Paul Cooke
Absolute QUALITY. In my top 3 Apollo Brown albums (with Dice Game and Words Paint Pictures). All killer, no filler, gets better with every listen.
Favorite track: Animal Sacrifice.
Charron E Smith
I love Ras Kass ecentric rhymes and Apollo Brown is a upcoming Producer putting his mark in todays underground hip hop.
Favorite track: Humble Pi.
"Meditation with a Buddhists' breath 'cause sleep is the cousin of death."
about
Blasphemy, the collaborative album from esteemed Mello Music Group producer Apollo Brown and Ras Kass, is a thought-provoking and highly personal treatise on the unspoken. The sub-rattling and operatic opener “How to Kill God,” a scathing indictment of major religions and the transgressions enacted in their name, serves as a statement of purpose. No “ism” is out of bounds, no topic too untoward. Whatever you hold sacred isn’t above aggressive inquiry.
Behind the boards, Apollo Brown orchestrates with divine aural vision. ThoughBlasphemy is his first album with a west coast rapper, he doesn’t retread g-funk synth grooves. He also forgoes the minimal, rubbery bounce popular with the current crop of west coast talent. Amidst a sea of production crafted for the drug-addled turn up, his work is a life preserver, saving ardent hip-hop fans with hard-hitting beats made buoyant by donuts of soul and blues. On his deftly layered suites, drums hit with the force of an unabridged Bible to the dome, the samples masterfully selected and utilized. WithBlasphemy, Brown has created MPC gospel, sonic scripture.
In his seminal memoir Soul on Ice, Eldridge Cleaver wrote, “All the gods are dead except the god of war.” Ever since Ras Kass titled his 1996 opening salvo after Cleaver’s book, the critically revered Carson, CA rapper has waged verbal warfare against all those with aims of obscuring the truth. Rappers, preachers, politicians – none have been spared from the wrath of his sharp, illuminating rhymes.
When not eviscerating MCs and poking holes in theologies, Ras Kass surrounds himself with a rogue’s gallery of decorated veterans. Pharoahe Monch, Rakaa Iriscience, Xzibit, and Royce Da 5’9” are among the handful of the elite lyricists present. Each delivers their singular bars in top form, making the songs on which they appear some of the best posse cuts you’ll hear in 2014.
Above all, this album displays Apollo Brown & Ras Kass’ undeniable synergy. Their sacred writ is the same, their blasphemy for those who want to think as they nod to the rhythm. When Ras Kass crucifies supposed facts over Apollo’s beats, it’s clear he is the West Coast’s preeminent philosopher. When Apollo’s blaring suites soothe your soul, it’s an ontological fact that he ranks among the best producers in the game. WithBlasphemy, the duo has delivered the truth.
credits
released October 28, 2014
Producers: Apollo Brown
Vocals: Ras Kass, Pharoahe Monch, Rakaa Iriscience, Royce The 5'9", Xzibit, Bishop Lamont, 4 Rax, Larina, Slaine, Sick Jacken, Sean Price
Produced & Arranged by Apollo Brown
Executive Produced by Michael Tolle
Mello Music Group Copyright 2014
Braver Heart Music. Trust the soul Music. Trip over a rock and bust your head music but get back up and brush yourself off music. Galactic Fear me Music. Step over that to get to that music. Jumping over my life to get to my next life music. Visually Visual Very well contained music. jumpoveryourodds
Great production and lyrical wordplay. I love the chemistry and how they feed off each other to produce an insightful, intelligent and fun record. Please produce more! Edward Bailey
North Carolina MC Big Pooh tells it like it is, detail for gritty detail, aided by L'Orange, Steve Roxx, and Apollo Brown. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 24, 2015
As soon as I heard the song Like Really I just had to buy the album. Then I finished listening to all the songs, and knew I made a good choice. Oddisee is one of the best hip hop artists on bandcamp. Devin Anderson