Often, nostalgic-minded emcees and rap fans live frustrated musical lives. Many musicians from the “golden era” can’t recapture the talent that made them successful, while some new emcees try so hard to harken back to the “good ol’ days” that they lose their own identities in the process. These are the few choices that fans of that era are stuck with, so they often find themselves either stuck only listening to the older records that moved them, or unhappily giving in to the new crop of artists that they halfheartedly enjoy. Thankfully, The Left—the trio of fledgling production workhorse Apollo Brown, emcee Journalist103, and DJ Soko—brings back the old school essence without succumbing to any of these downfalls.
While most of Detroit’s new indie Rap dominance comes from a crop of solo emcees and producers, The Left changes it up by taking it back to a potent three-man weave of duties: Brown handles beats on what’s his third new project of the year, Journalist103 does his thing on the mic, and Soko handles the ones and twos. Journalist103 does a notable job of not letting Brown’s robust instrumentals drown him out, and Apollo equally succeeds by supplying his mic controller with a set of sound beds that match his intensity. The rhymes on Gas Mask are largely about Detroit’s grit and the uncompromising grime that roots Hip Hop, so the beats are foreboding and brawny, while maintaining a soulful quality—because that’s exactly what it takes to survive in the city and in a changing rap game, without losing yourself in the process. The pounding drums and swinging vocal splices of “Chokehold” perfectly compliment the hard-nosed rhymes, and the moody backdrop of “The Funeral” reflects Journalist103’s resentful death wishes for inferior emcees. Many will buzz about the all-star lineup of Michigan emcees who make guest appearances here—Paradime, Invincible, Guilty Simpson, Finale and others—but there’s even more to be said about how The Left is self-sufficient as a group for the bulk of the album.
The oft-used approach of dissing Hip Hop’s current state usually makes for stale results, but The Left shows and proves. Album opener “Gas Mask” succeeds conceptually by pairing Journalist103’s disgruntled rhymes with a hard-bodied Apollo beat that samples vocals singing “I can’t take it.” From that point, the group proceeds to make the Hip Hop that they, and many nostalgic Rap heads, think is missing. “Real Detroit” 
and “Reporting Live” see Journalist103 teaming with MarvWon and Guilty Simpson to wax poetic about the highs and lows of their hometown, and the tensely-produced “Desperation” chronicles J103 struggles to choose music over the illegal means that make the city go ’round. Meanwhile, J103 and Invincible use “Statistics” to lament about the mathematical unlikelihood of living legitimately in the inner-city, and “Homage” shows a personal side as J103 remembers loved ones that have impacted his life.
Some listeners may think that Gas Mask should have more versatility; because once The Left find their groove, they rarely change it up just for the sake of adding a foreign element to their formula. But to others, this will only add to the continuity and cohesiveness of the album. But there aren’t any lackluster songs, and even though the lyrics and the rhymes are digestible on the first listen, they get better with more listens. Ironically, by recapturing an essence of the past, The Left cement their place in playlists and disc changers of the future.
Big shout to HipHopDX for the great coverage & shout to Apollo Brown , Journalist 103 and DJ Soko for having the vision on this one! Classic album!
Big shout to HipHopDX for the great coverage & shout to Apollo Brown , Journalist 103 and DJ Soko for having the vision on this one! Classic album!
Come on guys… this album is a 5 all the way! Great review for a great album though. Props to MMG for putting out great hip hop!
Amazing album. This is the best Michigan rap record this year, and you Black Milk fans need to admit it.
This is EASILY the BEST album of 2010. Maybe the best album of the last 5 years. EASILY.
Plus One. Apollo Brown is killin’ the scene this year. Artist of the year.
As I said, this is madness. The best album I’ve heard this year.
I had the pleasure of being in the lab and watching this album come together from start to finish…..as accurate a representation of Detroit Hip Hop as anything thats dropped in recent memory…..bigs ups to Brown, Jour, & Soko…see y’all tomorrow at the Shelter
I’m pretty sure that if a mainstream artist had gotten these beats and rapped over ’em, the score would have been a five and would be hailed as a classic. I don’t think The Left should be counted out for being an independent act.
Bottom line, I agree with the rest of the comments – this is the finest album this year. It is an amazing piece of work &, besides ‘How I Got Over’, is the most cohesive album I’ve heard in 2010.
The album works because it’s rooted in 95-96, but is updated with a 2010 sound. Apollo will get mad props for the beats, but Journalist 103 handles his album masterfully.
The Reset Classic!!!! Brown Study Classic!!! Gas Mask Classic!!! Apollo Brown BEST producer of the year hands down. Thank god for producers like Apollo Brown, Marco Polo, Jake One, Statik Selektah and oh yea muthaPhuckin Necro for keeping HipHop alive!
co-sign 1000%.
Fuck yes.
Real talk, this might just be my album of the year.
rings the bell, wins the prize!
Man, it’s good to see people loving the album as much as I have! Been sitting on this jewel for a minute and am glad to be able to put it out there in time for autumn! Shout to Apollo, J103, and Soko!
Very nice album. Definitely deserves a better rating than 4. Apollo Brown is moving up in a hurry. The Reset was incredible as well.
Apollo Brown has just made ANOTHER record in my top ten for the year. ‘The Reset’ and ‘Brown Study’ are masterpieces and this gem is no different. I had never heard of Apollo Brown before this year and now he’s one of my favorite producers.
Five Stars
Real talk son. I’m like the fuck this nigga come from cuz the shit he been puttin out is fuckin amazin.
Word sun!
Apollo Brown on his ish.
It’s like a throwback from the future. I feel like a Hip Hop Marty McFly bumping this album.
classic comment, i’m going to have to use that on the outside sticker when we repress!
Hey
nice review!!
I work at audible Treats, we do their PR and I’d like to get your contact details so we can send his mp3s, videos & PRs directly to you and also send info on some of the other artists we do that I think would be a good fit for your blog.
check out our website http://www.audibletreats.com and hit me up on my email tamarab@audibletreats.com with your details.
fanx
*T*
1 incredibly gifted producer+ 1 raw lyricist+ 1 skilled DJ = one of the best hip hop LP that you can get in 2010
For my review of the album please refer to then opening bars of Frozen (track 3).
Whoo! A lot of this album has a classic Wu Tang feel to it, I found. More so in the beats than the rhyming, but I’ll be goddamned if both the beats AND the rhyming isn’t fantastic.
agreed on that Wu thing – it’s different, but the beats take me to a similar place.
Get This!
DEEEEEEETROIT!!!
Good review, I also feel they could have changed it up a tad, even maybe just a feature or two of a really distinctive rapper, just to get that extra touch of variability. Nevertheless Apollo Brown follows up from the great RESET with another quality album which is really really easy to play over and over.
UnReal Response So Far! Glad Everyone is Feeling the project, Keep that Gas Mask in rotation!!!
I approve this message.
5/5
I will NEVER take this album out of the deck.
amazing!
whos this
still bumping the album thru and thru
i only have one song by the left featuring G Rap and it’s def a dope song. Where can i cop this joint?
it’s on itunes indie spotlight right now: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gas-mask/id392459687
Album of the year. No question
that’s what’s up!
cool
amazing!
My favorite album all year. It just plays well and has a mood that fits my life right now to a T.
2010 Winner. Best underground release I heard all year. Apollo Brown does it just right, grimy, soulful, and not over-produced. MC is tight too, rugged voice and flow.
man I cant believe I slept on this album its great I know they rep the D but its straight east coast top 3 this yr
5/5
genius
Copped off iTunes & loving the Premo influence. The underground is alive!
just found my favorite album of last year
Dope is all that needs to be said.
DOPE! Worth every dime i spent. Wish more attention was paid to amazing albums like this in the mainstream. Everybody who loves rap needs albums like this
Bangin!
Underground classic
best album since a looooooong time
THIS IS REAL HIP-HOP!!
Bananas! GAS MASK was the best album of 2010!!! I’m still bumping this shit every day – talk about spin value?!
Still listening to this album. Had to come back and give it 5 stars
Best thing that ever happened to Hip Hop!!
It came just as I was needin a gas mask..
Props to THE LEFT..
Let it be GasMask2.. Eheeh..
already classic
so sick
pure dope
5/5
at least 4.5/5
Not certain if I can get more like this. So please put some more.
goog
Solid album, front to back. Apollo Brown is one of the best if not the best in the game right now. And this was the beginning of excellence.