The Audacity of Dope

When you start going through the list of producers that also rhyme on the mic, you’ll actually come up with more names than you might expect. That said, our homey Black Milk is definitely right there near the top of the list.  Milk’s been dropping great music for years now and we always enjoy catching up with one of our favorites when he comes through town.

On this appearance on Sound Session, he spoke specifically on his peers that both rap and produce, and the advantages that handling everything yourself affords you as a MC.  He’ll continue to take matters into his own hands by releasing If There’s A Hell Below on his own Computer Ugly label later in the year, and Milk talked in depth about the project, including revealing his guests.  Other topics included the state of mainstream rap production over the years, the temptation of compromising his sound and how he stays true, his desire to work with Earl Sweatshirt, and more.

Shout to Black Milk, Rosalinda, and the First Ladies.  What up doe!

Possibly the most underrated producer in the game, 14KT, combines one of his amazing productions with handshot footage of family moments from 2011.  The result is a beautiful look into life and love. RIP to his pops.

Elzhi’s manager, Jae Barber, teams up with Gerard Victor to create some nice visuals for El’s remake of Nas’ classic (and my favorite song off Illmatic).  You’ll recognize faces like Eminem, Royce Da 5’9″, J Dilla, Proof, T3, Baatin, and others in the footage of Detroit’s legendary Hip-Hop Shop, famously highlighted in 8 Mile.

The new video for Mayer’s ode to Detroit makes me really glad I was an 80’s baby, rather than an 80’s adult.  Wow.

There’s nothing like the awkward pause during the chorus when I play the clean edit for “Random Call” on SNSS.  Sean, Guilty, and Black are currently dominating my car’s stereo, when I’m not being overwhelmed by bass from Sirius/XM.

Shout to Todd Angkasuwan on the visuals as well.  Great stuff.

Elzhi’s back with the next set of visuals off Elmatic, this time linking up with Michael Castelaz to highlight “It Ain’t Hard To Tell.”  Has anyone asked Nas if he’s heard the project yet?  Most artists would probably be a little salty, but I gotta think Nas would be appreciative.

And this is why you won’t find me at a motel.

I saw a few people commenting on the wait we’ve endured for Elzhi’s Elmatic and it was evident that they were a little frustrated because it’s not necessarily a completely original concept.  However, the few records that we’ve heard off it so far are RIDICULOUS so I’m really looking forward to it being released on May 10th.  The combination of Elzhi’s Nasir-influenced bars with live instrumentation is gonna be crazy…

Watch this immediately.  There’s really nothing else that needs to be said.  RIP Dilla.

Sadly, I haven’t been able to peep Milk’s entire album yet, but I already know it’s fire.  He’s never dropped anything less than dope, and the joints off Album Of The Year that we’ve played on SNSS have been great.  Here’s the video for one of those records, “Welcome (Gotta Go),” directed by Anthony Garth.