Black Milk Creates 1 Funky & Electronic Mix. He Unveils Some New Music Too. (Audio)

Black Milk came into the game as a hungry, young producer in the Slum Village camp. He was lucky enough to place two beats on Slum Village’s 2002 album, Trinity (Past, Present and Future). However, by the next Slum album, Detroit Deli, in 2004 he had production credits on almost every song, not to mention he stepped to the mic on two cuts as well. This Detroit, Michigan representative refuses to be shaped by critics or fans perceptions of him. He managed to receive praise for his production with a group built on J Dilla beats. Then, he was able to establish himself as a high caliber MC at a time when critics had just accepted that he was qualified to carry on the S.V. sound. Fast-forward to now, and after countless solo and collabo’ projects, Black has proven he is much more than a Slum Village protege, he’s a versatile musician with a wide range of influences and styles.

At the top of the year, we got the lead single, “Laugh Now Cry Later,” from Black’s upcoming album FEVER (February 23). The cut has an almost Last Poets feel. As soon as Heads hear it, it’s apparent that Black is still experimenting and trying new things. To tide fans over we’re sharing his a 51-minute mix he did for Fact magazine. This eclectic collection of tracks is proof yet again that pigeonholing Black is a mistake.

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Black starts with a spacey instrumental from FEVER titled “UnVeil” to set the tone. Next, he gives love to a band he’s worked with, Toronto’s BadBadNotGood. Their joint “Speaking Gently” has a nostalgic ’70s warmth and the sax solo ain’t no joke. Black also includes the exotic funk of Karriem Riggins’ “Summer Madness S.A.” By the time we get to Spaceark’s “Sweet Hitchhiker,” it’s clear quality is the only thing common among these songs.


Right about the middle of the mix we get one of the prime examples of early Electronic music, Kraftwerk’s “The Man Machine.” If you are not familiar with this classic, you may recognize it from the early JAY-Z single “(Always Be My) Sunshine.” However, that song actually sampled The Fearless Four’s “Rockin’ It,” which itself lifted a loop from “The Man Machine.”

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This mix manages to fit the House stylings of KAYTRANADA’s “LITE SPOTS” alongside Electro-Funk jam “Alleys of Your Mind” by Cybotron, and the bouncy synth affair titled “Beau Mot Plage” from Isolée.

Black Milk’s new album FEVER drops next Friday.