Last year Apollo Brown made the soulful soundscape for Journalist 103’s hostile Hip Hop takeover in The Left’s Gas Mask. While the verbal aggression found on that platter were more inspired by Screwball or Jedi Mind Tricks, Apollo returns a year later with another project, teaming with Low Budget Crew’s Hasaan Mackey for Daily Bread. Together, the Michigan producer and upstate New York emcee make an ideal album of personal journal songwriting complemented by slashed up ’60s Soul beats that make it top-notch audio sustenance.
Although he may be a new voice to many, Hasaan shows his emcees qualifications quickly. “Elephant” 
is phenomenal recession rap, where the writer alludes to the ominous signs of tough times in nearly everything, without being melodramatic or over-depressing. This approach calls back to early Nas and Wu-Tang Clan for its ability to resonate with city living, and the ills of the world tangible to every sidewalk journey. “Tell Me” is another great place for Hasaan, who aids Apollo Brown’s production, in accenting a popular sample flip with some interpolated Prince vocals. Although the subject matter is heavy throughout much of Daily Bread, it’s not an overbearing listen. Mackey does an excellent job of making Apollo’s loops three-dimensional, and finding constant ways to connect with his user. In all the urban decay, there is plenty of hope, and tracks like “Higher” pick up the listener just as quickly as others check their reality.
Apollo doesn’t switch up his tools too much for this project. It appears that the sample sources are much the same, however lighter-sounding records with more movement and slices are they key difference of Daily Bread versus Gas Mask. One of Apollo’s trademarks is providing a lengthier listen at the beginning of the record, tipping his hand at just where the sounds might be coming from, and then – dissection. One can hear the hunger and pride throughout Daily Bread, and the Blaxploitation interludes not only nod to Ghostface Killah classics, but help this project shine as an album. Neither artist is heavy-handed in giving you each song’s theme and message, so the interludes help navigate the overall message. Fans of early RZA will definitely appreciate Apollo’s soulful courage.
Apollo Brown is in the same place that 9th Wonder, Kno and RJD2 were a decade ago – an incredibly dope underground group producer deserving mainstream recognition. Moreover, at a time when more-exposed new artists are invading the blogosphere, Apollo is working with lower-profile emcees like Journalist and Hasaan and making full, resonant albums that make them all the more interesting. Veterans like O.C., Kam and Tragedy Khadafi built careers off of similar introductory albums. If Mackey can grab your attention enough to listen, his opinions and imagery most certainly have what it takes to keep it, in one of the better producer-emcee albums of 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC4MpJ62Eas
this track is killen um
Glad to see this great album finally get some recognition
+1 this album is pure benger… id like to see also full “black up” review
First album this year that’s really left me feeling like I’ve listened to something special. Love Apollo Brown for that
The album is hot, but I didn’t like Apollo Brown recycling some of his old beats from the Gas Mask album.
Still, definitely a banging album.
Apollo brown didn’t recycle any beats from the Gas Mask album, lol. I know both of these albums front to back. The only beat on the album we heard before was “Higher” from the Clouds INSTRUMENTAL album. And that was an Instrumental album, I think he’s entitled to get some emcees on those beats.
Great album!
Apollo is one of my favorite producers in the game. Dude makes everyone sound so crisp and makes entire albu
S not just tracks. Some rugged shit for real, head nodding greatness. And I gotta give it up to Hassaan Mackey, voice is dope, flow is solid, plus I just heard that joint he did with Raekwon!? Daily Bread is one of my top albums this year for sure.
I bump that Volume track everyday. Sick album.
This album has the classic COHESIVENESS and CONSISTENCY that most albums are missing these days. Apollo does it EVERY time! I love this shit! Can’t to hear what’s next!
This album has consistently amazing lyrics all the way through, and even when the beat is lackluster for a few of the songs, the intelligent rhymes of Hassaan Mackey and Apollo Brown prevent the song from becoming forgettable. The sampling is also top notch. Many of the beats are derived from the angelic sounds of smooth 60 and 70s music, and are laced together with solid production. Each song feels like something special, and complement each other very well. There could have been more variation, since some of the songs seem overly similar in nature, but regardless, one of my favorite albums of the year so far. This is a must listen for all hip-hop heads.
My Album Rating: 8.6 out of 10
r.h.h here
Pure,Proper Soulful Hip Hop
This is what Hip Hop should sound like!!!!! Monster beats & a gifted MC…
Hands down one of the best albums of the year.
really nice LP like it a much
Apollo Brown is an awesome producer, but the rapping on this is a damn snorefest. Don’t lie people, these weak ass lyrics is in one ear and out the other
Dude !!!
Shit is perfect.
Excellent album
apollo always good !
One of the best album of 2011 ! just great !
classic album, like the left
5 F*cking Stars!
Hands down the best album I have heard in over 18 months, just saying. A classic for me!
One of my Top 5 of the year, no doubt. Hassan Mackey and Apollo Brown really go IN on this.
Dope beats and spittin
Classic! Album of the year!!! nothin else comes even close
album is nuts!
good album. Mackey is boring. Zzzzzzzzzzz. Beats save it, Bronze Nazareth album beats this for years best so far IMO
Mackey is ill. Deep! His aura fits the tone of the album! Great combo i say.
Bronze’s student Apollo Brown straight up steals one of his beats. Some bullshit.
“The Note” is a ripoff of Bronze’s “Why Me (Tears)”, check it out.
Dope album. I hope an instrumental version comes out aswell; Apollo Brown one of my favourite producers and Hassaan’s lyrics are dope everytime. 5*
yeah, deadly combo right?
ill
I cant get wit these albums wit mediocre ass rappers over beats that sound like they’re trying to recreate the dilla or pete rock sound of the 90s…just ends up sounding boring and unoriginal…thats just me tho i’d take evidence’s album over this any day
Still got it in rotation. Too dope
Damn Good
that’s hh
dope