Back catalogue: Hip Hop/R&B

Review: Detroit beatsmith Apollo Brown is in a class of his own and makes instrumentals like few others. This is his first new record in eight years and is another masterclass in sampling that has made him a favourite with fans, peers and critics alike. He often has a concept for his albums and for this one it is about peace and balance and as such it has something of a more organic feel that previous works. There is melancholia in the air on 'Clouds' and uncertainly but hope to 'Nervous Goodbyes' while 'Escapism' has an electronic synth sound that comes with a textbook drum break over the top.

Review: Detroit producer Apollo Brown and maverick Buffalo MC Che' Noir have come together to create a new album that draws on their backgrounds in two of America's mostly famously failed cities. Brown brings his usual soul-drenched and head-nodding beatmaking style - the same vibes that have seen him work with the likes of Ghostface Killah and Danny Brown and become a key part of the scene. Che' Noir on the other hand has worked alongside Benny The Butcher, Kool G Rap, and Fred The Godson and here tells some vital stories that take you behind the curtain and up and down city streets, dodging gunshots, hunting for missing fathers and generally trying to game the system.

Review: The names Apollo Brown and Planet Asia evoke a rarefied set of expectations. The raps are as hard as galvanized steel. The syllable placement is meticulous and intricate. The beats bang: simmering in a soulful but warped inferno. They are maestros of raw and unalloyed hip-hop: full of as much grit and craftsmanship as anyone to ever incinerate a microphone or master an MPC. After all, high standards are essential. Sardines is curb-checking minimalist hip-hop: sharp, efficient, and well-executed as a guillotine chop. No wasted bars or rhythmic excess. Just poetic verses and night-time vulture vibes. Apollo sums it up best: it's "dirt, grit, mud, sticks, stones, all that. Leave your boots on." The title's name is a flip on their revered first album. Like sardines, anchovies are a love it-or-hate it proposition. It's not for everyone, but if it's for you, it's laser targeted to your interests.

Review: Detroit producer and second Golden Age lover Apollo Brown and Stalley dropped this album of classic sounding hip-hop and rap record back in November of 2021 and it was their first joint venture. It is full of familiar sounds and romantic hip-hop storytelling with drums that any fan of DJ Premier is sure to appreciate and recognise. The raps are clever but restrained and touch on plenty of common subjects with unfazed flow and varied deliveries that are always fun of emotion. It's a record that doesn't do anything particularly new but what it does do, it does exceptionally.