“Long Story Short” - Review Of Black Milk’s TRONIC
ALBUM REVIEWS By MZ on November 2, 2008 at 11:40 am
Over the last decade or so Detroit carved out a nice identity for itself among Hip-Hop cities. It’ll never have the history of New York or the aura of Los Angeles, but it’s cultivated a culture that breeds emcees and producers with a distinct sound; a mixture of Motown and steely grit that’s been the city’s lifeblood for many years. Enter producer/emcee Black Milk looking to expand upon his last album, Popular Demand, and follow the footsteps of the likes of J Dilla, Royce Da 5’9”, eLZhi and Guilty Simpson by building his presence on the national radar. With his latest offering, TRONIC, Black broadens his production range while remaining true to his Detroit roots.
On “Long Story Short” he brings listeners up to speed on his journey into the game. Backed by futuristic church organs, muted trumpet and a drum kit, he effectively tells his life story in a succinct four minutes. The beat is minimalist yet layered, and what appears to be feedback will blow out your speakers as the beat segues to next song. On “Bounce,” Black literally bounces from topic to topic as he starts out celebrating making it out of the hood to lamenting the current state of Hip-Hop. The futuristic bounce behind it screams party cut and could still pass for one despite the lyrical content, thanks to the walking bass line. On “Losing Out” he flips Alan Parsons “Let’s Talk About Me” as he and Royce Da 5’9” put on for the city of Detroit. It’s a raucous affair as the two show off their lyrical dexterity and ‘80s flashbacks are sure to ensue.
The production and sequencing on TRONIC is exceptional throughout as Black takes time at the end of each song to segue to the next one. Sure he cuts out 30-45 seconds off of each song, but it goes a long way to show his attention to detail and musical ear. It’s the equivalent of an airplane flight with no turbulence. His flow, on the other hand, needs some refining. He’s always on time to the beat, but it seems he concentrates so much on it he isn’t able to actually ride the beat at times. That may be a result of the timbre of his voice because on songs like “Bond 4 Life” and “Try” he softens his tone and blends with the beat.
Lyrically he’s stepped up his game as well, but when he spits alongside Royce or Pharoahe Monch on “The Matrix,” it goes to show how much he can still improve. Considering the aforementioned emcees, it’s more a matter of time for him if he keeps improving as those two have outshone many an emcee in their day. What Black needs to do is expand his focus outside of days in the D, lyrical prowess, and lamenting the current state of Hip-Hop. Instead of spitting a verse about how he can change Hip-Hop, he should craft a song that makes it happen. He also shows a deft ability for storytelling on “Long Story Short” that isn’t revisited.
TRONIC is a sonic masterpiece full of lush and layered beats that’s held back mainly by Black’s lyrical shortcomings. But at the rate he’s progressing it won’t be long before he puts it all together and is mentioned among the all-stars – underground or mainstream.
Previously Posted — TSS Presents Smoking Sessions With Black Milk | Black Milk “Give The Drummer Sum” Video Preview | Black Milk - ELEC Mixtape | Black Milk - Music From The Color Purple (Beat Tape)
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, GENERAL — Tags: Black Milk, Pharoahe Monch, Popular Demand, Royce Da 5'9, Sean Price, Tronic
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46 Comments
Before I read the review I told my brother this would get 3.5 cigs. It got 3.5 cigs.
One.
“eLZhi”
^ I like how the spelling of Elzhi’s name was painstakingly and meticulously recreated using the proper upper- and lowercase version of each letter
“Losing Out” FTW…that song BANGS HARD…I brought my iPod to a Best Buy and plugged it into a Philips tower speaker and cluster and turned it up as loud a s I could…the whole store was filled with the goodness of a Black Milk track….and, on that song: Black Milk >>> Royce
Before I read the review I told my brother this would get 3.5 cigs. It got 3.5 cigs
========================================================
Personally, I didn’t know what rating this one would get. I just knew that IMO Popular Demand was a better album. Tronic is a solid sophomore album in itself though.
It’s an OK album, no better or worse than his last full length effort. It gets the job done I suppose. 3 out of 5 in my humble opinion (and on my grading scale).
These reviews are starting to confuse the shit out of me!!! So if a wack artist gets 3.5 while a dope artisit gets the same ranking, does it mean that there work is equivalent in real terms??? I mean, I understand what the reviewer likes and dislikes but it’s hard to comprehend how a wack emcee can get the same rating as someone who is dope.
@ Flea
The “artist” isn’t getting the rating, the album is.
but “who” does the album .??
example: if a wack album iz out..; it’s a own piece of da rapper in question. thus …
Black Milk iz a producer, so judge with this in mind.
[... I think, dat he wants in priority a big producer career..than a rappa]
so.
@ TC: Same fucking thing, you know what I mean. Let’s not get all specific. I’m just wondering what metrics are you guys using in order to give any two artists, on very different and opposite levels, the same rating. Just a simple question.
I don’t understand the criticism of Black Milk as an MC, Obviously you wouldn’t rank him up there with Andre 3000 or Jay-Z but you can say that for the majority of rappers out there - and as far as Black Milk goes his punchlines are pretty entertaining, his lyrics keep me listening…plus the beats are nasty…
Truth be told if lyrical shortcomings are a factor in rating hip-hop albums then not much is gonna get above 3.5 cigs….
You judge albums on what they ate. You can’t go in assuming one will be better because one artist is “better,” they may do different styles of Hip-Hop which have different standards. Nothing is on an even slope, so you have to judge an album on it’s own merits. If anything you judge them based on what similar albums have attained 5’s.
Overall this album was boring to me. No replay value, and the royce song shows that black milk needs to step his game up.
David described it best & reference some list as an example. I’ll have to have him expand on it. We’ve had a huge internal discussion on this & a set of criteria we use to justify ratings in-house, so that there’s some agreeance. There’s been plenty of albums where one of us wanted to give an album a 4 or higher & others wanted a 3 max. What’s the happy medium there?
But basically, two albums can have similar ratings & be two totally different listening experiences & for a variety of reasons. You also have to weigh in the writer’s personal opinion. While you can try your hardest, nobody can be 100% objective.
Somebody is stepping their pen game up. Good writeup, MZ.
I personally wasn’t a huge fan of Milk’s 1st album. This joint sounds a lil better put together to me. 3.5 seems about right, give or take a half a mic, depending on if you mess with the Rock City scene or not.
Q-Tip - “Gettin’ Up (DJ Scratch Remix) (feat. Busta Rhymes)”
http://www.zshare.net/audio/508050954559995f/
@ Flea
No, it is specific. What you’re referring to is a matter of preference and perception. Prefering a certain type of artist that are perceived to be better than others. Basically we’re fans of all spectrums and trust, we do a great deal of debating before these reviews are posted.
Lewis Hamilton world champion, jeah jeah jeah!
The title comes home to the Isles, what a race, my heart was in my mouth.
Lebron can now drink some black milk from his Reebok.
LEWIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Trust, if preferences came into play & cats were rating just off they what they wanted their favs to have, Kuntry would’ve gotten a 3.5 & Jeezy prolly a 4.5. There’s a wole lot of debate that goes on & sometimes we have to step back to be realistic before we put a rating on an album.
@ TC: Understood, but isn’t the music a representation of the artist and vice versa??? So the basically the preference and perception that you speak of is somewhat influenced by the music of the artist, in addition to other factors. Still, it’s somewhat clearer now and less obfuscated. No review can be perrfect I guess. I remember back in the days when the Source (the Selwyn Sifu-days!) used to catch shit over their reviews too. One question remains though: Who decides what to review and who to review it??? Do you all listen to the material and reach a consensus or does the reviewer just listen to it on his own?
Jeezy shoulda got that 4.5. The Recession is on top of my album of the year list.
I just wanna sit in on one of those review e-mails. Not to put in any input, but just to see the process.
Ratings and scores aside I think this Black Milk release sums up what I label as ‘mundane rap’ it’s not a commercial thing or an underground thing. More a case of the hip hop scene has lost it’s fizz over recent years.
Black Milk as a producer is a promising talent, he has certainly shown a great level of flair and creativity with some of his production work in recent times, however, there is still a lot of sound moulding that he needs to do if his audio asthetics is going to sound a cut above the rest of the run of the mill production console button pushing pack.
Tronic is a worthy effort though compared to the rest of the pack, it’s not quite as epic as Jeff Bridges TRON, but I like the nudge nudge wink wink that he has given to electro maestros like Gary Numan, Jean Michelle Jarre, Thomas Dolby, Man Parrish and all of them folk.
Report card read C+ but there is still room for plenty of improvement.
@ Flea
Yes. We all spin the albums on our personal time and come back together on some Knights of the Roundtable shit. Whoever’s feeling froggy leaps. But we have our personal opinions and our professional ones. Yeah particular albums may speak to you strongly at a time when they directly reflect that mood you’re in but that doesn’t mean it’s the unbiased truth. It would actually be quite the opposite. All music is representative of that artist who makes it but sometimes U have to step back and see who they’re actually reaching and aiming for.
Lewis Hamilton + Barack Obama = Same Fight, Two Victories !
Lewis gonna to the Sherzinger’s party tonight !!!
Bang ! Bang ! Bang! oww
But don’t all reviews have an inherant bias just based on the reviewer’s own likes & dislikes. As good as The Source was back in the day, they dropped the ball more than a few times & that’s to be expected. Ultimately, I make my own decisions about what I listen to. Reviews are subjective. I mean, just cause everyone says “L.A.X.” is a good album, doesn’t mean I have to beleve it (or listen to it lol).
Greums, yep that is one way of looking at it. :)
The whole of Great Britain was at a stand still earlier tonight I kid you not, eyes and ears glued to the television set, and what a way to win F1 title, hearts were in mouth.
But good on him, him and father were so humble to in the post race interviews, just saying that hope it sends out a signal to all the youngster’s out there, put your mind to it and you can achieve it! :)
Nicole was there too, I think they will all be celebrating big time tonight over in Brazil where the final race took place.
Lewis is also the youngest F1 champion ever, so history right there too.
Brits not had much sporting glory in recent years so I guess we will live this one up for a long long long time indeed! :P
PAW PAW PAW !
Lewis Gonna Get It !
yeah maybe a bigger fiesta
after the brazil race !
BUt A Big Pop Champagne tonight
nevertheless
“When I Grow Up … nnananana!”
LOL
“I just wanna sit in on one of those review e-mails. Not to put in any input, but just to see the process.”
^ co-sign
if e-walls had e-ears
or
wouldn’t if be fun to be an e-fly on the e-wall
i’d love to read/hear/see what kinda shit they talk, lol
time to get your hack on, Amp
or they could stage some sort of TSS e-Reality Show
LMAO at the idea of a TSS e-Reality show. Me and TC had an epic disagreement the other night that would have made for some great TV. 1-1 TC, 1-1.
Can you guys start doing it out of 10 or 100 even.
^
That wouldn’t change the rating. 7/10 or 35/100. What’s the difference?
As for our discussions - the later it gets the better they are.
Greums, a bigger Fiesta and Nicole Scherzinger on my arm, man I’d settle for that.
Lewis is effectively her toy boy, she is almost 7 years older than him.
Does that make me want to become an F1 driver when I grow up? Wroom! Wroom! Yes Indeedy!
Nicole likes young, black and rich boi!
Lewis eza lucky boi!
Why don’t ya’ll post individual ratings then also post the average.
^ voilá!
^teef & smash: That would require several different reviews would it not?
Hmm.. Its hard to “quantify” an album. The crew puts in alot of time a meticulous effort to come to some of these conclusions.
All credit due to MZ’s nimble penmanship on this one.
With that being said. I fucking loved this album. Losing Out has probably gotten more plays on my iPod than I care to remember. And I’m not even a Black Milk fan, to begin with.
It’s all well and good to give damn near everything a 3.5 as long as you stipulate that or add qualifiers “if you don’t like….” or “if you’re not already a fan of…” when you do the review. This way your review system doesn’t look suspect when you give albums by Madlib the same rating that you give something that you all universally agree sucks (i.e. DJ Khaled, Yung Berg, Blood Raw, etc.).
I don’t think “Tronic” was a classic or even better than his last album so I’m cool with it getting a 3.5 but if another album by someone that’s lyrically challenged and has subpar beats but a lot of swagger gets a 3.5 as well as “Tronic” then you need to reassess your ratings system in my opinion.
One.
Fuck what you heard. For my tastes, “Tronic” is the best front-to-back album this year. Did someone really call this joint “mundane”? If this album is that, I’d love to hear what is “so-so” and “okay”.
“Mundane?” Tronic was a dope album. I’ve read reviews on here of 3.5 rated albums and I’ve heard some truly mundane albums. Someone may have mentioned it but it would be better if each individual reviewer gave a rating, then an average. This would happen over time to assess the reviewers’ likes and dislikes (i.e. someone who likes the sounds of T-Pain as opposed to a Black Milk album and vice versa). We would better understand the depth of the ratings. Mundane…the album is not.
mAN fUCK wHAT yALL hEARD… tRONIC iS a gREAT aLBUM… tO bE hONEST… aND tHIS iS a aLBUM cOMING fROM a pRODUCER tURNT rAPPER… tHE fIRST tRACK hAD mE sOLD
“fans wil’n out hands rising and im proud and proof keep stage diving in the crowd”
Tronic gets a 3.5 and Terminate On Sight gets a 4
Ricfuckindiculous
T.O.S. deserved those cigs.
Instead of spitting a verse about how he can change Hip-Hop, he should craft a song that makes it happen.
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Milk should take notes.
separate criteria should be considered
and out-of-10 is not a bad idea, maybe its too much
i take each songs rating and average the album
each song gets rated by replay value forthemostpart
as far as skill level issue just think about joell ortiz compared to rick ross
LOL. The rating scale is outta 10. Ya’ll some placebo effect niggas!!!
And U can see what any album got rated @ any given time. Just click “album review”
I don’t know, I think Tronic is one of the best hip-hop albums I’ve heard all year. The production is fantastic, and I actually think Black is a very good MC. I think some of you are overestimating how much he needs to improve. And I actually think it’s got great replay value, as I’ve been playing it repeatedly all week.