“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
Rapper/producer Black Milk is one of the most prodigious and versatile talents in the world of Hip-Hop and his latest left-turn might be his most ambitious yet. Enlisting his powerhouse live band Nat Turner, Black Milk is set to release The Rebellion Sessions, an instrumental album which he calls “a fusion of Jazz and Funk orchestrated from a Hip-Hop producer’s standpoint,” on April 4th. Today, Black Milk & Nat Turner release “The Knock,” a Latin-flavored soul/jazz jam evocative of Fela Kuti and Chick Corea, with a brilliant walking bassline, liquid keys and energetic wordless singing. “The Knock” debuts via AFROPUNK, who notes 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.”
“This project is the result of Nat Turner and me deciding to meet up, lock ourselves in a room for one week, and hope that some musical gems could be created in that short amount of time,” explains Black Milk. “For most of the tracks on the album there are only three instruments being played, drums by Z, bass by Malik and keys / Fender Rhodes by Ab. ‘The Knock’ was us having fun, playing until something original came out. We called it ‘The Knock’ because, if you listen closely, you can hear the neighbor banging at the door towards the end. It was like 3am when we made it.”
Orchestrated and produced by Black Milk, The Rebellion Sessions features Nat Turner (Aaron “Ab” Abernathy on keys, Malik Hunter on bass, and Zebulun “Z” Horton on drums). Although the guys have appeared on Black’s previous works, The Rebellion Sessions is the first project created by the four as a collaborative unit. The album, at times recalling the works of Fela Kuti, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Sly & The Family Stone, D’Angelo, and Robert Glasper, 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. Black Milk & Nat Turner will embark on The Rebellion Tour in Europe this May, performing select tunes from The Rebellion Sessions in addition to songs from Black Milk’s extensive catalog, before hitting the road in the States.
Listen to “The Knock”: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/03-the-knock/s-5JUkL
Check out the Afropunk premiere: http://www.afropunk.com/profiles/blogs/afropunk-premiere-detroit-rapper-producer-black-milk-x-nat-turner
Pre-order The Rebellion Sessions on Bandcamp: https://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/album/the-rebellion-sessions
Pre-order The Rebellion Sessions on iTunes: https://itun.es/us/KVo_ab
Black Milk & Nat Turner’s The Rebellion Tour kicks off in Europe on May 11th, before hitting the U.S. this summer.
Tickets: blackmilk.biz/tours
5/11/2016 Zurich, Switzerland
5/12/2016 Lucerne, Switzerland (Südpol)
5/13/2016 Antwerp, Belgium (JC Den Eglantier)
5/14/2016 Bruges, Belgium (Muziekcentrum Cactus)
5/15/2016 Düsseldorf, Germany
5/18/2016 Vilnius, Lithuania
5/19/2016 Breda, Netherlands (Mezz Breda)
5/20/2016 Bordeaux, France
5/21/2016 Marseille, France (Nomad Café)
5/23/2016 Budapest, Hungary (A38 Ship)
5/24/2016 Copenhagen, Denmark (Pumpehuset)
5/25/2016 Stockholm, Sweden (Fasching)
5/26/2016 London, UK (Brooklyn Bowl)
5/27/2016 Lausanne, Switzerland (Le Romandie Rock Club)
5/28/2016 Basel, Switzerland (Kaserne Basel)
Please contact Michelle or Rory if interested in talking with Black Milk.
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.
official site | twitter | facebook | youtube | soundcloud | bandcamp
“The Knock”: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/03-the-knock/s-5JUkL
“The Rebel”: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/the-rebel
CD Baby Artist Session: https://youtu.be/tPtsy2WqZrs
“I Guess”: https://itunes.apple.
“What It’s Worth”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL5G-Kal7FQ
If There’s A Hell Below: https://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/album/if-theres-a-hell-below
“Scum” ft. Random Axe: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/scum-ft-random-axe
“Gold Piece” ft. Bun B: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/gold-piece-ft-bun-b/
“Detroit’s New Dance Show”: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/detroits-new-dance-show
“What It’s Worth”: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/what-its-worth
No Poison No Paradise stream: http://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/
Bio, pictures and streams available here: http://www.audibletreats.com/black-milk