In Kokin Wakashu Kanajo (Japanese preface of the Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poetry), he is described as follows; 'The poems of OTOMO no Kuronushi are scruffy and have little character. It's like a old man, carrying firewood on his back in a mountain village, is resting under a flower tree.'
古今和歌集仮名序では、「大伴黒主はそのさまいやし。いはば薪を負へる山人の花の陰にやすめるが如し」と評される。