Black Milk / Fat Ray

Black Milk was 2007’s hip-hop darling and the media praised the producer/MC. Now in 2008, he has again delivered a standout product to those same open arms. The Set Up is Black Milk’s production and flow combined with Fat Ray’s baritone, representing Detroit’s legacy to the fullest. Don’t mistake the high quality of the production for a well-rounded album though — the lyricism falls flat in almost every song — but if you’re looking for something to kick back and enjoy, The Set Up has that sound. The best track is "Flawless,” with every other song also making that "best track” list. "Bad Man” featuring Guilty Simpson is crazy and the listener must resist the temptation to press repeat to move to the next track. One can only hope this is the Setup for even better projects.