Straight out of West Philly,  former Ill Advised member Baby Blak has set his sights on the streets with his debut album Once You Go Blak. Since the departure from Ill Advised, Blak has been featured on a number of joints, spanning from his assist on the High & Mighty’s “Open Mic Night” to his more recent spots on the slept on DJ Jazzy Jeff’s The Magnificent LP. Needless to say Blak has created a buzz for himself over the past few years, which has bubbled over to his first solo release. While enlisting some top notch producers, Blak hopes to grab the nation’s streets with his gritty tales of poverty, hustling, fatherhood, and his own brashness. With his own humble arrogance in tow, Baby Blak hopes that Once You Go Blak, you never go back.

    The production on Once You Go Blak may make this the musically slept on album of the year. Highlighting the team of DJ Revolution, Joey Chavez, Rob Dinero, Soul Supreme, and others, Once You Go Blak instantly makes an impression with its diverse yet consistent production. The exultant title track by Rob Dinero becomes a sign of things to come as the menacing keys
morph into a well developed banger. Kev Brown may have come up with the most polished jewel on the album, the must be heard “Economix”. With its hypnotic keys and jazzy baseline “Economix” takes Blak’s best lyrical approach and transforms it into one of the better joints out right now. “Street Orchestra” lives up to its name as they manage to encompass hardcore
production that help emphasize “Starvin’ Artist”.  Rising star Soul Supreme drops off another gem with his notable contribution “Firewater”. From the intro all the way down to the beautiful finale “Diamonds” by DJ Sat One, Once You Go Blak is one of this year’s musical masterpieces, and that’s saying allot with all the incredible indy releases this year.

     There is a reason that the production was the first thing mentioned though, it almost outshines Baby Blak’s lyrical output. Blak is by no means a slouch on the mic, which is apparent when he spits well crafted street sagas such as the previously mentioned addressing of 9-11 on “Economix”. Blak stands tall when he quips probably one of the better musical treatments surrounding the tragedies of our society during the September 11th attacks. Blak is incredibly
efficient when putting together concepts. With intricate detail merging with his confident expression on more personal songs such as the introspective “Daddy Dearest” and  backstabbing ulterior motive narrative “Friends”, Baby Blak establishes himself as an emcee more than apt to spit about societies ills. Where Blak comes up clicking on all cylinders is his perception on the downfalls of the jiggy chase on “Diamonds”. Blak spits  “You wear the blood of your people on your neck and your wrist/I said the blood of your people/Ain’t no love for your people/South African government put slugs in my people so ya platinum chain can have a stud you can see through”. Where Blak falls short is when he becomes more boastful. While packing an off the cusp arrogance he simply doesn’t knock over the listener with his braggadocio on joints like “Tasters Choice” and the odd collaboration with Planet Asia and Obie Trice on “No Coast Allstars” where his featured emcees outshine him.

With those missteps aside Baby Blak still carves a place for himself alongside the Indy world with one of the more consistent releases of the year. Once You Go Blak may not be the most lyrically sound, or most introspective album ever heard, but it more than serves it’s purpose pushing Baby Blak into the ears of many and hopefully the ears of many more. With an
approach that smashes the stereotypical glamour and glitz of many of our bling-bling rappers, Baby Blak no longer has to hope to be heard, he soon enough will demand to be heard and who is going to deny him?