MP3: Black Milk – “I Guess”

Joined By His Live Band Nat Turner, the Producer/Rapper Shares a Loose Single As His Play Like Hell Tour Kicks Off

03.18.2015

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 Song:

In anticipation of his Play Like Hell Tour that kicks off in Dallas tomorrow, rapper/producer Black Milk shares a loose single, “I Guess.” Premiered by Complex, “I Guess” is a lyrical onslaught from the critically-acclaimed, Detroit-bred artist, who flips multi-layered samples with oscillating percussion that rattles as horns unwittingly come into consciousness as the song progresses. Following production credits on new albums from Cannibal Ox and Oddisee‘s Diamond District crew, “I Guess” is first single from Black since his If There’s A Hell Below album dropped last October. The U.S. leg of Black Milk’s Play Like Hell Tour will be hitting 27 cities this spring and summer. The tour, which features live band Nat Turner (keyboardist/vocalist Aaron “Ab” Abernathy, bassist Malik Hunter and drummer Z Horton), stops in multiple U.S. cities. Select shows will include performances by Yasiin Bey fka Mos Def, Fashawn and Lyrics Born.

With more than a decade of industry experience and a rich catalog of recordings, Black Milk has transitioned from one of hip-hop’s young rising stars to a veteran with a uniquely well-rounded pedigree. His most recent works include collaborations with Bun B, Danny Brown, Black Thought, Robert Glasper, Adrian Younge, Pete Rock, BadBadNotGood, and Blu. He released his fifth and latest solo album, If There’s A Hell Below in October 2014 via his own record label Computer Ugly. “I’m never one to say which album of mine is the best, that’s for the fans to decide,” says 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 will perform songs from If There’s a Hell Below and previous albums.

Listen to “I Guess”: https://soundcloud.com/blackmilkofficial/i-guess/

Read the Complex premiere: http://www.complex.com/music/2015/03/black-milk-new-song-premiere-i-guess

Black Milk “Play Like Hell Tour” with live band Nat Turner

Tickets: blackmilk.biz/tours

3/19 Dallas at Three Links
3/20 Austin at SXSW
3/22 New Orleans at Gasa Gasa
3/23 Atlanta at The Basement
3/24 Charlotte at Snug Harbor
3/25 Asheville at Asheville Music Hall
3/26 Little Rock at Stickyz
3/28 Boise at Knitting Factory (Treefort Music Fest)
3/30 Denver at Cervantes’ Other Side (w Fashawn)
4/03 Las Vegas at Beauty Bar
4/04 Fresno at Catacomb Party
4/09 Albuquerque at El Rey Theater (w @Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def)
4/10 Los Angeles at Los Globos
4/11 San Francisco at Brick & Mortar Music Hall
4/12 Sacramento at Harlow’s
4/14 Salt Lake City at Urban Lounge
4/16 Portland at Alhambra Theatre (Soul’d Out Music Festival)
6/16 Washington, DC at DC9
6/17 Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s
6/18 New York at The Studio at Webster Hall
6/20 Detroit at TBA
6/21 Chicago at Subterranean
6/22 Minneapolis at 7th St Entry
6/24 Missoula at Urban Lounge
6/25 Calgary at Sled Island Festival
6/27 Vancouver at Fortune Sound Club
6/28 Seattle at Nectar Lounge

Stream and purchase digital and physical versions of If There’s A Hell Below: https://blackmilk.bandcamp.com/album/if-theres-a-hell-below

Purchase the album on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/if-theres-a-hell-below/id917026740

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. 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. His new full-length album, If There’s A Hell Below, continues Black’s trend of releasing material that maintains his signature sound while pushing it into new territory.

With more than a decade of industry experience and a rich catalog of recordings, Black Milk has transitioned from one of hip-hop’s young rising stars to a veteran with a uniquely well-rounded pedigree. After scoring his first production credit for Slum Village as a teenager in 2002, he eventually worked closely with the group and co-produced much of their two following albums. His self-released, full-length project Sound of the City (2005) led to his first record deal, and he began to gain international attention for the soul-sample driven style on his proper solo debut Popular Demand (2007). With five solo rap albums (Popular Demand, Tronic, Album of the Year, No Poison No Paradise and Glitches In The Break), an instrumental album (Synth or Soul), numerous collaboration albums (Caltroit with Bishop Lamont, The Set Up with Fat Ray, Black and Brown with Danny Brown, Random Axe with Sean Price and Guilty Simpson and Burning Stones with Mel), and 2 singles with Jack White behind him, Black Milk remains one of hip-hop’s most consistent artists.