Black Milk is a master of beats and rhymes, renowned for his top-flight production, insightful lyrics and thrilling live shows. Far from your typical rap act, he has steadily added new sounds and styles to his repertoire while working with a diverse group of collaborators – from Jack White and Robert Glasper to his own band Nat Turner.

As a producer, Black has held down his hometown of Detroit for over a decade, working with the city’s top talent including Danny Brown and the legendary Slum Village, who gave him his start on their album The Trinity. On his own, he’s created a catalog of solid solo rap albums: Popular Demand (2006), Tronic (2008), Album of the Year (2010), No Poison No Paradise (2013) and his latest If There’s A Hell Below (2014). He also teamed up with Guilty Simpson and the late Sean Price to form the supergroup Random Axe. In 2015, Black released a live instrumental album, The Rebellion Sessions, with his band Nat Turner.

“Black Milk’s solo career represents a constant cycle of adopting and mastering new production styles and then abandoning them before they become crutches.” – Pitchfork

“His samples are elegant, his rhythms challenging and his drum kits tight.” – NPR

“Cross has no need for these extras; in his world of soul-tugging productions and machinegun-as-velvet delivery they are merely distractions. On this realization, and in the moment, it was hard not be floored by the obvious: this is what talent with genuine poise really looks and sounds like.” – Dallas Observer

“Striking an impressive balance between being rehearsed and spontaneous, he proved his chops as a multitalented artist once again.” – Okayplayer

“It feels like Christmas every time Black Milk blesses us with a new record.” – FreeOnSmash