apollo brown Archives

Big Pooh Is In The Zone, Is He Hinting At A New LP As He Drops Off Hotness? (Audio)

Was anybody paying attention to Twitter or Tumblr the last few days? Rapper Big Pooh was/is in Detroit, Michigan. While Pooh and Slum Village's T3 are tight homies, that's not why. In between the tweets, it could be hinted that the Little Brother alum is the next subject to sit... Read more

December 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Leave It To Ras Kass, Apollo Brown & Sean Price To Punch ‘Em With A Bonus Cut (Audio)

Two stellar lyrical alumni of 1996, Ras Kass and Sean Price come together yet again. Over another string-heavy Apollo Brown track, Ras and Ruck link up for "Impossible Dream." Hardcore as you might expect, the breakaway from the Blasphemy sessions was unearthed, and finds cross-coastal MCs demolishing a beat from... Read more

November 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown’s How To Kill God Is Everything You’d Expect It To Be (Video)

The revealed original title for Apollo Brown & Ras Kass' Blasphemy was How To Kill God. Thereby, the Soul-charged indictment on organized religion by Razzy Kazzy functions as a title track from the newly-released Mello Music Group album. The jarring title (to some) is met with hard-nosed opinions and facts... Read more

November 12, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Allow All To Hear The Blasphemy (Album Stream)

Today (October 28), Ras Kass & Apollo Brown release Blasphemy. As label Mello Music Group likes to do, the album is available for free, full stream, enticing your support, should you feel so compelled. This MC/producer tandem brings the Carson, California veteran lyricist to the Michigan-based beat-master/member of The Left,... Read more

October 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Takeover the Backroom for a True School Verse (Video)

Ras Kass and Apollo Brown took over The Backroom on 106 & Park to deliver some True School Hip-Hop. Ras dropped a vintage verse while Apollo manned the wheels of steel with an original track. Check out the video. Related: Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Slice Down That Humble Pi... Read more

September 19, 2014 Video

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Slice Down That Humble Pi (Video)

They say "necessity is the mother of invention." That adage speaks to the careers of Ras Kass and Apollo Brown. The MC, Ras, was among the brightest hopefuls of early '90s Los Angeles lyricism. However, troubles with the law, a label under a new regime, and shifting attentions in the... Read more

September 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ras Kass & Apollo Brown Trade Memories With Pharoahe Monch & Rakaa (Audio)

Apollo Brown beats beckon reflection from MCs. Whether O.C., Journalist 103, or Roc Marciano, rappers tend to get nostalgic when they get an opportunity to touch one of these soul-sampling gems from the Michigan native. On "Memories," Ras Kass steps in to recall his days in Watts (before moving to... Read more

September 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Murs Joins Apollo Brown’s Ugly Heroes Asking Why Good Things Die (Audio)

Both Mello Music Group and Murs are based in the deserts of Tucson, Arizona. The former Warner Bros. Records artist and the thriving indie are working more together. Thereby, Murray joined Ugly Heroes, the trio of Michigan's Apollo Brown and Red Pill and Chicago vet Verbal Kent. "Good Things Die"... Read more

August 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Pete Rock, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Pharoahe Monch & More Remember J. Dilla As He Enters The Smithsonian

Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey recently sat down with The Huffington Post to discuss her son, the late J. Dilla, and his recent enshrinement into The Smithsonian alongside his signature beat making equipment. m, In it, the affectionately nicknamed Ma Dukes highlighted their musically inclined family, his early experiences with instruments,... Read more

August 13, 2014 Fresh

AFH: The Week in Video (8/3/14) (Video Playlist)

This week in video brought new visuals from Scarface & Akon, The Lox & Mobb Deep, Apollo Brown and REKS, a dramatic reading from Warren G, freestyles from Taylor Bennett (Chance the Rapper's brother) and Vic Mensa, a preview of The Simpsons vs. The Family Guy and more. Check out... Read more

August 3, 2014 Playlists, Video

Apollo Brown Gives The Perfect Visual Illustration For His Latest Roc Marciano Link (Video)

Apollo Brown's beats are just so grim. The Mello Music Group mainstay has this amazing ability to create a frigidness on the track, even in the dead of Summer. For "Lonely & Cold," his latest link with Roc Marciano, Brown hit the parks for a street-stuck journey in gritty black... Read more

July 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

This Week in Hip-Hop Brought a Righteous Verse from Lecrae, Videos from Common, Cormega, ONYX, YG & More (Video Playlist)

This week in Hip-Hop video brought some heavy hitters, including Lecrae conquering Sway's 5 Swingers of Death MC challenge with a righteous verse, 19-year old Kanye freestyling, new music videos from Cormega, Common, ONYX, YG, 2 Chainz, Chance the Rapper and more, Snoop interviewing Jimmy Kimmel, short clips on Apollo... Read more

July 26, 2014 Playlists, Video

Apollo Brown Makes A Beat On The Spot In Rhythm Roulette (Video)

Apollo Brown, the Detroit native who grew up in a family that listened to the Seals and Crofts far before he was spinning J Dilla, hits The Record Graveyard in his hometown and randomly selects three vinyls to sample for an improvised beat on Mass Appeal's series Rhythm Roulette. On... Read more

July 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Sit In On a Park Bench Cypher With Apollo Brown & Friends (Video)

Take a walk through the park in New York City and grab a seat next to Apollo Brown's friends Ras Kass, Cav, and fellow Mello Music Group affiliates yU the 78er and Has-Lo as the MC's conduct a good old-fashioned cypher over organ peppered production from Apollo's track, "Cellophane," off... Read more

July 3, 2014 Video

Roc Marciano & Apollo Brown Link Again For That Grim Apocalyptic Flyness (Audio)

As O.C., Ghostface Killah, and Kool G Rap have all sounded extra-crispy on Apollo Brown tracks, perhaps one of the tightest fits has been Roc Marciano. Marci's nostalgic delivery, bygone images of street codes and fly attire complement the Detroit, Michigan-based producer's dusty loops, vocal samples, and hissy presentation. Following... Read more

June 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Roc Marciano Fits Snugly On A Cold To The Bone Apollo Brown Beat (Audio)

Mello Music Group's Apollo Brown lines up with regular label affiliate Roc Marciano for "Lonely & Cold." The bonus cut from Thirty Eight lives up to its name as the Detroit, Michigan mainstay producer/member of The Left links with the U.N. veteran, in his latest in a series of top-shelf feature spots.... Read more

May 20, 2014 Audio, Fresh

D.I.T.C. Gives Away The Remix Project, Featuring New Mixes By DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, Alchemist & Diamond D (Download)

The Diggin' In The Crates crew surprised Heads today (May 7). The respected New York City veteran producer/MC collective including Showbiz, A.G., Diamond D, Lord Finesse, O.C., Buckwild, Fat Joe, and the late Big L have been releasing a series of remixes from their Remix Project. The LP features new mixes... Read more

May 7, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Think You’ve Got Bars? Try Tackling Apollo Brown’s Cigarette Burns Instrumentals (Free EP)

Last week, Detroit, Michigan-based producer Apollo Brown got one of his biggest looks in his lengthy career, care of a Chance The Rapper single, "The Writer." After working with O.C., Guilty Simpson, and his group, The Left, Apollo is known to release plenty of instrumental projects with his label, Mello... Read more

April 14, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

Chance The Rapper Teams With Apollo Brown, And The Results Are Explosive (Audio)

Chance The Rapper's growing movement has been mostly with in-house producers (Nate Fox Blended Babies), give or a take a few looks from the likes of Jake One or BrandUn Deshay. However, in a rather surprising move, C.T.R. let loose a joint he made with Detroit, Michigan-based Apollo Brown. Apollo... Read more

April 9, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Murs Makes A Soulful Song With Apollo Brown About Getting Over Pain (Audio)

Almost a decade after making "The Pain" on Murs 3:16 with 9th Wonder, Murray now says "The Pain Is Gone." The Tucson, Arizona-based MC teams with Tucson, Arizona-based label Mello Music Group to release a single with the imprint's producer, Apollo Brown. As Murs has carved a niche for, Murray... Read more

January 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Guilty Simpson & Planet Asia Switch Seats With Apollo Brown & Gensu Dean (Audio)

Mello Music Group loves MC/producer tandem projects—especially combining complete strangers. They took veteran D.I.T.C. MC O.C. and introduced him to Detroit, Michigan producer Apollo Brown for 2012's Trophies. In the last 12 months, they took Fresno, Cali vet Planet Asia and linked him with New Yorker Gensu Dean for Abrasions.... Read more

January 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ghostface Killah – 12 Reasons to Die (Apollo Brown Mix) (Full Album Stream)

Apollo Brown remixed the entire Ghostface Killah 12 Reasons to Die project. The Adrian Younge-produced original version of the album featured a haunting sound, based on strings. Apollo Brown’s version is more soulful and rooted in 70′s classics. You can listen to all of Apollo Brown's version below. Related: Adrian... Read more

April 23, 2013 Audio

Ghostface Killah – Murder Spree ft Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa & Sin Sin (Apollo Brown Remix)

Apollo Brown put his touch on Ghostface Killah's Murder Spree featuring Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Sin Sin. This version is extra soulful. You literally might break your neck head nodding. Real talk. Check it out below. Related: Adrian Younge & Ghostface Killah – Rise of the Ghostface Killah... Read more

April 18, 2013 Audio

Ghostface Killah – Rise of the Black Suits (Remix) (Video)

Here's a grisly video for the Apollo Brown remix of Ghostface Killah's Rise of the Black Suits. Ghost does not make an appearance in the video. Related: Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Killah Priest & Adrian Younge perform I Declare War on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (Video)... Read more

April 11, 2013 Video

Guilty Simpson & Apollo Brown – Truth Be Told

Here's another reality rap. Guilty Simpson waxes introspective about past regrets over an organ-heavy Apollo Brown track. Check out Truth Be Told. The direction in hip-hop has changed this week. Can you feel it? Related: Apollo Brown & OC – Just Walk (Audio) Truth Be Told by Apollo Brown &... Read more

October 25, 2012 Audio

Apollo Brown & OC – Just Walk

Here's another Old School meets Now School banger. Check OC and Apollo Brown on Just Walk. Related: Apollo Brown & OC - Prove Me Wrong Just Walk by Apollo Brown & OC... Read more

May 1, 2012 Audio

Apollo Brown & OC – Prove Me Wrong

Here's some new OC produced by Apollo Brown and chopped up by DJ Premier. Far from Time's Up, OC is timeless. Check out Prove Me Wrong below. Here's OC's classic Time's Up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCJ6f5VnVVo... Read more

February 28, 2012 Audio, The Bridge

Here’s an MLK day playlist featuring music from Common, Talib Kweli, Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Nas and more (Playlist)

Happy MLK day. MUCH has changed since the 60's when Dr. King led a peaceful revolution for justice and equality, but the beautiful struggle continues. We are in complex times. The nation has a black president, a reality that likely would not have materialized had it not been for the... Read more

January 16, 2012 Audio, Food for Thought, Playlists

Who says there’s no more conscious rap? Check out Apollo Brown’s The Times ft Oddisee.

It's a great track with meaningful lyrics. If you need some more thought provoking rap in your life, check out this playlist. The diversity in hip-hop the last few years has been phenomenal. Click here to download.... Read more

April 7, 2011 Audio

Apollo Brown’s Time Passed Autumn is an instrumental that takes you on a journey.

I can hear J. Cole murdering this one. Who can you hear blacking out on this track? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNywrh1AotU... Read more

April 2, 2011 Video