Detroit's
Black Noi$e thrives on the energy of several varying forms of music, having played in hardcore punk bands as a teenager as well as producing hip-hop beats and dance tracks. First coming to the attention of the underground rap mixtape scene by providing beats for emcees like
Deniro Farrar and
Remy Banks, his first vinyl releases, for Detroit-area labels Portage Garage Sounds and Vanity Press Records, demonstrated his skills at producing off-kilter club music, from hazy house to twisted electro. He reached a wider audience through his contribution to
Earl Sweatshirt's universally praised 2018 release Some Rap Songs, then became the rapper's touring DJ, as well as the first artist signed to
Earl's Tan Cressida imprint.
Oblivion,
Black Noi$e's first release for the label, is a short collection of sludgy yet intricately crafted beats graced by appearances from an impressive roll call of guest rappers and singers, including
Earl,
Danny Brown,
duendita, and
Pink Siifu. While none of these tracks would feel too out of place on any of the featured artists' own releases, it's clear that they play a supporting role to
Black Noi$e's vision, providing fleeting, stream-of-consciousness thoughts and sometimes nearly blending in with the beats themselves. "Now you see me, now you don't,"
Earl appropriately raps on the 80-second vignette "Mo(u)rning."
Liv.e's guest turn on the gorgeous "The Band" feels like a refreshing stroll through a park, and while it sounds languid and relaxed, there's more soul to it than the average track you'd expect to hear in an anonymous "lo-fi beats" play list. The empowering, relatively dramatic "Glitch" features deep yet dreamy singing by
duendita over a strange push-pull of choppy beats, mangled bells, and the singer's own warped voice. The more aggressive tracks come later, including
Danny Brown's woozy, snapping "1999" and a standout appearance from Tennessee's
bbymutha on the commanding "Mutha Magick." Cousin Mouth's "Dragon Dance" is a poetic comedown to this brief but invigorating trip. ~ Paul Simpson