Album Preview: Random Axe "Random Axe"

Image via Complex Original

Complex says: To kick things off, Black Milk picks up from where Tronic and Album of the Year left off. The beat is a steady progression from his previous work, but there’s no rapping on here. Basically, it’s just a short intro where Black shows off his skills. Now let’s really start the show...

Complex says: There's a video on the way for this one and that's probably because (like Black says) it sounds like some end of the world shit. Black handles hook duties as he makes calls from the 3-1-3 to the NYC. Guilty drops bars about how he gave his mom nothing but headaches and P spits that aggressive content, "You can call me one dimensional/But I put six slugs right into you."

Complex says: Fat Ray spits the hook on here as Guilty and P get to work. Price keeps it simple rhyming, "I"m a good father but I be illing/Colt 45 on my side, no Billy Dee Williams." Meanwhile, Guilty promises to turn your favorite rapper into a mural. There's no Black on here and you should get used to that. He plays the back on most of these tracks and spits a limited number of verses.

Complex says: We gotta admit we weren't expecting this kind of a beat from Black. The music on here sounds almost like a dream pop record. But the rapping is straight gutter. Roc Marci does the hook and packs a Mac-10 in the North Face jacket on his 16 while Guilty puts the potato on the barrel and makes french fries.

Complex says: The drums on this go hard. In fact, they sound like they were played by Daru Jones—the same drummer who played the live drums on Black's Album of The Year. As far as the rhymes, Guilty Simpson might be from Detriot but he's got the spirit of a true New York sports fan: "I used to keep grams on me/Cause I had better nicks than Mike D'Antoni." LOL!

Complex says: The beat on here is much more eerie and hypnotic than almost anything

Black's ever done before. Believe it or not, it's sorta got a vibe

similar to the X-File's theme. The rhyme scheme on here is unqiue as each rapper uses the same word throughout their verse. For Price it's "everybody" ("Everybody wanna sign to Koch and get seven dollars a pop/Stop lying, you ain't getting that guap"). For Black it's "nobody" as he rhymes about the dude no one wants to be. And for Guilty it's "somebody" as he rhymes about a stripper who just wants to be somebody but "I ain't gonna front, she got some body."

Complex says: This track is named after King Jaffe–Joffer of Zamunda (not sure if it was mistakenly or intentionally spelled wrong) as Price kicks bars while they throw rose pedals at his feet. Can't front though—we love Ruck—but we all know Cam'ron is the real Jaffe Joe of this rap shit. Also, there's a great verse from newcomer Danny Brown as his high-pitched voice rips in contrast to the deep baritone of Random Axe.

Complex says: This isn't a full blown song as much as it's a solo freestyle from Sean Price. He kicks a quick 16 about how Randon Axe's music will never be mainstream and keeps it moving. We can't complain.

Complex says: Same as the last track, except this is a freestyle from Guilty instead of Price (though Black does add a quick hook). And who can't appreciate lines like, "You got no bars, outta state Metro PCS." Damn bro, you got Metro PCS? Man, don't tell us them terrible ass ads convinced you.

Complex says: More banging drums, another great guest spot (Father sounds absolutely Pharoahe Monch-esque), and more Price quoteables: "Write what I feel? I don't feel like writing/I feel like fighting, ya gone feel Mike Tyson."

Complex says: Sure, Ruck's partner-in-rhyme Rock of Heltah Skeltah shows up for a scene-stealing verse on this one, but believe it or not Trick Trick actually had a pretty dope verse on here too. Guess Black's beats just bring the best in everyone.

Complex says: Another quickie freestyle-type track with Guilty spitting the bulk of the bars. Nothing special here.

Complex says: Despite the fact that the title reeks of Sean Price, the outro is bascially a series of Black Milk instrumentals in different styles as he continues to evolve his sound.