Random Axe 'Random Call'

A track off of Random Axe's upcoming self titled album Random Call. Their power-house release arrives June 14th on Duck Down.

Hear it here or get the track available now on iTunes.


Random Axe "Random Call" by duckdown

Random Axe Debut Album Tracklist

Random Axe Random Axe on Duck Down Records arrives June 14th.

01. Zoo Drugs
02. Random Call
03. Black Ops feat. Fat Ray
04. Chewbacca feat. Roc Marciano
05. The Hex
06. Understand This
07. Everybody, Nobody, Somebody
08. Jahphy Joe feat. Melanie Rutherford & Danny Brown
09. The Karate Kid
10. Never Back Down
11. Monster Babies
12. Shirley C feat. Fatt Father
13. Another One feat. Rock & Trick Trick
14. 4 In The Box
15. Outro Smoutro

Also, check out these listening session album recaps held recently in NYC:
Complex - Random Axe listening session
Billboard - Random Axe listening session

Nottz - 'Blast That' Ft. Black Milk

Nottz - You Need This Music on Raw Koncept arrives October 26th.

Hear the track HERE

Black Milk 'Album Of The Year' L.A. Times Review

** Black Milk Album of the Year on Fat Beats out next Tuesday! **

When you call your fourth full-length "Album of the Year," you're asking to be evaluated on the toughest metric possible. And indeed, the new album from Fat Beats-signed Detroit production wunderkind Black Milk plays out like a legacy bid -- an attempt to place him on the all-time A-List alongside his legendary production predecessors: Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and the acknowledged Motor City messiah J Dilla.

Comparisons to the late James Yancey have accompanied Milk since the first half of the last decade, when he became one of Slum Village's go-to producers in the wake of Dilla's departure. Often branded Dilla's rightful heir, the 27-year-old born Curtis Cross has certainly inherited his knack for knocking off-kilter drums and turning soul samples spectral. And like Dilla, Milk's production prowess outstrips his rhyme skills.

Which is not to say that Milk is lackluster on the microphone, but merely limited. His voice and flow are above average, and he nimbly hurdles through the tricky measures of his zig-zagging beats. But while often witty, his battle-rap boasts rarely transcend the underground tropes that have endured for a decade-plus (i.e. elliptical raps about being good at rapping). The chief exception is "Distortion," a poignant meditation on death that reveals Milk's capabilities when inspired. Yet when the topic shifts to pro forma love jams ("Oh Girl" "Over Again"), his neo-soul tinged sounds intuitively shift away from his strengths (adamantine production that distills the thrashing cold and steel wool-rugged feel of Detroit).

With very few notable exceptions, most of hip-hop's greatest albums produced by rapper/producer hybrids have either come in groups (Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Slum Village, EPMD) or solo albums that featured a guest rapper on nearly every track ("The Chronic"). Rightfully cited as Detroit's best producer, Milk has his pick of any MC adjacent to the Great Lakes. And when he chooses to tap his contacts as on the Elzhi and Royce Da 5'9-featured "Deadly Medley" and the Danny Brown-aided, "Black and Brown," the results live up to his lofty aspirations.

But too often, he seems in love with his own genius, letting instrumental codas ramble on into bloated prog territory, with three of the album's 13 tracks clocking in or beyond the 5-1/2-minute mark. "Album of the Year" is a good record -- Milk is far too talented to turn in anything subpar. Yet it isn't the career-defining masterpiece that the Detroit disciples that litter the underground had hoped for. Then again, settling for album of the month isn't too shabby. (source)

Black Milk 'Album Of The Year' Trailer

Music producer auteur, Black Milk reminds us why he's the most acclaimed underground hip hop producer around in this trailer for his upcoming album Album Of The Year on Fat Beats out September 14th.

Black Milk 'Album Of The Year' Tracklisting

Black Milk along with his trusted live band made up of AB on keyboards/vocals, drummer extraordinaire Daru Jones and some of Detroit's finest musicians including vocalist Melanie Rutherford are expected to deliver one of 2010's most anticipated releases. Count on Black Milk to stretch the boundaries of hip hop on this one.

Black Milk Album Of The Year on Fat Beats set to drop July 27.

01. 365
02. Welcome (Gotta Go)
03. Keep Going
04. Oh Girl ft. AB
05. Deadly Medley ft. Royce Da 5’9 and Elzhi
06. Distortion ft. Melanie Rutherford
07. Over Again ft. Monica Blaire
08. Black and Brown ft. Danny Brown
09. Round of Applause
10. Warning (Keep Bouncing)
11. Gospel Psychedelic Rock
12. Closed Chapter ft. Mr. Porter

SXSW 2010 Brooklyn Vegan Showcase Austin, TX

Brooklyn Vegan + Chronic Youth + Tee Pee Records + Converse Free Day Party
Red 7
900 Red River St
Noon-6pm
Free and Open to the Public, No RSVP Necessary

SXSW 2010 Slum Village Black Milk Detroit Showcase Austin, TX

DXSW (Detroit Showcase) Emergence Presents Crown Royale, Black Milk & Slum Village, Now On, Marv Won, Invincible, Finale, and Vaughan T, Mae Day, 14K
Hosted by Illa J, Plus DJ Sets by: House Shoes & 14KT
Victory Grill
1104 E 11th St

Black Milk On Artistic Originality & Creativity

Black Milk - Motivates Originality from Uneon on Vimeo.

Black Milk: Michael Jackson tribute in Paris

Black Milk raps over 'Rock With You' and his live band does an improvisation as well at La Nouveau Casino in Paris France Wednesday July 15.