Rappers claim to be a lot of things these days: the one with the most swag; the one with the most money; the “realest”. But few actually live up to these wild claims (that tend to be made behind the mic, in a cosy studio and surrounded by a team of yes men and body guards.) Meet Apollo The Great – a young emcee who is just that: great.
Hailing from New Jersey (just a stone’s throw away from Hip Hop’s birthplace itself, New York City) the 21-year old rapper represents a sound which contrasts the majority of his fellow dance-crazy, chorus-mad and commercially-focused peers. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Jay-Z, Biggie and Nas, Apollo puts on for real Hip Hop heads, showcasing lyrical depth, masterful flow and an ear for ill Boom Bap beats that transcend his age.
Having released Showtime At the Apollo (download here) and H.I.M. (History In the Making) (download here) mixtapes, the buzz surrounding Apollo The Great has led to props from respected East Coast emcees, such as Joell Ortiz and Freeway (with whom he has toured with.) His upcoming mid-April release, titled Apollo 21, is set to feature the two aforementioned artists, along with Sean Price. Worth copping? Very likely.
Keep your attention firmly on Apollo The Great. I doubt it will be long ’til we see him hooking up with Premo and setting one of his classic raw beats alight!
Take a listen to some of my favourite Apollo The Great joints:
Apollo The Great – “Number One”
Apollo The Great feat. Sean Price- “Struggle No More”
Apollo The Great – “Call It Quits”
Follow @Apollo_TheGreat on Twitter and listen to more of his music on his Myspace page.
