AFH Ambrosia for Heads

Archives

The 15 Best Rap Albums Of 2022

As 2022 winds down, it comes time to celebrate the best in Hip-Hop music. As is tradition, the Ambrosia For Heads team weighs in on our opinion of the year's best albums. This list of 15 includes some comeback performances, significant sequel efforts, and collaborative tandems. The collection of LPs also shows... Read more

The 14 Best Rap Albums Of 2021…What Did We Miss

As 2021 comes to a close, it is appropriate to reflect on a remarkable year for Hip-Hop music and news. Although we did it slightly differently this year, Ambrosia For Heads shares our list of the best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2021. On episode #72 of the What's The Headline podcast—starting at 1:13:00—we list our... Read more

JAY-Z & LL Cool J Brought A President & $3 Billion To The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

On Saturday (October 30), LL Cool J and JAY-Z were formally inducted into Cleveland, Ohio's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. While Hip-Hop artists have been entering the Hall for over a decade now, 2021's celebration was truly a standout moment for the culture. As Dave Chappelle suggested while inducting... Read more

Apollo Brown’s Album Features Royce, Elzhi, Slum Village & More. Listen Here (Audio)

Apollo Brown continues to be one of the most trusted and most consistent producers in Hip-Hop. The Michigan native, based in Detroit, has made heralded albums alongside Joell Ortiz, O.C., Ras Kass, Planet Asia, and others. Additionally, the Mello Music Group mainstay has been the backbone in groups such as... Read more

Joell Ortiz Is The Captain Of His Destiny & He’s On A Course For Greatness (Audio)

Joell Ortiz has been on a tear in the last nine months. He fed fans a beloved album alongside producer Apollo Brown in the form of late 2018's Mona Lisa. The Brooklyn, New York veteran opened 2019 with a joint effort, Gorilla Glue, with Fred The Godson and longtime production affiliates,... Read more

Locksmith Explains Why He Was Relieved Not To Get A Deal From Dr. Dre (Video)

Locksmith is one of the Bay Area's most prolific MCs. Since the early 2000s, the Richmond, California rapper has laid forth a slew of mixtapes, albums, and freestyles to bolster his catalog and put his expert lyricism on full display. In 2018, Locksmith kept especially busy, releasing full-length Ali, and... Read more

Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2018 (Battle 8): Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz vs. Royce 5’9

We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our... Read more

Which Of These Albums Deserves To Compete For Best Of 2018? You Decide.

Earlier today, Ambrosia For Heads announced our picks for the 15 Best Albums Of 2018. As we did last year, we are having you decide which one of these albums (or any one that we missed) is the album of the year, based on your votes in an NCAA-style tournament... Read more

Joell Ortiz Examines How Growing Up Fast Shaped Him Over A Lush Apollo Brown Beat

Last month, Joell Ortiz and Apollo Brown partnered to release the Mona Lisa album. The Mello Music Group LP is a platform for Joell to look back at his upbringing, react to the dissolving of Slaughterhouse, and call for more MCs with heart, all while celebrating the beauty in the... Read more

Ras Kass Reworks “Soul On Ice” With Some New Lyrics That Burn (Video Premiere)

Ras Kass is recognized as one of the most talented lyricists to ever come out of southern California. Between the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. and Ab-Soul, Razzy kept Carson, California on the Rap map. And while commercial success has never been an adequate reflection of his talents (partially prompting a self-comparison to... Read more

Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz Discuss Their Album, Slaughterhouse & More (Video)

Apollo Brown and Joell Ortiz released their Mona Lisa album on Friday, October 26 (embedded below). These two stalwarts of the culture have put together 11 tracks of soulful, insightful, and competitive-spirited Hip-Hop. Having had a chance to digest this nuanced body of work, Ambrosia For Heads' Editor-in-Chief Jake Paine... Read more

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Make An All-New Soul On Ice. It’s As Cold As Ever (Audio)

Ras Kass is overtly re-channeling his landmark debut Soul On Ice on his latest song. "SOI3 (Soul On Ice 3)" is produced by Ras' celebrated Blasphemy collaborator, Apollo Brown. The track deliberately reworks Ras' 1996 remix that presented one of the coldest lyricists in the game. Producer Apollo's dark and ghoulish instrumental... Read more

Joell Ortiz, Royce 5’9 & Kxng Crooked Reunite To Stomp Out Weak MCs (Audio)

In the last decade, Detroit, Michigan producer Apollo Brown has compiled a pretty impressive resume of Rap acts he's produced. The Motor City native has been behind the instrumentals of some of Hip-hop's best spitters. Whether it be younger talents like Chance The Rapper and Westside Gunn or more seasoned... Read more

Joell Ortiz Reflects On Slaughterhouse & More On His Collabo With Apollo Brown (Audio)

It seems like Detroit, Michigan’s Apollo Brown has taken it upon himself to pair some of the most lyrical MCs in the game with the tailor-made production they deserve. Since 2012 he has dropped heralded projects with Guilty Simpson, O.C., Ras Kass, Skyzoo, Planet Asia, and earlier this year, Locksmith.... Read more

Slaughterhouse May Be Done But Joell Ortiz & Royce 5’9 Are Still Stomping Out MCs (Audio)

Even with the group apparently on ice, people are talking about Slaughterhouse right now, as much as ever. Eminem spoke about the group during part 2 of his week-long rollout of an interview with Sway. As recently as this weekend, Joe Budden is reflecting on the group dynamic on his... Read more

Apollo Brown & Locksmith’s New EP Combines Lyricism With Personal Reflection (Audio)

Richmond, California native Locksmith has a knack for mixing witty lyrics with a flow that delivers his message with a punch. It serves him well as a battle rapper, but perhaps it's even better when he's constructing a body of music. These attributes are heavily on display in his newest... Read more

Apollo Brown & Locksmith Are Releasing An EP. The 1st Song Leaves No Question It Will Be Dope (Audio)

Locksmith has been in the game long enough to go from prodigious street poet to battle MC, to prolific recording artist. Although Lock' is straight out of Richmond, California, his music is not what many might expect from the region. His lyrics do not glorify drugs, sideshows, or violence. Instead,... Read more

Dynasty Teaches That Simplicity Is Genius Over A Brilliant Apollo Brown Beat (Video)

Queens, New York's Dynasty embodies power, leadership, and sovereignty. All of this is apparent from her past work with Talib Kweli and DJ Premier. From her 2016 album Forever, DY; Dynasty recently dropped the visuals for her single, "One Day," produced by Detroit, Michigan’s Apollo Brown (Ras Kass, O.C., Planet Asia).... Read more

Skyzoo & Raheem DeVaughn Hit The Bakery To Slice Some Devil’s Pie (Video)

If you haven't listened to Skyzoo's new album, In Celebration of Us, this first music video may be just the nudge you need. Both his 2017 projects, Peddler Themes and The Easy Truth with Apollo Brown, raised the lyrical bar in a time when it often seems to have been lowered.... Read more

Skyzoo & Raheem DeVaughn Serve D’Angelo’s Devil’s Pie With Their Own Recipe (Audio)

Skyzoo has been in the Rap game for over a decade and a half now. Having worked with 9th Wonder, EPMD, and Spike Lee, the MC has devoted his career to sharpening his skills. The Brooklyn, New Yorker is prepping to drop an album, In Celebration Of Us (February 2) via First... Read more

Apollo Brown & Planet Asia Bring Out Some Of The Best In Each Other (Video)

Apollo Brown and Planet Asia have struck again with a second single "Aura" from their upcoming album Anchovies. The songs serve as a formidable addition to one of Detroit's best beat-smiths and the Cali Agent MC's mutual catalog and further displays their undeniable synergy. On A Great Night For Cali,... Read more

Apollo Brown & Planet Asia Are Putting That Stank On Ya With Anchovies (Audio)

Apollo Brown will be adding another project to his already robust collection of collaborative projects, this time with MC Planet Asia. The Mello Music Group producer has already teamed up with Guilty Simpson (Dice Game), OC (Trophies), Ras Kass (Blasphemy), and with Skyzoo on 2016's standout LP The Easy Truth, released fewer... Read more

Apollo Brown’s Next Collabo Album Is With Planet Asia. Check The 1st Single (Audio)

Detroit, Michigan producer Apollo Brown has become a noteworthy crossroads for the MCs he meets in the studio. From O.C. to Ras Kass, Skyzoo to Guilty Simpson, Brown's grabbing Soul samples and hard drums bring something distinct out of MCs in their catalog. Like 9th Wonder was to Buckshot and... Read more

Apollo Brown, Skyzoo & Stalley Are On the Grind For An Overdue Payout (Video)

With September's The Easy Truth, Apollo Brown and Skyzoo released one of 2016's standout Hip-Hop offerings, collaborative or otherwise. While the Brooklyn, New York MC and Detroit, Michigan producer have worked together before in the past, the LP is the pairing's largest body of work to date and cracked the... Read more

Skyzoo & Joell Ortiz Look At Some Of The Costs Of A Couple Of Dollars (Video)

Tomorrow (September 30), Apollo Brown and Skyzoo will release their first collaborative album, The Easy Truth. As the Detroit, Michigan producer explained to Ambrosia For Heads this week, the easy truth is what we are all fed, left for us to decipher whether it is truly real or false. One... Read more

Apollo Brown & Skyzoo Paint a Vivid Picture With Help From Westside Gunn & Conway (Audio)

Ten days from now, Apollo Brown and Skyzoo will bestow upon Heads a collaborative album, The Easy Truth. The two are arguably some of the best artists in their crafts, each capable of bringing vivid elements to their music through production and MCing, respectively. Arriving courtesy of Mello Music Group,... Read more

Hip-Hop Took The Gold In August. Hear The Best Of The Month (Audio)

August was filled with the Olympics and some of the worst heat of the year, but it also brought some great Hip-Hop. De La Soul released their first album in 12 years, and it debuted at #1 on the Rap chart. Andre 3000 had some choice words for ghostwriters. Nas... Read more

Apollo Brown, Skyzoo & Joell Ortiz Spare More Than a Couple Dollars’ Worth of Inspiration (Audio)

On September 30, Skyzoo and Apollo Brown will be releasing a collaborative album, The Easy Truth. The Brooklyn, New York MC and Detroit, Michigan-based producer dropped its debut single earlier this month in the form of "One In the Same," which features Patty Crash, whose name will be familiar to... Read more

Skyzoo & Apollo Brown Have An Album Coming. Here’s The Striking First Single (Audio)

Apollo Brown has fancied himself the producer-to-see to give lyricists a new sound. Ras Kass stood as the illest Hip-Hop heretic in Blasphemy. Diggin' In The Crates legend O.C. got medals for Trophies. Random Axe's Guilty Simpson rolled big in Dice Game. Next up, Skyzoo will release a full-length project... Read more

Apollo Brown Takes Producer Compilations To A Whole New Level In Grandeur (Album Stream)

Apollo Brown stays incredibly busy. The Detroit, Michigan producer does tandem albums with MCs, he releases instrumental LPs, and the Mello Music Group mainstay works in groups like Ugly Heroes, The Left, and others. For the first time since 2010's The Reset, Apollo returns to straight compilation work. Grandeur, released... Read more

Freddie Gibbs Throws Fast Flow On A Charged Apollo Brown Beat (Audio)

Moving closer to September 25's Grandeur, Apollo Brown and Mello Music Group share another glimpse from the LP. "Who's That" incorporates Detroit, Michigan, Gary, Indiana, and Brownsville Brooklyn, New York—thanks to Apollo, Freddie Gibbs, and Maffew Ragazino, Sr. Brown chops a moving loop that has a dusty, Caribbean feel to... Read more

Apollo Brown & Planet Asia Make The Song Cry For Ill Street Blues (Audio)

Apollo Brown is the veteran producer MCs see when they aim to make something different in the catalog. O.C., Ras Kass, and Guilty Simpson all have jewels to show. Planet Asia, who did a whole album with Mello Music Group (2013's Abrasions with Gensu Dean), may be next in that... Read more

Apollo Brown & Your Old Droog Release a Soulful Anti-Drug PSA (Audio)

Apollo Brown & Your Old Droog have teamed up to spin a tale of those lost to drugs on the second single for Brown's forthcoming Mello Music Group release, Grandeur. On "Not That Guy," the producer-MC duo mourn the downfall of people who have opted to chase the high and... Read more

DJ Soko’s Domino Effect Aligns Nicely With Guilty Simpson, Apollo Brown & More (Album Stream)

Detroit, Michigan native DJ Soko has been putting in work for years. Just under five years ago, the turntablist DJ joined forces with Apollo Brown and Journalist 103 to form The Left. The trio released Gas Mask, an early and important on the then-fledgling Mello Music Group—with Kool G Rap... Read more

M.O.P. & Apollo Brown Collaborate on Detonate and It’s Explosive (Audio)

In recent years, M.O.P. have explored with their sound. The Brownsville, Brooklyn duo of Lil Fame and Billy Danze have made some of their hit records with the likes of DJ Premier, D/R Period, Just Blaze, and manager/producer Laze E. Laze, in addition to board-work with Statik Selektah, Snowgoons, and... Read more

Freddie Gibbs, Apollo Brown & Verbal Kent Team With Aggression (Audio)

In an upcoming release through the Mello Music Group imprint, Chicago, Illinois MC Verbal Kent will be showcasing his skills on Anesthesia, a new solo album featuring contributions from Skyzoo, Torae, Red Pill, Marco Polo, and others. As a founding member of the Ugly Heroes with Red Pill and Apollo... Read more

Rapper Big Pooh Shows 1 of the Scariest Things in Life for Black Men…Being Pulled Over By the Police (Video)

For decades, Hip-Hop has played a pivotal role as a voice for the people and especially so during tough, critical moments in United States history. Most recently, that role has come to the forefront due to consistent acts of police brutality and violence against, most specifically, young black men. That... Read more

Rapper Big Pooh Talks Words Paint Pictures, History With Little Brother and Kicks a Freestyle (Video)

Rapper Big Pooh stopped by the Sway in the Morning show to promote his stellar Words Paint Pictures joint project with Apollo Brown. Pooh spoke about how he, Phonte and 9th Wonder met before forming Little Brother, as well as the current status of their relationship. He also spoke generally... Read more

Rapper Big Pooh Releases His Finest Music Since Little Brother (Album Stream)

Rapper Big Pooh has had a host of quality releases since his days with vaunted group Little Brother with Phonte and 9th Wonder. From 2005's Sleepers to his entire Fat Boy Fresh series, Pooh has stayed working. However, his recent union with Apollo Brown has produced some of the best... Read more

Here’s the Story of How Mello Music Group Defiantly Built a Haven for Real Hip-Hop (Interview)

For the better part of the last decade, as independent label mainstays have been closing up their doors, going on hiatus, or reconfiguring their audience, Mello Music Group has secured a foundation. The Tucson, Arizona-based label has cultivated new voices, redeveloped lyrical legends, and built an industry model rooted in... Read more

Oddisee, Apollo Brown & More Show Off Their Persona On New Compilation (Album Stream)

Today (March 10), indie record label Mello Music Group is releasing their annual compilation album, Persona. Celebrating eight years of being in business, Mello Music Group has prided themselves on their focus on artist development, and Persona is meant to show how the label has grown and developed over the... Read more

Rapper Big Pooh Provides Heartfelt, Soulful Accounts Of Hard Livin’ (Audio)

Two weeks removed from Words Paint Pictures (March 24) Rapper Big Pooh & Apollo Brown continue to show that the Mello Music Group album may be a critical milestone for the Little Brother co-founding MC. Pooh gets deep, soulful, and especially thoughtful in much of what Heads have heard. "How... Read more

Rapper Big Pooh Flips Through His Rhyme Book While Apollo Brown Digs In The Crates (Video)

A month from yesterday (March 24), Rapper Big Pooh & Apollo Brown will release Words Paint Pictures on Mello Music Group. The Virginia-to-Michigan tandem got together to record the LP, and to film "Augmentation." The soulful cut finds each artist in their first loves, rapping and diggin', showing the culture... Read more

Ras Kass Explains Why He Wrote How To Kill God. It’s Not What You Think.

One of the more celebrated independent Hip-Hop albums of 2014 was Ras Kass & Apollo Brown's Blasphemy. The Mello Music Group release returned Ras Kass to the studio album format, and—after work with O.C., Guilty Simpson, and The Left, gave Brown a West Coast collaborative full-length. Part of Blasphemy's charm... Read more

Rapper Big Pooh Says the Shooting of Unarmed People of Color Must Stop (Audio)

More than two months ago, Ambrosia For Heads gathered some intel that Rapper Big Pooh might be crossing paths with Apollo Brown for a project called Words Paint Pictures. It's 2015, and not gloating or anything, but we were right. The artwork and March 24 EP release date were confirmed... Read more

Red Pill Speaks From His Heart On Race & Differences On An Apollo Brown Groove (Audio)

Red Pill has been one of the budding forces at Tucson, Arizona-based Mello Music Group. A member of Ugly Heroes with Verbal Kent and Apollo Brown, the Lansing, Michigan native announced this young week that he has signed a multi-album deal with the label that's been a home/outpost for Oddisee,... Read more

Listen to Over 170 of the Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2014 in One Playlist (Audio)

2014 was an incredibly diverse year for Hip-Hop, musically and thematically. Many of the sounds that have dominated airwaves and web streams remained, but something returned that had been missing from the culture for quite some time: the voice of the people. In a year that saw more unrest in... Read more

AFH:14 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2014 (Food For Thought)

2014 was a special year in Hip-Hop music. Rather than a usual suspect front-running in spotlight, this was a democratic crop of albums—where new artists made cohesive introductory works, veterans advanced their skillsets and redefined their reputations, and underground MCs challenged the mainstream. There were artists who released multiple works,... Read more

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Just Dropped The Visual To A Blasphemy Centerpiece (Video)

To understand Blasphemy, "Deliver Us From Evil" is an appropriate starting point. Beyond just some of the finest rapping Ras Kass has displayed in an already-illustrious career, the track deals with organized religion, contradiction, and the themes that made this Mello Music Group a true highlight within 2014. Capturing all... Read more

Ras Kass Joins Some Detroit Bad Boys Around A Barrel Fire For A Cypher (Video)

This year, West Coast MC vet Ras Kass linked with Detroit, Michigan's Apollo Brown to make a celebrated, highly-cohesive LP in Blasphemy. Keeping things focused on Motor City, Ras circles up around a barrel-fire, Doo Wop-style, to unleash a monstrous cypher. Apollo's beat seems to pay careful homage to Diamond... Read more