Black Milk

Last updated
Black Milk
Black Milk in Toronto 2012.jpg
Black Milk performing live in Toronto at The Great Hall, 2012
Background information
Birth nameCurtis Eugene Cross
Born (1983-08-14) August 14, 1983 (age 40)
Origin Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • drums
  • turntable
  • sampler
  • keyboards
  • synthesizer
  • Rhodes piano
  • drum machine
Years active2002–present
Labels
Website www.instagram.com/black_milk

Curtis Eugene Cross [1] (born August 14, 1983), [2] better known by his stage name Black Milk, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. [3] [4]

Contents

Career

In addition to Slum Village, Black Milk has worked with J Dilla, [5] Elzhi, Phat Kat, Frank-N-Dank, Lloyd Banks, Canibus, Pharoahe Monch, RZA, Danny Brown, Black Thought, T3 and many more throughout his career.

In 2004, Black Milk formed B.R. Gunna with Young RJ and Fat Ray. Together they released Dirty District: Vol. 2, a follow-up to a compilation released in 2001 by Slum Village, to which Black Milk had contributed production. In 2005, he released a solo album, Sound of the City, Vol. 1 , signing a record contract with Fat Beats Records in 2006 (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, titled Broken Wax , and handled most of the production on T3's Olio mixtape.[ citation needed ] On March 13, 2007, he released his second album, Popular Demand . [3]

Black Milk at Treefort Music Fest in 2015. 2015 BlackMilk-KnittingFactory-Treefort2015-credit-Christina-Birkinbine 01 (16776895168).jpg
Black Milk at Treefort Music Fest in 2015.

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. [6] (He also produced four of the tracks on Elzhi's "The Leftovers Unmixedtape" project, released on December 11, 2009.) [7]

On December 25, 2009, Black Milk leaked the first single from his 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. [8] [9] On August 22, 2010, he released the music video for "Deadly Medley", which featured Royce da 5'9" and Elzhi. [10] On September 14, he released Album of the Year through Fat Beats and Decon.

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, titled "Royal Mega", was also released. [11]

On October 15, 2013, Black Milk released his a new album titled No Poison No Paradise , which included features from Black Thought of The Roots, Mel, Robert Glasper, Dwele, Quelle Chris, Ab and Tone Trezure, as well as additional production from Will Sessions. [12]

On March 4, 2014, Black Milk released an entirely self-produced EP titled Glitches in the Break . The project consists of nine previously unreleased tracks and features guest appearances from Guilty Simpson and Fat Ray. A 12" vinyl edition of the EP was made available on Saturday, April 19. [13]

On October 28, 2014, Black Milk released his sixth album titled If There's a Hell Below , features guest appearances by Blu, Bun B, Mel, Ab, Pete Rock, Gene Obey, and Random Axe.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Collaborative albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bizarre (rapper)</span> American rapper

Rufus Johnson, better known by his stage name Bizarre, is an American rapper, best known for his work with the Detroit-based hip hop group D12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royce da 5′9″</span> American rapper

Ryan Daniel Montgomery, known professionally as Royce da 5'9", is an American rapper. Best known for his association with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, they became acquainted in 1997 and formed the hip hop duo, Bad Meets Evil the following year. Their 2011 single, "Lighters" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of their debut extended play (EP), Hell: The Sequel (2011). The song and its parent EP, of which debuted atop the Billboard 200, remain Montgomery's most commercially successful recordings to date.

Supastition is an American underground hip hop artist from Greenville, North Carolina. He has also recorded under the name of Kam Moye and Blackmel. He has appeared on songs with the likes of KRS-One, The RZA, Ras Kass, Tech N9ne, Little Brother, Croup, The Soulution, S1 (producer), M-Phazes, Tajai of Souls of Mischief, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Royce da 5'9", Elzhi, and countless others.

Jason Powers, better known by his stage name Elzhi, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He is a former member of Slum Village and now records as a solo artist. In his youth, he made numerous visits to the Hip-Hop shop in Detroit, taking advantage of open-mic nights hosted by fellow Detroit rapper Proof.

Ronald Christopher Watts, better known by his stage name Phat Kat, is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan, best known as a favorite collaborator of the late J Dilla.

<i>Street Hop</i> 2009 studio album by Royce da 59"

Street Hop is the fourth studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9", released in the United States on October 20, 2009, on One Records. It is the follow-up to his previous album Independent's Day (2005). At the release of Success Is Certain, Street Hop sold approximately 24,000 units in the United States via HitsDailyDouble. Despite being formally released in 2009, the singles "Shake This" and "Part of Me" were leaked online in late 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Promise (rapper)</span> Musical artist

Promise Jason Jamal Shepherd, professionally known as Promise, is a Canadian rapper from Toronto. He is also 1/2 of Hip-Hop supergroup Perfeck Strangers, based in Scarborough, Ontario. Promise has collaborated with Jhené Aiko, Montell Jordan, LeCrae, No Malice, MC Jin, J. Ivy, Marco Polo, eLZhi of Slum Village, Royce Da 5'9" of Slaughterhouse, Rhymefest, and Ton3x. He has also collaborated heavily with fellow Toronto native Drake, whom he met on the set of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royce da 5′9″ discography</span> Hip hop recording artist discography

The discography of American rapper Royce da 5’9” consists of 8 studio albums, 6 collaboration albums, 11 mixtapes and 30 solo singles, including 14 as a featured artist, and 18 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guilty Simpson</span> American rapper

Byron Dwayne “Guilty” Simpson is an American rapper and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan whose recording career spans more than 20 years. He is signed to Stones Throw Records, and is known for being one of the late producer J Dilla’s favorite rappers.

<i>Tronic</i> 2008 studio album by Black Milk

Tronic 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 "Give the Drummer Sum". This album is produced entirely by Black Milk except for "Without U" which is produced by Colin Munroe.

<i>The Preface</i> (album) 2008 studio album by eLZhi

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", Guilty Simpson, Black Milk, Fatt Father, Danny Brown and Phat Kat among others. The album has been critically acclaimed and considered by many professional reviewers as one of the best hip hop albums of 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slaughterhouse (group)</span> American hip hop group

Slaughterhouse was an American hip hop supergroup consisting of rappers Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I and Royce da 5'9". They released their eponymous debut studio album independently in 2009, and signed to Shady Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release it's follow up, Welcome to: Our House in 2012. The group disbanded in 2018.

The following is a list of productions by American hip-hop producer/rapper Black Milk.

<i>Album of the Year</i> (Black Milk album) 2010 studio album by Black Milk

Album of the Year is the fourth studio album by hip hop producer and rapper Black Milk, which was released on September 14, 2010 by Fat Beats. Production for the album was handled by himself, with assistance by Will Sessions.

<i>Success Is Certain</i> 2011 studio album by Royce da 59"

Success Is Certain is the fifth studio album by rapper Royce da 5'9" released on August 9, 2011. The first single is "Writer's Block" featuring Eminem, which was released in March 2011. Production for the album came from DJ Premier, Mr. Porter, Eminem, Nottz, Streetrunner, The Futuristiks and The Alchemist among others. Guest appearances include Eminem, Joe Budden, Kid Vishis and Travis Barker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koncept</span> American rapper

Keith Michael Whitehead, popularly known by his stage name Koncept, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. A former employee at Fat Beats, Koncept started out drawing graffiti and also had a short stint as a DJ before he went on to start writing songs and doing freestyles until he released his first EP in 2010 titled Playing Life. In 2012, he had his first break with his debut solo album titled Awaken which featured guest appearances from Soul Khan, Homeboy Sandman, Royce da 5'9" and Sene with production credits from J57 and Marco Polo. In 2015, he collaborated with J57 to release an EP titled The Fuel which had its fair share of positive review from notable magazines including Respect Magazine, DJ Booth, HipHopDX and The Source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatt Father</span> American rapper from Detroit

Shabazz Sinclare Ford, known by his stage name Fatt Father, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He is a one fourth part of the Fat Killahz and one half of Twin Towers.

Marvin Eugene O'Neal, known by his stage name Marv Won, is an American rapper and record producer from Detroit, Michigan. He is a member of the underground hip hop group, The Fat Killahz and rap duo Twin Towers. In 2021, he received a Detroit Music Award nomination for Outstanding Rap MC at the 30th Detroit Music Awards.

<i>The Allegory</i> 2020 studio album by Royce da 59"

The Allegory is the eighth studio album by American rapper Royce da 5'9". It was released through eOne Music on February 21, 2020. It features guest appearances from Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, KXNG Crooked, Cyhi the Prynce, DJ Premier, Eminem, Grafh, Sy Ari da Kid, T.I., Vince Staples, Westside Gunn, and Cedric the Entertainer among others. Production was handled by Royce da 5'9" himself on all of the album's tracks, making it his first album to be entirely self-produced.

Tobechukwu Dubem "Tobe" Nwigwe is an American rapper, singer and actor. As of 2022, Nwigwe co-stars in the Netflix television series Mo and received a nomination for Best New Artist at the 65th Grammy Awards.

References

  1. "ACE Repertory: CROSS CURTIS EUGENE". ASCAP . Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  2. "Long Story Short". genius.com. ML Genius Holdings, LLC. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  3. 1 2 Marisa Brown (1983-08-14). "Black Milk | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  4. Zwicker, Kristen (2011-04-19). "Q&A: Black Milk | Music, Blogs, The Volume blog | reviews, guides, things to do, film - Time Out New York". Newyork.timeout.com. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  5. Jones, Kevin. "Black Milk’s Reign ", Exclaim! , December 2008.
  6. Elzhi - The Preface, 2008-08-12, retrieved 2023-06-24
  7. "elZhi – The Leftovers Unmixedtape - Blackout Hip Hop". 2009-12-11. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  8. "Black Milk "Welcome (Gotta Go)"". 92 Q. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  9. "Black Milk (Ft. eLZhi & Royce da 5'9") – Deadly Medley", Genius, retrieved 2023-06-24
  10. Black Milk - Deadly Medley (feat. Royce Da 5'9" & Elzhi) , retrieved 2023-06-24
  11. "Black Milk - "Brain" & "Royal Mega" (Co-Produced by Jack White)". Hypebeast. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  12. "Black Milk Announces New LP 'No Poison, No Paradise' Okayplayer". Okayplayer.com. 2013-08-05. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  13. "Stream Black Milk's "Glitches In The Break" EP In Its Entirety". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  14. "Black Milk Announces New Album Fever, Releases "Laugh Now Cry Later"". Spin.com. 17 January 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  15. "Detroit MC Black Milk Announces New EP 'DiVE'". Hypebeat.com. 14 July 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.