CD Reviews

Black Milk

Popular Demand | Fatbeats

By MATTHEW GASTEIER | March 19, 2007

2.5 Stars

After a 2006 that saw the loss of two local legends, D12’s Proof and J. Dilla, Detroit appears set for a banner year, with Black Milk leading the charge. At 23, he’s already done production work for Slum Village, Pharoahe Monch, and even G-Unit member Lloyd Banks. So no surprise that Popular Demand is razor sharp. Beats creep and pounce while he tosses out crackling soul samples on one track, quick keyboard riffs on the next, unifying the disc with the warm blanket of the electronic sound that defines Detroit hip-hop. The bad news is that his rapping isn’t on the same level as his studio skills: his rhymes are witty enough, but he lacks a distinctive style, suggesting instead Ludacris, Jay-Z, occasionally Eminem. The guest MCs often overshadow him, particularly Guilty Simpson, another rising star whose upcoming debut is one more positive omen for Detroit. Still, Popular Demand cements Black Milk’s reputation as a producer while revealing some MC potential.

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