Black Milk - Sound of the City, Volume 1

Released: October 18, 2005

2002. The year Detroit group Slum Village dropped their second album. Trinity (Past, Present & Future) was the trio's first album without J Dilla as a main member (although he provided a few beats) but was the first with Elzhi. The album featured production from a big variety of producers. Black Milk was part of that variety. Being another musician from Detroit, he was 18/19 at the time, getting his first major beat placements with "What is This" and "Trinity (Interlude)", both on the SV album. As time went on, he started to collaborate with the group a lot often, even when they turned into a duo. Black then linked up with Young RJ, forming the production team B.R. Gunna. The duo contributed heavily to SV's next two albums, producing majority of the albums and with Black Milk providing some additional vocals and hooks.

Sound of the City, Volume 1 was the album that happened to show off Black's rapping skills more. Before, he was known for spitting occasionally, and most of the time, he would just provide hooks and additional vocals. Entirely produced by Black himself (obviously), the album is known to be short and snappy, with the 16 tracks equaling to a runtime of only 40 minutes; with features from many Detroit rappers including Slum Village members Elzhi, T3 & the late Baatin (all separate appearances, not together), Fat Ray and Phat Kat.
Interludes and instrumentals also come in between the songs, helping to make this album a pretty comfortable listen. "Dirty Guitar" is my favourite of the bunch, and so funky yet bangs so hard. "Dirty Horns" is short but funky as well, providing that 70s groove to it.

Black's skills on the mic now have definitely improved, with projects like Glitches in the Break and If There's a Hell Below providing some interesting content from the Detroit rapper/producer. But his raps weren't too bad on his debut. There was room for improvement, of course, but his delivery and flow was a key part to this album, especially on songs like "Swing Dat Far" and "Holla Like You Know Me", some of my favourite cuts off SOTC. After starting the album off with a bang, shouting out his fellow Detroit artists over a bumpin' instrumental, "Nigga What" gets to the point very well, the flow is nice, the bars are decent, and the beat knocks so hard. "So Gone" is one of the more upbeat cuts, and the way Black flows over the beat is just amazing. He was in his BAG! And the beat was A1 as well, that sample is heat.

The features came through, but in most cases, outdo Black on his own track unfortunately for him. Phat Kat & T3 deliver on "Danger", and Black does his thing with the flow, but I think Phat had a slightly better verse. Elzhi spun everyone on the title track, making Fat Ray & Black's verses sound so unnecessary in comparison. I'll say Black did have a better verse than Que Diesel on "Holla Like You Know Me", that flow was on point. Baatin is solo dolo on "Eternal" while Black acts as the hypeman. 'Tin sings instead of rap, and errr... it adds on to the song well, at least. NameTag killed "Bang Dis Shit", one of my favourites, and he spun Black on that. The beat just knocks so hard, MY LORD!

The production on SOTC is solid too, full of soul samples and some aggressive moments here and there. The title track "Sound of the City" bangs so hard, and Black, Elzhi & Fat Ray did their thing, especially El. "Pimp Cup" and "Swing Dat Far" are both some chill ass tunes to vibe out to. The latter is one of my favourites, being an ode to them big booty women. It's the flow and beat that gets me, and I enjoy the fun energy over the track. "Duck" is just a little interlude about protecting yourself in the streets, but the sample loop is so intriguing, even if Black didn't do much with it. Same with "Applause", another soul sample loop where Black goes off on one verse. "Eternal" is the one that is different from most of the album, not only does Black not provide vocals but the song gives a slightly aggressive rock vibe while Baatin comes with his soft singing.

Overall, Sound of the City is nothing special, in comparison to his later work. But it's a short and snappy effort with a some pretty good moments, from "Pimp Cup" to "Holla Like You Know Me". The production delivers, with the soul samples and aggressive drums. The features did their thing, from Phat Kat to Que Diesel. It's a nice showcase of the Detroit sound, and Black was real decent on it. With his new album FEVER dropping this coming Friday, it's interesting to hear how much Black has progressed as a producer and rapper. Someone that definitely deserves a lot more credit in hip-hop.

Recommended Tracks: "Sound of the City","So Gone", "Bang Dis Shit", "Holla Like You Know Me", "Swing Dat Far", "Dirty Guitar", "Pimp Cup"

Quasimoto - The Unseen

Released: June 13, 2000

Meet Quasimoto, the alter ego/side project of Madlib, arguably one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time.

In the early 90s, Madlib, Wildchild & DJ Romes formed the group Lootpack. They made their first appearance on Tha Alkaholiks' 1993 debut album 21 & Over, which Madlib also provided production on. They were noticed by Peanut Butter Wolf at Stones Throw after releasing their debut EP in 1995; and eventually, would sign to the label.

Quasimoto made his debut on Peanut Butter Wolf's debut My Vinyl Weighs a Ton on the song "Styles, Crews, Flows, Beats". The origin of Quas came from Madlib's decision to rap on his own beats. He wasn't too fond of his own voice, with his friends in his hometown of Oxnard normally clowning him about how deep it was. So he decided to rap slowly to his beats, and then speed his vocals up to create Quas's high pitched voice. PBW encouraged him to release more music under the alias. Madlib followed his advice, releasing "Hittin' Hooks" and "Microphone Mathematics" later on. June 1999 saw the release of Lootpack's debut Soundpieces: Da Antidote, and the following year, Quasimoto finally released his debut The Unseen.

The Unseen serves as Quasimoto's first album, as well as Madlib's solo debut (technically). The album gives such a psychedelic vibe, featuring 24 tracks, with guest appearances from Mr. Herb, M.E.D. & fellow Lootpack member Wildchild. Quasimoto is basically Madlib's imaginary friend throughout the album and they both go through some humourous, outlandish and entertaining events; also getting high and listening to music. Quas's high pitched helium ass voice interplaying with Madlib's regular monotone voice is a common moment throughout the album, adding heavily onto the dark, druggy and psychedelic vibes we hear on it.
After the intro skit, "Welcome to Violence", the short track, "Bad Character" makes it real clear who we're really dealing with here as Quas delivers two violent and aggressive verses with his high pitched voice. "Low Class Conspiracy" is one of the best songs on the album, and a creative moment on The Unseen. Even with the beat knocking hard AF, the content is pretty interesting as Quas touches on police trying to harass him and his crew, focusing on how police deal with crime in lower class environments around America; likely leading to police brutality. "Come On Feet" is about Quasimoto trying to avoid trouble. Madlib's real voice interplays with Quas's so well, with some Melvin Van Peebles samples here and there to communicate effectively with Quas's verses, which certainly does make this track what it is. "Jazz Cats, Pt. 1" sees Madlib & Quas go back and forth naming the Jazz artists they enjoy listening to from George Benson to Dizzie Gillepsie. "Green Power" has an interesting concept, focusing on the importance of green: money & weed; and Madlib & Quas provide some solid verses.

The production is definitely something to talk about, and Madlib was an alien on the boards, with the samples, the drums, the scratches; everything! "Boom Music" bangs so hard as Madlib & Quasimoto deliver a verse each about how they love to listen to old-school hip-hop. "Bluffin'" features such a calm piano sample, where Madlib & Quas go back and forth calling out phony rappers that aren't really about what they say. "Astro Black" is such a nice song to vibe to, with the dope boom-bap beat as Quasimoto raps about getting high and trying to hit. "MHBs" is more like a smooth and soulful interlude to me, but Madlib's real voice takes over this time, rapping about watching out for gold diggers. "Axe Puzzles" also features a calm sample with Madlib putting some hard drums over it for Quas to come through with some violent and harsh lyrics. I could talk so much about how good the beats are on here, whether it was the beat switches on both the title track and "Return of the Loop Digga", the dark vibes on "Basic Instinct" or the Italian sample on "Real Eyes", but it'd be hella long.

The line up of features is small on The Unseen, but they good too. "24-7" is where Madlib & Quas links up with MED who comes through with a dope verse before the beat switches. Quas doesn't provide a verse, but does some adlibs as Madlib's actual voice takes over for a verse; and he does his thing, to be honest. MED was a little better tho. "Discipline 99" is a two-parter, about how wack MCs need to be disciplined. Mr. Herb features on Pt. 0, but does he really count as an appearance? Meh, it's whatever. Both Madlib comes with a little verse, which was alright. Quas doesn't do much tho, just a few lines. Herb seems to be another high-pitched character, and I kinda like the flow on his verse. Pt. 1 features fellow Lootpack member Wildchild, whose verse is pretty good, and complements well with Quas's verses, over the ominous but calm instrumental.

With psychedelic vibes, banging production and incredible sampling from the Loop Digga himself, The Unseen is such a dope listen. The features are decent, and the interplaying between Madlib & Quas's voices is a key moment. The range of topics are nice too, adding onto such an experience, going from aggressive lyrics on "Bad Character" or reminiscing about old school music on "Boom Music" to Madlib rapping about gold diggers over a soul sample instrumental ("MHBs"). Madlib shows he has a great ear for samples, from jazz to spoken word, or Italian music. This really could go down as one of my favourite albums ever, everything about it is so good; and even with 24 tracks, it doesn't fail to impress me.

Recommended Tracks: "Boom Music", "Low Class Conspiracy", "Astro Black", "Basic Instinct", "Real Eyes", "MHBs", "Axe Puzzles", "Return of the Loop Digga", "Microphone Mathematics", "24-7", "Jazz Cats, Pt. 1", "The Unseen", "Discipline 99, Pt. 1"