Sincerely, Detroit

Concluding an astonishingly productive decade which brought collaborations with Ras Kass, Planet Asia, Joell Ortiz, and countless others, beatmaker Apollo Brown penned a love letter to his home city with the expansive, masterful Sincerely, Detroit. The albums guest list includes what seems like practically the entire Detroit rap scene, or at least everyone within Mello Music Groups orbit, including Guilty Simpson, Boog Brown, Crown Nation (Quelle Chris and Denmark Vessey), and Chris Orrick. As with Browns previous top-billed albums like The Reset and Grandeur, the producer has such a focused artistic vision that its just as cohesive as his collaborations with a single MC, and it never feels like a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. Simply put, he knows exactly the right people to work with, and how to channel their energies into deeply inspired, powerful work. Browns productions are heavy on vintage soul -- several tracks begin with a slow, weepy sample seemingly grabbed from a scratchy old 45 or a late-night radio broadcast. He then flips them into meticulously crafted beats, with some edits approaching microhouse-level precision, yet it never sounds cluttered or random, and theres always plenty of room for the emcees to shine. The lyrics, as to be expected, are all informed by the struggles of daily life, touching on pressing issues such as denial of medical care and the citys ever-growing gentrification, as well as the rappers personal concerns, related to mental health or loss of loved ones. Still, even as some of it gets intensely soul-searching, theres no shortage of confidence on display, and highlights like the mighty Slum Villages All Day and What Up (featuring 87, One Be Lo, and A Minus) are absolutely triumphant. The album is a testament to the strength of Detroits hip-hop scene, as well as Apollo Browns brilliance. ~ Paul Simpson

デトロイトをベースにサンプリング・サウンドを継承し、さまざまなアーティストとコラボしてきたプロデューサーの新作はタイトル通り地元に捧ぐ内容で、ブラック・ミルクやスラム・ヴィレッジ、ギルティ・シンプソンら同郷のMCたちが多数客演。DJロスがスクラッチを担当してロイス・ダ・5'9"とファット・キャットが参加した"Can't Lose"を筆頭に、DJプレミアの仕事を思わせるロマンティックな楽曲を多数収録。
bounce (C)Masso187um