing up in a tough working-class streets of Detroit during the 80’s and 90’s. This concept was not initially planned as Black explains in a recent Huffington Post interview,”In the beginning, I had about four to five songs done, and when I listened back to those songs I noticed that they all had a certain connection and lyrical similarity to the point where it felt like a story was being told. So, I built the rest of the album around those songs and created this character who’s basically in a dream state throughout the album, seeing different moments from his days as a youth to his life as an adult.”
Black Milk released his debut album Sound Of The City, Vol. 1 in 2005 at the age of 23. Four albums and seven years later, NPNP showcases his growth and maturity both as an artist and as a man. Unlike other artists, Black rarely releases loosies between projects, which is almost unheard of these days. Working diligently in private, often for years at a time, Black’s work ethic and attention to detail belies today’s unrelenting appetite for media. But when Black finally does unleash new material, fans and critics take notice. No Poison No Paradise features guests Grammy Award winners Black Thought of The Roots, Robert Glasper, and Dwele, as well as long-time collaborators Mel, and Ab, and artists Quelle Chris, Tone Trezure. Black Milk produced every track on the album with the exception of “Sonny Jr. (Dreams),” which was produced by Black Milk, Robert Glasper, and Dwele.
Black Milk’s No Poison No Paradise Tour with Quelle and DJ Sober is currently underway. Check below for remaining tour dates.
Stream the album on Pitchfork here: http://pitchfork.com/advance/258-no-poison-no-paradise
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/products/black-milk-no-poison-no-paradase-deluxe-vinyl-edition-2xlp
12″ LP: http://www.fatbeats.com/collections/lp/products/black-milk-no-poison-no-paradise-2xlp
CD: http://www.fatbeats.com/products/black-milk-no-poison-no-paradise-cd
Remaining Tour Dates:
To purchase tickets: http://blackmilk.biz/shows
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. His fifth solo album, No Poison No Paradise, is available now.
Links:
official site | twitter | facebook | youtube | soundcloud
No Poison No Paradise Pitchfork Advance stream: http://pitchfork.com/advance/258-no-poison-no-paradise
“Sunday’s Best/Monday’s Worst”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBNpwFPVo1Y
“Dismal”: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilksoundcloud/dismal
“H8DES,” scored by Black Milk: http://video.vanityfair.com/watch/the-decades-series-the-1980s-by-don-cheadle
“Perfected On Puritan Ave.”: https://soundcloud.com/computerugly/perfected-on-puritan-ave
Bio, pictures and streams available here: http://www.audibletreats.com/black-milk