After months of anticipation, Detroit-based producer Apollo Brown and NYC flame-spitter Joell Ortiz have dropped their collab album, Mona Lisa. This is the latest Brown-produced album under the Mello Music Group umbrella, following the June release of No Question, Brown’s joint project with Locksmith.
The duo released several singles leading up to the release of Mona Lisa. They are “Decisions,” “Timberlan’d Up” featuring Royce Da 5’9″ and “Reflection.” Mr. Ortiz handles most of the bar work on the 11-track offering, with guest appearances only coming from Royce and DJ Los.
Back in August, the album was announced. We reported:
Detroit-based producer Apollo Brown has been on quite a run as of late. His projects–which have featured the likes of Ghostface Killah, Rass Kass, Planet Asia and OC–have really captured the solo producer/solo rapper vibe in a major way. Now, on the heels of his No Question EP with Locksmith, he’s back at it. This go-round, Apollo will have beloved veteran rhyme-spitter Joell Ortiz riding shotgun on their collab album, Mona Lisa, through the Mello Music Group. If the title implies what the duo has in store, it is sure to be a true work of art when it is released on October 26.
“In my ears, this is what the painting Mona Lisa sounds like,” Apollo Brown told Billboard, as he spoke n the album. “The music is straightforward. That’s all I ask for when I’m the listener, so that’s all I give when I’m the creator. No bullshit. None. I provided the canvas, and Joell provided the honest brushstrokes. This album is a relatable body of work that everyone can listen to and appreciate. It’s growth within a gold frame. Open your ears and enjoy.”
Stream Mona Lisa by Apollo Brown and Joell Ortiz below: