When it comes to hip-hop artists, there’s some that drop records every few years, barely making a blip in the radar in between major releases; and then there are those that drop records like Snoop’s dropped it like…nevermind. The point is, the latter usually gets a bad rep (think mixtape rappers like Lil B, Charles Hamilton etc.) because there are great projects and then there are ones that should’ve stayed unreleased.
Black Milk on the other hand likes to go against the stereotype and push the envelope by dropping multiple projects within short periods of time while never ceasing to produce and create quality hip-hop music with a purpose. His latest, Glitches In The Break comes less than six months after the release of his acclaimed No Poison, No Paradise record. And as Black Milk does with every album, he hones in on a soulful sound that is speckled with electronic influences, unmarred with an underlying funk and covered in his decorated, dynamic drum patterns and equally unique rhymes.
Fat Ray and Guilty Simpson lend guest features on the album while Black Milk handles most of the verses himself. Common themes of his hometown of Detroit are explored once again, most notably on the EP’s lead single “Cold Day.” Plain and simple, this track has the rhythm that will make your walk to work, or class, or the store more enjoyable. With a little bop in its step, “Cold Day” takes an ear worm of a sample and pairs it with some neck-breaking drums and that unequivocal lyricism by the man himself.
There’s a certain lack of energy on the album, however that comes off as surprising. For one, many of Black Milk’s previous records have had a sort of innate source of spirit that gave a light to the tracks that elevated Black Milk’s songs to whole other levels. I can name tons of tracks especially off of Album of the Year that boasted a fire that wasn’t necessarily equal to volume or amplitude of the drums or vocals, but to more of the emotional backing the song had as provided by the artist himself. Now on Glitches In The Break, personal topics and subject matters are explored (such as being a hard-working musician on “Dirt Bells”), but the personality does not seem as strong or at least as conducive to the awe-inspiring tracks of his previous albums. Perhaps in the haste of making Glitches or perhaps in the trial of making an album with a different sound or using a different method, there seems to be some feeling lost in translation, unfortunately.
While I find that this album shows less experimentation from the usually adventurous “Sunday’s Best / Monday’s Worst” producer/rapper, it still is comfortable. Nothing is really stale musically; although this album plays out almost as one whole track where one could argue that only about three tracks really stand out, while the rest blend together a bit too much. For a project amassed in a few short months though, Glitches In The Break has the workings of an even greater full-length LP had more time, elaborations and work been put in to the album. Regardless of that, this EP stands as another solid piece of work from one of Detroit’s finest and tracks like “Dirt Bells,” “Ruffin” and “Cold Day” will have you revisiting this album many times this year and citing those as the best songs off of this one.
7/10
Download Glitches in the Break via Amazon
Tracklisting:
1) There Are Glitches
2) Dirt Bells
3) Ruffin
4) Silence
5) 1 For Dam (feat. Fat Ray)
6) G (feat. Guilty Simpson)
7) Cold Day
8) Reagan (feat. Fat Ray)
9) Break
