Apollo Brown has teamed up with Joell Ortiz for Mona Lisa, the latest Brown-produced album from Mello Music Group.
The project continues the respected producer’s collaborations with proficient lyricists, such as June’s No Question EP with Locksmith. The 11-track LP with Ortiz features guest spots from Royce Da 5’9 and DJ Los.
Check out Brown and Ortiz’s Mona Lisa stream, cover art and tracklist below.
[This post has been updated. The following was originally published on August 22, 2018.]
Apollo Brown has linked up with another highly skilled lyricist for a collaborative project. Just a few months after teaming with Locksmith for the No Question EP, the Mello Music Group producer has announced a new album, Mona Lisa, with Joell Ortiz.
Brown and Ortiz’s LP is scheduled to drop on October 26. The duo premiered the project’s first single, “Decisions,” via Billboard on Wednesday (August 22).
“This album is art overdue,” Brown said in a press release. “In my ears, this is what the painting Mona Lisa sounds like. The music is straightforward. That’s all I ask for when I’m the listener, so that’s all I give when I’m the creator. No bullshit. None. I provided the canvas, and Joell provided the honest brushstrokes. This album is a relatable body of work that everyone can listen to and appreciate. It’s growth within a gold frame. Open your ears and enjoy.”
Check out Brown and Ortiz’s Mona Lisa cover art and tracklist below.
1. Brushstrokes
2. Reflection
3. My Block
4. Cocaine Fingertips
5. Grace of God f. DJ Los
6. That Place
7. Word…
8. Decisions
9. Timberlan’d Up f. Royce Da 5’9
10. Come Back Home
11. Mona Lisa
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This good for Joell.. he can really rap but his last couple of albums production were terrible. Apollo is a good producer so I’m hoping this will be a classic.
We got alotta great Lyricists out there but many of them got problem with picking dope beats…Joell is definitely one of them
And most of the battle rappers who transitioned into making full projects
The Locksmith also seems Apollo already knows this that’s why he working with a few of them
Too bad Sean price is gonna would’ve loved to see an Apollo brown n Sean p full project dat would have been siccck, he should definitely link up with elzhi next
That move is way over due ppl been screaming for it!
Looking forward to this. Wonder if they sample “that’s the way you get timbaland’d up” off Made You Look on the joint with Royce
THIS JOINT IS EPIC!!!!!
Apollo Brown has been on a roll the past few years. Get elzhi on the next one.
DAMN u read my mind bro elzhi x Apollo brown is long over due and they both from Detroit so it should’ve happened already to me….oh well it’s never too late
Mello Music Group is unstoppable this year. this album is gonna be fire!.
Jus listened through Mona Lisa. Prolly bout to do it again. N again.
The album is fire. I’d like to see Apollo link up with Chino XL, Sick Jacken or GZA for a full length album.
Yeah a Chino Apollo album would be dope, or Masta Ace, Smif-n-wessum or maybe even an horsemen album.
This album is surely banging! Dope Hip hop for real!
Apollo Brown never disappoints. Always comes through with the beats. And Joell Ortiz really shined here. On my 3rd listen. This is the way it was meant to be done.