In a generation seemingly obsessed with networking, it’s very important to be connected. For a producer in this genre, it’s especially crucial. We’ve seen it time and time again, from Marco Polo to Jake One to Domingo and other such examples, being connected allows a producer to showcase skills while bringing emcees along as complementary pieces for the main event. Though sometimes, emcees steal the spot light, this usually opens up an audience to a beatsmith, especially when the tracks are stellar. Fortunately, Apollo Brown is connected in the underground and he’s got a few emcees backing him up on The Reset, an album that, as its title suggests, will take you back.
It’s clear from the introductory “Our Time” that the Michigan State University graduate is a soulful cat. The following six cuts, from “Hungry” to “Brag Language” all cement this further, as Apollo relies heavily on Soul samples and sped-up vocals. While none of the tracks are boring on their own, it’s easy to get lost in the repetition of the style, where some of the pieces sound an awful lot like others, making spontaneity absent. Perhaps this is why the harder “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill” 
stands out, with the intriguing change in drums giving this album a breath of fresh air. Fortunately for fans of “chipmunk soul” and beat-digging, Brown returns to that style on the following track and keeps that formula alive through the end of the album. For those appreciative of this trend popularized by Just Blaze, Kanye West and Heatmakerz, the album will be a banger as many of the cuts are strong instrumentals. However, The Reset is also missing versatility and that holds it back from reaching different heights musically.
For any fan of the burgeoining Detroit Rap world, this album is one to behold. Magestik Legend (“Brag language” and “Just Think”), The Left (“Real Detroit”) and Black Milk (“Hungry”) share their efforts on fellow Detroit representative Brown’s album. Rapper Big Pooh (“Hungry” and “Turn & Run”), MED (“Turn & Run”), Diamond District (“Streets Won’t Let Me Chill”) and Oddisee (“Propa”) all add their pieces to the puzzle. Stik Figa is responsible for a compelling concept (“Seasons”) and Magestik’s “Just Think” is another outstanding lyrical display, only adding to the substance on the album. All of this generally works to benefit Apollo, especially since no emcee truly outshines the man of the hour.
As it stands, The Reset is more of a pause button, to the monotony of contemporary Rap production than a fresh start. While some may laud the effort for going back to some Soul, others can note it pays more tribute to something than ever advancing its place in the music. This is a noteworthy compilation, very much akin to the releases label-mate Oddisee made early in the decade, that serve as more of an introductory portfolio than a mapped-out producer’s album. Overall, The Reset may bring us back, but it doesn’t change the game.
This album was heat! why do reviewers think you gotta do something no one’s ever done before to be classic? this is just straight forward solid Hip Hop! Not many people are doing it this well. And the guests bring fire. I’m not getting all these reviews that sing praises for 2 paragraphs and then in one quick swipe say – but it’s nothing new, just Hip Hop, so it’s average. Come On man, this is Hip Hop – I don’t want no emo southern swang world mash up funk. Apollo Brown nailed this album with pure soulful beats and solid rap.
this is the best album i’ve heard so far this year. I didn’t even read DX review when i saw the 3 stars.
Hey DX, you suck!!!!!
yo fuck these mufuggaz mane they couldnt review homework out this mufugga mane! nigga need to pull the dick out his ear who reviewed this cd!
Oh Yeah!
Find a real review of it here:http://bloggerhouse.net/?s=apollo+brown
I heard it and wasn’t compelled. yU made an ill album, and so did Diamond District. I do (almost) give Apollo a bonus star for involving Grap Luva. I still want that LP.
U must be from the DMV….be on the lookout for Shamir, Shatner’s Raw Nerve, The Black Alien Collective, and The Cable Piratez…..
i like all the tracks.
dope beats & dope rhymes .
Dope album for real hip hop lovers!
This album was real dope, very strong cohesively. As far as the beats go and the mc’s that appeared on the album, it was very dope on both those fronts. All of the mc’s complimented Apollo’s beats very nicely. What I liked most about this album was how cohesive it actually was, I didn’t feel like I was just listening to some compilation that was slapped together, you can tell that Apollo really took a lot of time and effort to deliver a good album.
THIS REVIEWER CAN LISTEN TO HIS HARDCORE QUEENS RAPPER GARBAGE OR HIS RICK ROSS FRISBEE CDS…THIS ALBUM IS GOOD AND ITS A RARE GLIMPSE OF WHAT GOOD HIP-HOP IS
Yo Apollo Brown is that Deal, Detroit is the City and his beats along with are Emcee’s are better than yours…go get the RESET
damn never heard of this cat , the beats are so perfect and bumpin hard
Haha, 3 Xs, get the f*** outta here…
This album is one of the dopest that have been released in 2010. The rating is close to being hilarious!
da fuck outta here hip hop dx! yall bet not give drake cd a mufuggin four either if you givin this shyt a three! quit masterbatin so much when yall are reviewing a cd mane this review is completely fucked up and you know it!
did i forget to say this shyt is the shyt!!!
Apollo is the shizzzzzzzzzzzzzit!!!
where can i download this?
You can buy it, click the Amazon button.
I do say homies, that this album was quite lacking in the audio pleasureness. I find the beats quite substandard, and I enjoin you from finding any songs which would broach repeated listenings in the presence of one’s chums. 1 star, only because I can’t give it zero stars.
haters are funny, u over here listening, posting comments, acting like you aint in love. lmao
Wow, 3/5? Well, I guess it’s not for everyone but I do appreciate DX taking the time to review. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m even trying to do anything new. I’m just staying true to me and the music that I love. I’m glad you cats are feeling the record. 3 more to come this year!
wow, u literally dont kno shit about real hip-hop. go back to drake u mainstreamer
Thank you for making a dope boom bap hip hop record…This is my favorite album of 2010!
loving the album, can’t wait to hear the rest
this was amazing… DX has failed for once, but, u no, fuck brown, wat matter is wat ppl think, not wat haters think
nice
Fucking hell, the reviewer gave his opinions on the album and justified them all. It’s fine to disagree, and say why. Don’t just saying It’s good and the reviewer’s an idiot without saying why. You’re being just as bad as the haters.
Agreed. I liked the album. The sound created an entire theme and mood. It didn’t jump around and change feelings yet each song had its own vision. I thought that Real Detroit and Streets Won’t Let Me Chill were hype without being retarded club type joints – just hard bangers. Balance showed another side to Apollo’s production – dreamscape. That Stik Figa Seasons was simply one of the greatest tracks both lyrically and production wise. Brainwash was fresh, I dug it on the YU album and thought it was refashioned well. The simple crisp sound created a space that I haven’t been to in a while with hip hop – if that’s “old”, then so be it, it worked for me.
great album
Ayo!!!!!!!
This is pure coke sun!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10/15 tracks are good, tracks 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15
I haven’t bought a CD in over a year, but after hearing the beats I was hooked. I just copped this joint and the Yu-Before Taxes joint off Amazon. Thank you Apollo Brown for making a raw straight up hip hop album. This Album is dope, Bottom Line!!! The album review doesn’t do the album justice. If you like no frills boom bap hip hop then you’ll love this album. Definitely not for the kids…this is grown man shit right here…
right, i grabbed those and that RocMarcy joint too.
The Roc Marciano joint had sick beats too…his flow was a little monotone but the album was grimey as hell yo’! That’s another dope album that dropped this year.
Beats on this is crazy…. love the vibe of the music.
All I know is the “streets won’t let me chill” is bonkers 5/5. I’m a big boom bap fan should I pick this up.
been playing this album all week – but this Hassaan Mackey joint just started jumping out at me – shit is ill!
That joint sounds boring
didn’t stand out to me at first, but grew on me a lot.
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Hi Andres,
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Would give it 3.5, but can’t so I’ll round up to four. Enjoy listening to it and nothing that makes me want to turn it off, which is a lot more that I can say for a lot of albums I’ve heard lately.
Dope shit bruv!!! Lovin it!! Salute!
boring
if u prefer exciting bells and whistles might I suggest Insane Clown Posse for you. You’re on crack, this album is laid back soulful hiphop, felt like Pete Rock all over again. It for sure doesn’t play odd corn ball sound bites like some enjoy, but the lyrics are ill, and the beats are sick.
Dude……… Are you serious? No, No, You can’t be serious!!………
hmmm i like the vibe of this album,but the more i listen to apollo,the more i think when it comes to the voice,that he kinda sounds like J.Cole.
Whaddupdoe! Apollo definitely did his thing on The Reset! “Real Detroit” is my shit! Detroit stand the phuck up! Apollo got some joints on Street Justice upcoming album, “Go H.A.A.M!” Get ready! streetjusticehiphop[dot]com!
Album been in straight heavy rotation for 4 weeks now!
what ^^^ they said!
real music and real flows and dope beats i can feel and they bump .
nice album
Liked this one. Nice beats.
dope
I think you are mistaken. Apollo Brown is on the edge, keeping midwesterners’ hearts and minds pumping. Brown is changing the game, for sure. Find more mid-west hip hop from Innate Sounds Crew based out of Kansas City, Missouri, particularly Negro Scoe, Brother of Moses, Stik Figa, D/Will, Leonard DStroy, Reggie B, and Miles Bonny. You won’t regret it.
Maybe Ima a group hahahaha i mean, i dont feel the monotony at all, perhaps in the drums here and there but, the sampling is out of this world…AB is onto something, i lost my mind when I heard Hunger and Real Detroit…right now everybody is on Black Milk’s grill which leaves AB in the shadows…he needs more airplay, what he and The Left are doing iz very very fresh…Journalist over Brown beats iz straight psycho!!!…Apollo is a genius!
kRimZin
Durban, South Africa
Steady.
Apollo Brown is dope. I’ma have to pick this up.
Dude, any of yal who are hating on Apollo Brown need to just stickk with your Mainstream Soulja Boy Bull S**t!!! This album is beyond sick man. I copped that Gas Mask album from The Left (produced by apollo brown) too!!! These Bump, and I will continue to support some REAL hip-hop!!! Keep it up A.B… YOU DOIN IT!!
Last Time…. I’m totally with you, this album is Dope!!!
This is ridiculously Good, I think this Album its a Classic,