Black Milk’s ‘story and Her’ is the Perfect Illustration of His Mastery [stream]

Black Milk has taken his production and rapping to new heights with If There’s a Hell Below. He presents a collage of sounds and tastes that flow seamlessly together, ranging from live instrumentation to eclectic soul-sample beats to synth and 80s electronic tunes. This elevated and fluid sound is exemplified on the track “Story and Her”, in which Black Milk rhymes and reminisces a cautionary tale about a woman he once knew over the album’s smoothest, most soulful instrumental. The buttery soft tones complement the quickness of the drums, all while remaining hypnotic, jazzy and ethereal. The beat ascends into a different rhythm halfway through the song where the drums and guitar strokes morph to a slower pace, forcing your attention to his lyrics. Most impressive, however, is his flow. His cadence is fresh and fast-paced, but laid-back as he warns of the excesses of partying. The final 30 seconds is a cerebral bonus beat in the vein of his idols J Dilla and Pete Rock (who makes an appearance on “Quarter Water”) that leaves you transfixed and wanting to hear more. A masterpiece of sound if there ever was one.