In the past couple years I have noticed something—rappers, underground and mainstream alike- have made an interesting addition to the live show criteria. Now more than ever, rappers seem to have really taken to incorporating live bands and instrumentation into their shows.

In previous years, the formula was basic to get your crowd hyped and moved–you would get a DJ to play your CD, bump your beats, have four or five colobos where others would rap your stuff loudly, and of course pay your respect to Tupac and Biggie. Plus, of course, any rapper worth anything would constantly remind the crowd they were the realist rapper living, and if time permitted, have their posse’s crew jump on stage and get their 15 seconds of fame in. You had to, it was expected. Whatever the order, you could always count on all these things at any live hip hop show.

Then something wonderful started to happen. Hip-hop based groups like Gym Class Heroes, The Roots, and N.E.R.D., became the next wave of hip hop performers, that embraced a new, more refreshing, a great alternative and started really using live instrumentation and creating a more live musical feel on stage. And while I have been to plenty of hip hop shows in my day, actually too many to count, some of the first first hip hop shows with a live band left me wondering, if it would get better.  But then along the way Black Milk happened and I knew the answer. Yes! There was real hip hop, live on stage with a purpose. They were following in the tradition of some of the early pioneers but doing it their own way.

Equipped with a DJ, drummer, a keyboard player, and an MPC (which Milk frequents throughout his set to jam with his band), Black Milk has pulled off a well orchestrated live show to promote their already buzzing second album, Tronic (fatbeats). When watching and listening to him live, you get a great sense of growth and creativity from Milk. Lyrically he’s proven himself amongst his Detroit peers like Slum Village and Royce Da’ 5’9, and from a production standpoint he has shown that he can hold his own. With Tronic, Milk has managed to step out even more on the creative end to hand listener’s a dose of more complex arrangements and classic, head nodding beats, as can be heard on Give the Drummer Sum and Hell Yeah. These Dilla inspired grooves translated really well on stage, and I would know, as I just saw him at The Knitting Factory. Another thing I noticed, Milk really trusts his band mates and this can be seen when Milk let’s his band take over into a montage of instrumentals that leaves you wanting more.

Milk’s passion and versatility, continues to raise the bar as a performer. This could be felt and seen as he went from MC to MPC to MD (Musical Director) and his ability to keep the crowd engaged and hanging off his punch lines was equally impressive during his set the other night at the Knitting Factory. Aside from Milk’s anticipated performance, local artists U-N-I and Those Chosen hit the stage earlier in the evening along with local heavyweight (and I do mean heavyweight) Bishop Lamont. Milk and Lamont previously released a free mixtape called CalTroit with DJ Warrior which received a lot of attention nationally.

As Milk’s set wrapped up, he thanked Cali for all their love and support and introduced his band. As he was wrapping up the introductions, gun-shots rang out over the PA system from the DJ’s track. Black Milk, like those digitalized buck-shots, is here to stay and keep fans on their toes. The next generation of hip hop with a great live band is here to stay. Not bad for my first writing assignment for Loudvine.com. And sorry, my camera crapped out so there are no pixs.

A. Landon
www.loudvine.com