Rhythm Roulette: Apollo Brown

On this episode of Rhythm Roulette, Mass Appeal travels up to “The D” to meet up with the King of ’97 Cool Edit chopping- Apollo Brown.
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-------------Mass Appeal-------------
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What started as a humble graffiti ‘zine in 1996 would soon grow to be one of the most trusted outlets for youth-spawned urban culture. Today, Mass Appeal is a media collective led by authentic voices and inspired minds. We are a platform for radical creatives who are transforming culture.

[@BillyDonmecz]

Windows XP + Audacity + Cool Edit Pro. "It ain't the tools. It's the carpenter."

[@p4rt_t1me_g0d]

+Billy Donmecz I use those on Windows 7, if it ain't broke... .

[@TheGreenDope2011]

+Billy Donmecz yes :) for all those who think its a question of gear.. its not

[@pleasebringmeback]

+Billy Donmecz Cool edit Pro is great.. Not that Adobe auditions.

[@mitchswitch2412]

I make bangers off acid pro! it's the producer ...

[@dunkmajor]

give him credit for using cool edit it's a lot of extra work . cut copy paste

[@flyboymcgee8059]

I always hear the dopest loops, samples and beats in the records that they seem to think aren't worth sampling. I always like the result but that just shows how different the ear is from person to person

[@arturgrygierczyk5636]

Maybe because then they have to put more effort in it and as a result over achieving their own expectations making it satisfying for the listener but not for their own ear since their own personal perfectionism already made them feel this isn't going to be what they want it to be becauae of their personal dislikes toward the records, idk

[@thesisdrs]

maybe they saving it for another project

[@lilunicorn3429]

also thought about that but I just looked up the records and the dope intro at 2:20 is pretty much the only outstanding thing on the record to use but it's kinda too short to makes something special out of it. I think sometimes the cuts of the video create the feeling that their is a dope melody/loop/ sample but actually after the cut there is not a lot more usable stuff of it :D But I think I'm gonna try to do a beat off the McClain Single Changes that one is pretty dope !

[@agecali7893]

@@lilunicorn3429 nah you're wrong lol. But whatever. Those records have plenty dope shit

[@vladimirklizschko9337]

Nah to me its pretty much like this: old jazz, old female singing soul, old gospel -> great beat.....

[@Ph0netic1]

I've never seen someone chop samples in audacity lmaooo that was dope as hell

[@bo0tybandit]

People act like old software is out of the ordinary. I've been using fruityloops & cakewalk since 99'. Don't fix what ain't broke.

[@setewone]

for real though I got an even worst set up than that...still making fuckin fire inside flames!!!!

[@mutualmonster]

Yes. Teebs sticks with FL. And Jon Hopkins, who's considered to be pushing the envelope in electronica/IDM/ambient, uses Windows 98 and the 1999 version of SoundForge.

[@zada2423]

doesn't matter what you use if you know the software

[@idid69ok]

who tf are you tho?

[@diamondkavemedia]

i have maschine but i still use fl studio7 xxl on my old pc. version 4,6,7 is the illest!

[@HalSamuel]

I like the bit wear he pulls his cap low, so he can enter Cool Edit waveform x-ray mode.

[@Eric-ud9cu]

MmBuddha "the black album" approved

[@bizzarkie99]

It's only right to put Oddisee on the roulette.

[@KINGDAVID230]

i was thinking the same thing. i love that Diamond District Album they made in 2010

[@kurtfromMichigan]

I would love to see oddisee on here man!

[@VIDAMIN-X]

3 Years later and we still don't got him

[@HomageBeats]

did anyone hear that dope sample at 2:00 ??? premo prolly would have used it.

[@beniota1141]

+HomageBeats yup and it comes back at 3:38

[@miniboots007]

Sounds like some Nujabes shit to me as well

[@3rdtonalkiller]

I swear i thought i was the onky one i was like how he miss that

[@christopherrelator954]

yeah I was gone say, that was hard. or even old Havoc!!

[@realisticproduction1598]

I am sure he heard that too. He just saved it for another beat!

[@Quantumfluxfield]

Best beatmaker I have ever heard, his discography is insane, I hope he has a better studio now

[@Jewcydaddy]

I'm sure he does he works with a multitude of underground artists

[@MentalPistol]

New studios look sick. But how can you be mad at this mad genius type setup. Perfect setup for authentic gritty

[@jwizdum2103]

Tbh, it still astounds me to this day that the man behind some of the most beautiful boom bap beats of all time chops his shit on cool edit...he's honestly top 10 all time, and probably the best to ever do the boom bap style

[@marlostanfield4679]

How does Apollo make his drums sound so heavy man? I love that shit.

[@LuisCasstle]

Ask his blown speaker 🤣

[@dalue]

Sidechaining the kick

[@KelvinLee1990]

parallel compression. If you use ableton, the glue compressor and a limiter is the magic sauce for chunky kicks.

[@djmrnelson]

wow. this dude uses minimal equipment and makes helluva beats. props.

[@soulchorea]

1:59 - All the Lo-Fi heads like "WAIT!!!!!!!"

[@rossross9281]

Yeah. Perfect Lo-fi sample 😂

[@interpol31290]

There's 2 joints right there!

[@Peeriikooify]

Sometimes people who self proclaim Lo fi producers, use that term to justify they do shity beats or they don't want to learn how to mix their joints

[@itsDJCUFF]

Do you know the name of that song by Marlon McClain? And where to listen to it?

[@itiswhatitis4821]

Lo-fi its an excuse for people who cant produce properly and cant produce how they wanted to sound

[@BCrewQ]

The sample is Sister Lucille Pope - Somebody's Gone

[@playing_jazz]

This series really pushed my understanding of the musicality of sampling. I listen to all these guys but to really see what sparks their interesting and how the they cut samples and than phrase them its really like a little mes dream.

[@KnownEpidemic]

J Dilla & Apollo Brown, my two favourite producers of all time. This is my favourite RR for sure!

[@jessicajaynenc1202]

I L❤️VE YOU APOLLO BROWN! I said it before and I'll say it again, you're destined to become the Premo of this upcoming generation ,long as you keep the nose to the grindstone ! Everything you're putting out is stellar , so far Persona and Grandeur have been the best albums of 2015 for Hiphop,many of my peers agree. *these are all opinions, trolling isn't needed *

[@CJBeats]

damn Apollo is f*cking beast!!!!!!

[@CJBeats]

still love to watch this episode🔥

[@tonyjuarez6296]

@@CJBeats are u still watching heheh

[@CJBeats]

@@tonyjuarez6296 sure man. This and wondagurls ones❤️❤️

[@FancyPants208]

rocks out with windows xp. respect

[@shadowblack10]

I still use Xp to produce. That's the best windows in my opinion.

[@FancyPants208]

i fuck with windows 7 man. But thats cause I started on that. Maybe it all depends on what you start on

[@dmitrimonro]

FancyPants208 For me it's cos my recording interface doesn't have a Win7 driver. If it ain't broke...

[@jonesconrad1]

Its not. They made huge advances in 7 removing a global internal lock which really helps. Now the performance of the latest version of 10 is astounding.

[@likewisebro6213]

*nods head* "definitely not" - lol that killed me

[@derekmcpherson1791]

Lol definitely not "the worst records possible"

[@tracyellis3489]

All 3 of those records are hot.

[@HypnoticHollywood]

I wouldn't have thought he was that narrow minded to judge books by the cover.

[@michaelwright3951]

He must not have heard of the band Pleasure or early Jeff Lorber Fusion records. Marlon McClain played guitar on them...and he is a baaaaaaad Brutha!!!

[@mitchwinthrop]

a house producer woulda been all over those first two records.

[@souljahcitysouljahclothing3883]

I agree

[@KINGDAVID230]

He and Jake One got me about to go digging for mad 60s and 70s gospel records to make an uplifting beat and mixtape

[@chrisbullock6477]

Ghost Face, Raekwon, or BlackThought from the Roots would kill this beat.

[@Eagles4life221]

This is already on Ghostface killah's album

[@keembo08]

+A Wooden Spoon what's the name of the song?

[@vladimirklizschko9337]

Raekwon and Black Thought definitely need to rap over this

[@th3rd3arplan3tradio]

@Maryann Appiagyei this beat fits perfect for like guilty simpson

[@1beater]

im bout to find that gospel record

[@libertychip526]

Literally my first thought as well haha

[@JamieRobert_]

sumake that’s not the right record

[@x_july_o]

They gave the man lemons, and he definitely came thru with that lemonade!

[@Qonvex]

dude is still on windows xp haha thats awesome, xp was the shit.

[@skotthall4090]

Yeah compared to 7 it was

[@chris45627]

The Left should make another album because Gas Mask is a classic to me

[@SupremeJorgeTube]

I was told that they are working on it...so lets just wait on that.

[@snowy6969]

A new Ugly Heroes EP is on the way in a week. I was starting to think he was just about one off collabos so hopefully this means other ones will have a chance at more music.

[@GBoogey1]

Get JakeOne to do Rhythm Roulette!!!

[@kingnerdon]

Apollo killed it. Let Guilty Simpson on this beat.

[@intense34]

Man, Apollo just never fails. I thing he is the new Premier of hip-hop this beat is just magestic!

[@HenOutOfHen]

See how close he was to picking the sample from No More Parties in LA at 0:42 . fire we can only imagine.

[@jamarimikell]

Henry Prior I peeped that too frfr!

[@zshakur]

Apollo Brown and Black Milk have the dopest beats so far. DJ Babu rounds out the to 3. Just mu opinion.

[@sixpenceaus]

Zayd Shakur Marco Polo too

[@verz22]

Zayd Shakur Ski beatz in that list

[@andrewtrott7844]

Zayd Shakur Kanye, Dilla, Madlib, Jonwayne, Dj premier, just name a few

[@djfrozone]

Zayd Shakur Numarks was insane

[@brandnewtubesox]

im around the same opinion. babu was real good. and black milk. i just discovered this series today. so im overdosed lol. did u hear mannie fresh's? its nice too

[@elvinsolano9114]

I wonder how an Apollo Brown produced Wu-Tang album would sound like.

[@kyletwitty6638]

Elvin Solano better than that last shit we got I’ll tell you that

[@buttafinguz]

He did one with Ghostface. 12 face of death or something like that. One of favorites

[@sprb4725]

The brown tape by ghost face. He realeased one produces by Adrian younge and one by apallo brown

[@deegeebarxx3391]

Apollo Brown overtook Rza in my opinion Rza just needs to let Apollo Brown make the beats from now on

[@deegeebarxx3391]

@@buttafinguz 12 ways to die

[@muelabruno66]

Appolo Brown is one of my favorite producers, his beats Bangs! I own 4 of he's records, including ugly heros, and I swear that Foo only got like a handful of drums he uses on all his tracks. Same pattern and everthing lol

[@jonrobbin170]

He crushed it on the lefts album and that oc trophies album was 🔥

[@TasherreRisayMusic]

Yep! He did that.

[@DrWallace0]

i see you! Do u know Apollo?

[@TasherreRisayMusic]

Roderick Wallace Yepper. We've been peoples for a while.

[@eastlan94]

Get Madlib do to Rhythm Roulette

[@KoolGNasBlackThought]

Madlib prolly would've already sampled the records he chooses

[@tractorfan19]

KoolGNasBlackThought haha too right my man

[@eastlan94]

KoolGNasBlackThought :D

[@MfxJets]

Fuck yeah. And ALC

[@Zlatkodemon]

you will never see that. no one ever got in the bomb shelter while he chops. its secret operations.

[@kevinamundsen6983]

One of the best producers out there today.

[@leostrop979]

I saw this video the day it was released in 2014. Now in 2022 i keep coming back to watch this genius.

[@erez1468]

That is a record of Drake's uncle on the left at 0:42 haha (the red record). It was also sampled by the legend Madlib for Kanye West's No More Parties in LA

[@nlgpro]

Your hat is slow low why do you even need a blind fold. Also, I'm amazed you still use XP. Beat is nice.

[@kelvinmanley6166]

He using audacity ?

[@DaEthioKing]

wtf he using to make the beat

[@chaseboogie3559]

Dope that he could do that in Cool Edit.. but how the hell does he lay the drums? I saw another beatmaking video and it didn't show him making the drums either...if he's just dragging in drum samples and arranging them with mouse, then thats fucking crazy!!

[@Quasibeats]

Sound like hes got loops

[@chaseboogie3559]

***** Yeah man it sure is. So soulful for something made with just a simple program. Sounds like he's using an MPC or some other pad trigger for the drums and outboard gear to mix. Guess this proves all the analog gear snobs wrong. lol.

[@chaseboogie3559]

***** lol. I know what you mean but you probably do and don't even realize because you are being to critical of yourself. I have ill ass drum samples but I use software and for a while I thought my drums were type weak and digital sounding but when I started playing certain beats for people they were like 'damn those drums are knocking'. Its all relative and mostly has to do with mixing..

[@chaseboogie3559]

***** Same cats i love. I strive to get even remotely close to their sound. Apollo, flylo, Nottz, 9th, dilla, etc.. It's a high standard but thats what you want to aim for...it sharpens your ear and puts you above your average producer peers that you speak of.

[@davz203]

the drum pattern was super simple wouldn't matter if he drag a loop and matched the tempo or did it him self. some of that caliber probably has all types of patterns saved already

[@rayallen7002]

Windows Xp and cool edit...if it ain't broke don't fix it

[@FlatBlackVisuals]

This dude could be "The Game's" father

[@Sinosure]

Apollo killed it! He always keeps it simple! Mad underrated producer!

[@theheat510]

Shouts out to Peter Quistgard

[@DONVYTAL]

HAHAHAHAHA INDEED!

[@paranorml]

LOL thanks Peter. Ive Been using CEP2 for a decade.

[@DuckAlertBeats]

He will never know the joy he brought to so many beatmakers to this day R.I.P Peter. Peace

[@naysquared113]

HAHAHAHA Peter Q. is world famous in the production community

[@Harmonyengine]

one of my favourite beat makers. there's always a depth of emotion most other dudes can't convey... word

[@shoot210]

Damn he still has that 2007 set up, thats dope af. Proves you don't have to have the latest gear to make that heat

[@thomasturner5191]

Has everyone listened to dice game by apollo and guilty simpson? If u havent go give it a try some of the best beats and lyrics around 100

[@Qonvex]

+Thomas Turner if you thought dice game was good go peep the left - gas mask or blaspemy by him and ras kass.

[@dcfctom8234]

+Rhyme Oddysey il check that out cheers man

[@madsvh666]

Word. That gas mask album is in my top 5 all- time. Apollo straight genius

[@911Ranger1]

Listen to Gas Mask too. It's him and Journalist 103

[@danielduran7349]

911Ranger1 man I wish they'd do another album together

[@90s-is-the-golden-era]

Apollo Brown hands down the best producer out right now. R.I.P. J Dilla. Detroit did it again. Much love from Queens, NY.

[@dorianbeats]

it's sad D.R.U.G.S BEATS hasn't done a rhythm roulette.ask pete rock.that dude is 1 of the greatest.for those who don't know he did 50cents i just wanna and ludacris muthafucka can u buy that..www.datpiff.com/Instrumentals-Drugs-Morphine-Shots-mixtape.315815.html

[@jamesp8095]

I remember my hacked version of Cool Edit Pro... on my hacked version of XP and my 1.4ghz AMD super computer.

[@lht5dy31]

Became a big Apollo brown fan since the song eachother ft. Eternia

[@DirgeHanson]

I do not understand how this cat is making a track with old school Cool Edit 2................I know none of you do either. So confused. Either he is doing something amazing on an ancient program or he didn't let them film him sequencing his beat. It's not even in multi-track mode. I do like the jam though. It's fresh,

[@ocrbeats]

Just wanted to give you a bit of insight if you care to read it.how are you confused about him making a beat on a daw like cool edit? one, hes not doing much to the beat except LITERALLY tracking out the way he wants to chop the beat with no pitching or anything. its no different than pro-tools, fl studio or even an actual hard console like an mpc, hes just eliminating the process of all the hassle of track outs on beats from one program or console & making it on a daw where he can likely (if he even does it) mix the beat with whatever plug ins he has on that cool edit daw on the spot. youre overthinking his simple process when really AB doesnt do much to make his beat.

[@ocrbeats]

oh and you may actually be right about this clip not having the multi-track showing to how the beat is actually broken down being filmed.

[@tonsshameless8741]

I used cool edit pro. Its insane how much u can do with it. And apollo uses the effect chambers on cool edit better then anyone iv heard. 9th wonder used cool edit as well. I used cool edit in 2000. Dont sleep. U can make crazy complex music with the program

[@kazmcfly726]

Man Apollo Brown is a beast! That production he did for Boog Brown "The Brown Study" Album is crazy! I would love to see him do something with Nas, Camp Lo, Big K.R.I.T. or Scarface #instantclassics

[@djmrnelson]

J Zone and Apollo Brown are my favorite videos in this series

[@HUSTLETHEGODTM]

what was the beat the start?

[@911Ranger1]

+HUSTLE THE GOD™ Not sure, but Ghostface's spits over it on the song "Rise of the Black Suits" off his Twelve Reasons to Die 'The Brown Tape"

[@therealglennmann]

+HUSTLE THE GOD™ the starting track is called push, off of his clouds LP

[@FreshDoughBoi28]

+HUSTLE THE GOD™ the song is signs by apollo brown and OC. highkey peep the whole album its bro its heat /watch?v=TTwSmqKoVhg

[@LWAkira]

+HUSTLE THE GOD™ Apollo Brown & OC - Signs Salute my brotha!

[@Slickjc1]

Very soulful track. I like the dusty/distorted sound. It's very hip hop.

[@1man2manynotes]

They should do this for people who aren't famous to give them a platform, and maybe let some people see what they choose, it would guarantee a better ending product. Also use people from different regions. Everything sounds like east coast. Guests like Krit are a welcomed addition.

[@svgva]

yeah they need to give me a chance I'm an inspiring producer slash rapper mainly producer

[@rayshaunjackson9248]

One of the top produces and beat makers out. Known but unknown at the same time. Check out Ghostface's Brown tap.

[@rocbarnes]

Ghostfaces's Brown Tape was so dope. So dope that I overdosed on it for a month. Gas Mask, classick. Dice Game, classick. My opinion is that Guilty Simpson sounds his best over that Motown sound. Madlib is dope and I'm not taking anything away from his genius production. Detroit has a sound that is all its own. No coast. Just Boom Bap classics. Beats with that swing that keeps EMT units on call. Peace, to Detroit, Michigan.

[@jacobleone3828]

rocbarnes

[@warnutztheloser]

Thiz shit wuz Hard!

[@renicedavis4493]

Dj Premier would show off on this series .._ i love Apollo BaBu,.._.But my fav so far isSki Beats...._.Straight Fire_

[@gustavoarratia3732]

ghostface and action bronson on that beat.

[@mwheeler2844]

Good luck getting them to do a song together

[@TrapShitProduction]

Eric Arc Elliott please ...

[@T0nyTerr0r]

got my money on Apollo all day long, dude is a beat wizard, love his style, that old school " boom bap" era, and the blues, gospel samples. great stuff!

[@TheAndykibz]

Indeed in doesn't matter what you use,its how you use it.

[@emmdeee]

I hate that sound he added that sounds like ur phone is buzzing

[@eph_kni]

+Em Dee nah you love it

[@UVAjna]

+Joseph Knight (Iruel) that shits annoying.

[@eph_kni]

i know i know. i think it's just something rattling on his desk or next to his sub.

[@UVAjna]

+Joseph Knight (Iruel) might be, it did it almost as soon as the bass would hit

[@eph_kni]

yeah man, this kind of stuff happens. everyone gets too lit and someone leaves their keys on the sub. shit happens.

[@gensobeats8809]

Apollo Brown it's new Preemo

[@kharyarmah546]

Rza you mean, similar to the Wu elements

[@johnnymcjohn]

Love this series. Great concept and the beats are always solid. Bam

[@burgerbeatz6293]

Here I am worrying about cpu power while this man makes fire with win xp and audacity

[@KINGDAVID230]

I loved his version of 12 reasons to die a little better than Adriane Young's

[@andrewsmusicchannel5062]

Sick beat. Does anybody know the song at about 0:55 it sounds familiar.

[@padmister123]

Large Pro, Pete Rock, Premier, Madlib, Havoc need to get on this shit

[@rasraetc]

cool edit pro for the win!!!!

[@switchmastah]

the thing i love about these videos is seeing the different ways these producers make beats. who cares what you use, all that matters is the end product. Dope!

[@BrentStrathdeePehi]

they should have to find a way to use all 3 records in the beat to make it more interesting and challenging

[@R.G.777.]

Professor Large did just that, salute to the OG

[@Jim-CEst]

I think that's what they're supposed to do but no one ever does it..

[@kagomodise4008]

''You kinda gotta Make Do''. Hah, I see what you did there!

[@dreadnought80]

In all seriousness make an album with Artist rapping over the rhythm roulette beats. Make it happen.

[@abyssbeatz23]

dope dope …. big fan of apollo's work …..cool edit pro wow haven't touched that shit in years.. Ya'll gotta get Kev Brown on this

[@EzeICE]

It's funny how all the producers on this joint say "I picked the wrong records man!" and end up making the hottest shit lol. I feel most producers should do just this, pick up some you normally wouldn't and go from there. I know records cost $ but that can stretch your creative 3rd eye for real. Some of the best stuff comes from the least likely places.

[@thedarkwarriorperspective7475]

This brother is nasty with it. I loved what he did with O.C. on that Trophies album.

[@MrJvandal]

I could've flipped a few of those things Apollo rejected at the start.... But you know personal taste. Dope beat in the end and for sure old software is a minor. It's about the product not the tools used to make it.

[@miicki90]

Kev Brown next!

[@davidalexander_93]

Hands down one of my favourite producers, the guy is a genius.

[@clebersorobeatz2]

Máximo respeito de todos os beatmakers brasileiro, professor! Deus o abençoe grandemente!!!

[@nickvitou]

He fucked up by not taking that disco kick and clap.

[@rhymesgalore81]

when he started choppin that gospel one I knew it was gonna be raw

[@FTgunner91]

Guilty Simpson needs to get on this

[@theFRACTALREIGN]

Guilty with Torae would kill this track

[@OverlorBeats]

This ended up really dope ... Peace to Apollo Brown one of my Favorites doing it right now!!

[@mcDontSpeak]

Yo he is ill. I love he is doing this in that daw. not sure exactly what it is but he is making the beat with his computer keyboard. Woah. No controller killin it.

[@ChaimaHuggy]

RESPECT !!

[@BillykOTW]

Apollo make it look so easy lol

[@bigleebrink]

One of the best Rhythm Roulette's so far.

[@4z-L_Gaming]

anybody know the beat that plays from 0:12 to 0:52?

[@4z-L_Gaming]

black suits - apollo brown

[@cloficc7234]

His album with Skyzoo was dope 🔥🔥🔥

[@ProdbyGrimeyred]

and locksmith

[@Metamophisis]

Dope video! Apollo always makes dope beats! Suckas watch the video and click dislike. They don't know nothing about Hip Hop!

[@gapipkin]

This fool using Audicity?!

[@truebadboy23]

Mane that was so ill and sick I went out and got the gospel record lol Somebody's Gone!! dope sample mane👍👍

[@evanGiNG]

Is he using Audacity?

[@djjamil3033]

real spit, some gospel joints have some unheard hidden gems..