INTERVIEWSJack White Goes Hip-Hop With MC Black Milk

Is Jack White the next Dr. Dre? The White Stripes guitarist produced and performed on "Brain" and "Royal Mega," two new songs from Detroit rapper Black Milk -- it's the first rap release on White's Third Man Records, and hits stores today. Stream "Royal Mega" below (via Pitchfork).

White contributes drums to this track, and he adds a seriously fierce punch to a dirty horn and guitar-soaked groove, which weirdly comes on like Rage Against the Machine. "Another record that's bringing the unexpected," Milk boasts, before the track goes double-time with a funked-up vamp that recalls James Brown's backing band playing at their hardest. Sweet!

White should cast a well-deserved spotlight on Black Milk, aka Curtis Cross, whose last two records -- 2008's Tronic and 2010's Album of the Year -- were promising steps forward.

Pick up Black Milk's single over at iTunes. You can also hear the similarly brassy, organ-kissed "Brain" here.