Black Milk
Encyclopedia
Curtis Cross, better known as Black Milk, is a hip hop
producer and MC
from Detroit, Michigan
.
, which he had contributed production to. Black Milk released a solo album, Sound of the City, Vol. 1
, the following year and in 2006 he signed a record contract with Fat Beats Records (Fat Beats is currently distributed by Koch Entertainment
, the largest independent distributor in the U.S.). In the fall of 2006, he released an EP
, entitled Broken Wax
. March 13, 2007 he released a second album, Popular Demand
.
In addition to Slum Village, Black Milk has worked with J Dilla
, Elzhi
, Phat Kat
, Frank-N-Dank, Lloyd Banks
, Canibus
, and Pharoahe Monch
, and handled most of the production on T3's Olio mixtape
of 2006.
In the Winter of 2007/2008 Black Milk paired with Aftermath recording artist Bishop Lamont
to release a mixtape entitled Caltroit, which was nominated for Best Hip Hop Mixtape at Justo's Mixtape Awards.
Black Milk released an album with Fat Ray entitled The Set Up on March 4, 2008 and his third official solo release "Tronic" on October 28, 2008. He also handled the majority of production on Elzhi's album The Preface, released August 12.
Elzhi's "The Leftovers Unmixedtape" was released on December 11, 2009. Black Milk produced four of the tracks on it.
On December 25, 2009, he leaked the first single from his upcoming album Album Of The Year. The song is called "Keep Going". He also released two more singles named "Welcome (Gotta Go)" and "Deadly Medley" featuring Royce Da 5'9" and Elzhi
.
On August 22, 2010, he released the music video for "Deadly Medley". The video features Black Milk, Royce da 5'9" and Elzhi
.
Album Of The Year was released on September 14, 2010 through Fat Beats and Decon
. Black Milk has announced he has already started work on his 5th studio album which he aims to finish and release some time in Summer 2012.
In March 2011, Black Milk released a 7" single entitled 'Brain'. The single was the result of a collaboration between, Black Milk and his band (AB, Daru Jones and Malik Hunter) and Jack White
of the White Stripes. A B Side, entitled Royal Mega, was also released.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
producer and MC
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
from Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
Biography
In 2004, he formed B.R. Gunna, with Young RJ, and Fat Ray, and together they released Dirty District: Vol. 2, a follow up to a compilation released in 2001 by Slum VillageSlum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
, which he had contributed production to. Black Milk released a solo album, Sound of the City, Vol. 1
Sound of the City, Vol. 1
Sound of the City: Vol. 1 is the first solo release by Black Milk, a rapper and hip hop producer from Detroit, Michigan. He had previously released material as part of the hip hop production group, B.R. Gunna, along with Young RJ and Fat Ray....
, the following year and in 2006 he signed a record contract with Fat Beats Records (Fat Beats is currently distributed by Koch Entertainment
Koch Entertainment
Koch Entertainment was a music, film and television distribution company. It was purchased by E1 Entertainment in 2005 and now operates under the name E1 Entertainment.-History:The company began in 1975 as Koch International...
, the largest independent distributor in the U.S.). In the fall of 2006, he released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, entitled Broken Wax
Broken Wax
Broken Wax is an EP, released in 2006 by Black Milk, a rapper and hip hop producer from Detroit, Michigan. It features appearances from Mr. Porter of D12, Phat Kat, T3, Elzhi, Fat Ray and Nametag. The instrumental version of the album was included as a bonus disc in Black Milk's next album,...
. March 13, 2007 he released a second album, Popular Demand
Popular Demand
Popular Demand is the second solo album by Black Milk, a rapper and hip hop producer from Detroit, Michigan. It was released on March 13, 2007, which may be a reference to Detroit's area code, 313...
.
In addition to Slum Village, Black Milk has worked with J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
, Elzhi
Elzhi
Jason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist...
, Phat Kat
Phat Kat
Phat Kat , is a rapper from the east side of Detroit, Michigan. His career began in the mid 90's as part of 1st Down, which consisted of Phat Kat on vocals and Jay Dee on production...
, Frank-N-Dank, Lloyd Banks
Lloyd Banks
Christopher Charles Lloyd , better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper and member of the rap group G-Unit. Raised in South Jamaica, Queens, he dropped out of high school in 1998. G-Unit released two albums, Beg for Mercy in 2003 and T.O.S. in 2008...
, Canibus
Canibus
Germaine Williams , better known by his stage name Canibus, is a Jamaican-born American rapper. He is a part of supergroup The HRSMN. Canibus rose to fame in the mid-nineties...
, and Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex lyrics, complex delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.-Biography:...
, and handled most of the production on T3's Olio mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
of 2006.
In the Winter of 2007/2008 Black Milk paired with Aftermath recording artist Bishop Lamont
Bishop Lamont
Philip Martin , better known as Bishop Lamont is an American rapper from Carson, California. He was signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label but left in 2010.-Biography:...
to release a mixtape entitled Caltroit, which was nominated for Best Hip Hop Mixtape at Justo's Mixtape Awards.
Black Milk released an album with Fat Ray entitled The Set Up on March 4, 2008 and his third official solo release "Tronic" on October 28, 2008. He also handled the majority of production on Elzhi's album The Preface, released August 12.
Elzhi's "The Leftovers Unmixedtape" was released on December 11, 2009. Black Milk produced four of the tracks on it.
On December 25, 2009, he leaked the first single from his upcoming album Album Of The Year. The song is called "Keep Going". He also released two more singles named "Welcome (Gotta Go)" and "Deadly Medley" featuring Royce Da 5'9" and Elzhi
Elzhi
Jason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist...
.
On August 22, 2010, he released the music video for "Deadly Medley". The video features Black Milk, Royce da 5'9" and Elzhi
Elzhi
Jason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist...
.
Album Of The Year was released on September 14, 2010 through Fat Beats and Decon
Decon
Decon is a New York based idea shop / production company / record label. Its in-house label represents hip-hop and contemporary R&B artists including Jay Electronica, Nneka, 88-Keys, RJD2, the Alchemist, Freddie Gibbs, Goapele, and Aceyalone....
. Black Milk has announced he has already started work on his 5th studio album which he aims to finish and release some time in Summer 2012.
In March 2011, Black Milk released a 7" single entitled 'Brain'. The single was the result of a collaboration between, Black Milk and his band (AB, Daru Jones and Malik Hunter) and Jack White
Jack White
Jack White may refer to:* Jack White , with the rock bands The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather* Jack White , UK soldier* Jack White , German producer of disco music...
of the White Stripes. A B Side, entitled Royal Mega, was also released.
Solo
- 2005: Sound of the City
- 2006: Broken WaxBroken WaxBroken Wax is an EP, released in 2006 by Black Milk, a rapper and hip hop producer from Detroit, Michigan. It features appearances from Mr. Porter of D12, Phat Kat, T3, Elzhi, Fat Ray and Nametag. The instrumental version of the album was included as a bonus disc in Black Milk's next album,...
- 2007: Popular DemandPopular DemandPopular Demand is the second solo album by Black Milk, a rapper and hip hop producer from Detroit, Michigan. It was released on March 13, 2007, which may be a reference to Detroit's area code, 313...
- 2008: TronicTronicTronic is the third solo album by hip hop producer and rapper Black Milk, released on October 28, 2008 through Fat Beats Records. The album was produced by Black Milk, and features guest appearances from DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price, Royce da 5'9" and Dwele. The album's lead single was...
(US R&B: #76) - 2010: Album of the YearAlbum of the Year (Black Milk album)-Tracklisting:#"365"#"Welcome "#"Keep Going"#"Oh Girl" #"Deadly Medley" #"Distortion" #"Over Again" #"Round of Applause"...
(US: #136, US R&B: #28)
Collaborations
- 2004: Dirty District Vol. 2 (with Young RJ as B.R. Gunna)
- 2008: Caltroit (with Bishop LamontBishop LamontPhilip Martin , better known as Bishop Lamont is an American rapper from Carson, California. He was signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label but left in 2010.-Biography:...
) - 2008: The Set Up (with Fat Ray)
- 2008: The PrefaceThe Preface (album)The Preface is the debut album of rapper Elzhi, released 12 August 2008 on Fat Beats Records. It features many other Detroit's MCs including Royce Da 5'9", Andy "Bells" Pickens, Guilty Simpson and Black Milk...
(with ElzhiElzhiJason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist...
) - 2011: Random AxeRandom AxeRandom Axe is the self-titled debut album of American hip hop group Random Axe, released June 14, 2011, on Duck Down Music Inc.. The group comprises hip hop producer Black Milk and rappers Guilty Simpson and Sean Price...
(with Sean PriceSean PriceSean Price is an American rapper and member of the hip hop supergroups Boot Camp Clik and Random Axe. He came to fame as one-half of the duo Heltah Skeltah, performing under the name Ruckus, or in short Ruck, along with partner Rock. He also is featured in the video game NBA 2K11 as a playable...
and Guilty SimpsonGuilty SimpsonByron Simpson, better known by his stage name Guilty Simpson is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He was previously known as Guilt. Over time, he saw that there were more emcees using the alias. In order to set himself apart from the others, he added his last name to become Guilty Simpson. He is...
as Random AxeRandom AxeRandom Axe is the self-titled debut album of American hip hop group Random Axe, released June 14, 2011, on Duck Down Music Inc.. The group comprises hip hop producer Black Milk and rappers Guilty Simpson and Sean Price...
) - 2011: "Brain" b/w "Royal Mega"(with Jack WhiteJack WhiteJack White may refer to:* Jack White , with the rock bands The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather* Jack White , UK soldier* Jack White , German producer of disco music...
) - 2011: Black & Brown EP (with Danny Brown)
- 2012: Searching for Sanity (with Melanie Rutherford)