Black Milk joined the worldwide hip-hop elite after ten years of laying down smooth hip-hop tracks in the Motor City. Whether working solo, or with artists like Danny Brown, Da 5’9, or Mel, he uses his Detroit experiences to sketch compelling dramas of urban life in rhyme.
How did you come up with the name Black Milk?
Dang, I get asked this a lot. I think that at the time when I got into rapping and all that stuff, the people I was hanging around had crazy names also. And I don’t know, it came to mind and it stuck with me. It’s a crazy name and definitely sticks out. I just never changed it.
What music speaks to you when you’re sampling?
I’m more so looking for a feeling. I experiment with all styles and genres. From electronic, funk, jazz, I spin all types of music. I need a certain feeling to come through when I’m listening to any genre of music since what I do is very sample heavy. I’m all about vinyl. I love finding weird tunes and gems to chop up and make beats out of. Art for me is about searching for that next rare jewel that will communicate what I’m feeling. That’s how it starts off.
What do you see as some of the opportunities for artists working in Detroit? What are some of the challenges?
I think one of the good things about living in Detroit, as a musician or any kind of artist, is that there is a lot of inspiration there. A lot of talented artists, a lot of musical history in Detroit. All the way from Motown to the electronic and techno scene, hip-hop. It’s inspirational to be from a place like there. There’s a natural vibe you get.
The only disadvantage about being from Detroit, I’d say there aren’t a lot of opportunities out there. The entertainment industry doesn’t have a lot of outlets. It’s more located in New York and L.A. The industry is out there. I know a lot of people who go out to either New York or L.A. to try and create new opportunities.
But it’s still a good thing to be from Detroit because there aren’t a lot of distractions. Most of the artists I know stay in their studio; they stay in and focus on their art. One thing’s for sure: the future of Detroit Hip Hop is bright. There’s a new wave and a new sound that is going to make Detroit the place in a couple of years.
What does success look like for you? Do you feel like you’ve ‘made it’?
My definition of success is being able to do what I love to do and make a living off of what I do. Being happy with yourself and your situation and that’s the way things have been for me for a while now. I’m one of those artists fortunate enough to have control over what I do and have control over almost every aspect of my art. I think a lot of artists don’t get that opportunity. For me to be able to create a fan base that supports my music. As an artist you really can’t ask for much more, to do it on your own terms. I know people who have major deals and release music on major labels, but they’re not necessarily all the way happy.
How did you get into music?
I’ve always been around music. With my family and them being musical people. My parents and my cousins always kept music around me, but I didn’t really catch the bug and create music until I was about 15 or 16 years old. Around that time I was exposed to a different side of hip-hop. That’s when I got away from commercial hip-hop. So I started playing around with that sound and I discovered I had a gift for producing. That’s where my heart is at, making beats and digging through vinyl and sampling and stuff like that. I love the process of it. Since then I haven’t focused on anything other than music and creating.
Who is an artist, past or present that you would like to perform with?
It would be great to collaborate with him, but I’d more like to pick his brain would probably be Prince. He’s probably my biggest influence. I would love to just have a conversation with him, not even work on music with him.
