#rewindreview: Apollo Brown ‘Sincerely, Detroit’ 2019
I have said on record (you can see old Late Nite Snax radio shows) that “there was something in the water” in Detroit. For many Eminem is the reference point for the city. Others might be older and M.C. Breed is that origin point. For me it was Slum Village and anyone that was affiliated with them. That unit clearly had a certain sound and type of rhyming that might be in total contrast to an Eminem. What was undeniable was there was a diverse Hip-Hop scene in Detroit that any listener could choose from. Enter Apollo Brown, who’s name I started to see around 2010. Initially I had no idea where he was from but the music was enough to keep me interested. In 2014 he did a collaboration album with Ras Kass called ‘Blasphemy’ which I personally think is one of Ras Kass’ best albums. Now there is no denying Apollo Brown which come to find out is from that city with that “…something in the water.” In 2019 the beat maker put out ‘Sincerely, Detroit’ which is truly a thank you letter to the cities most effective and talented M.C.’s and gives somewhat of a “crash course” to those not in the know of these acts. This is a compilation record with Apollo Brown exclusively on the beats while he also had the daunting task of gathering Detroit’s best for an almost hour and a half album. The audience will recognize names like Royce Da 5’9, Slum Village, Elzhi, Melanie Rutherford and Kinuva; but Apollo digs deeper and highlights those acts that have been effective not just on the Detroit underground scene but across the world like Boog Brown, Boldy James, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk, Leaf Erikson and Ty Farris just to name a few. This is a hefty album that I have to warn is strictly Hip-Hop with no room for trying to fit in or cookie cutter material. If there is an issue listeners might have, is the amount of time one would have to sit with the record. It can be argued that it is too long but at the same time this “love letter” of Detroit HOP music might not mean the same if all these acts could not be represented on one project. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘The Backbone,’ ‘Deception & Woes, ‘365’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO
