Check this one: Black Milk

A new feature for 2007, each month we'll be selecting at least one artist that we think may just brighten up these dark days. For January we're singling out MC-producer Black Milk, from the Midwest hip hop scene that spawned the late J Dilla.

A Detroit native, he hasn't even celebrated his 25th birthday yet but is already shaping up as the scene's most exciting fresh talent. Known to his mum as Curtis Cross, his beats have graced tracks by Proof, Pharoahe Monch, Slum Village, Lloyd Banks and others. In March he releases a second solo LP, "Popular Demand", and we're guessing it'll be the one to get his name out there.

Those looking for a fix of the sampladelic goodness that oozed from Dilla's "Donuts" LP last year need look no further than the latest releases being pushed by New York-based underground hip hop uber-store, Fat Beats. They put out the "Broken Wax EP" which features the brilliant "Pressure" and are going to be the label behind the forthcoming LP.

Fat Beats
Black Milk on MySpace
Black Milk interview on YouTube