The Left: Gas Mask

by Arasia Magnetic on October 29, 2010

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Airborne pollutants and toxic gases are in the air and they are poisoning the Hip Hop community at an alarming rate. And this could potentially take us out if we aren’t prepared. Some of us are ready but The Left, a group that consists of producer–Apollo Brown, emcee–Journalist 103 and DJ Soko has the remedy for those that aren’t and it comes in an album entitled The Gas Mask.

The Gas Mask is astounding because it is adding to the solution and is everything that we need it to be. It has a good balance of nostalgic elements with up-to-date rudiments that make it fresh for todays times. A classic roster of guest appearances, soulful—gritty beats with thunderous scratches and melodic samples make it a must have for anyone looking for protection.

Up first is the antagonistic track “Gas Mask” where Journalist 103 slices the throats of all that have destroyed our culture. Tracks like this are as worn out as referring to Hip Hop as a woman because everyone seems to be complaining about the state of Hip Hop on wax. However, Journalist’s intense delivery over the aggravated sample and vigorous drums make up for the recurring subject matter.

“Frozen” featuring Kool G Rap is saturated in a hostile sound bed that is layered in aggression with lines like: “Spitting blue magic when I step in that sound booth/ so if you need a hit/ I’m the one you should come see/ froze like heron in your nose from the 16″ — that make it an undeniable banger. Apollo Brown tugs at your soul with the gut wrenching “Desperation” as the illustrative sample on this track screams out struggle alongside scenic horns. Journalist invites us into the mind of an emcee that has a mic in one hand and a nine in the other as he battles between right and wrong.

When two emcees like Finale and Journalist 103 come together on a track, you expect them to destroy it but that doesn’t happen on “Caged Birds 2.” The story line is great but there should’ve been more interaction between these two. There was also some resistance here from the emcees and the sample bombarded the track pushing everything else towards the background.

“Statistics” featuring Invincible breaks down the harsh realities of those that are expected to fail based on societal figures while “Homage” featuring Frank West takes us inward as Journalist speaks on those that he’s lost. Most Hip Hop love songs are terrible but 103 pulls it off. He removed the sugar on “The Melody” and approached it with a mature and honest voice avoiding falsehoods that most rappers rely on when it comes to love. “Real Detroit” featuring Marv Won taps into the core of the “D” while “Get In Where You Fit In” closes the album on a high note with a beat that plays out like the ending of a good movie with a passionate message.

Journalist 103 may take some getting used to and it’s not because he’s hard to understand. He can get stagnant in his subject matter but his approach isn’t that of your typical emcee that relies on ornamental metaphors. He is a relatable storyteller that has more layers to uncover. His lyrics are sincere and his message is refreshing because he stands next to his supporters instead of looking down on them—that makes him dope. And as I’ve stated before, Apollo Brown is more than just a beat maker. He is a producer that draws out blueprints on his musical canvases of how to design his beats around those that are lyrically decorating his creations. He is the perfect example of those that take what was and turn it into what is. Yes, he borrows from the second golden era and his beats can get lost in their similarities. But this might be is his way of ensuring his projects maintain a certain level of consistency to create timeless albums that can register years from now. And it’s cool to see DJ Soko especially during a time when the DJ, who is the foundation of Hip Hop, seems so obsolete.

So take The Left’s advice and always carry your gas mask because it is your duty to yourself, your family, and your country to be prepared…

2star-full 2star-full 9.5 out of 10 stars 9.5 out of 10 stars 9.5 out of 10 stars 9.5 out of 10 stars 9.5 out of 10 stars 9.5 out of 10 stars 9.5 out of 10 stars 9.5 out of 10 stars
9.5/10

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Rating: 9.5/10 (52 votes cast)

Binoculars

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Frozen (feat. Kool G. Rap)

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Real Detroit (feat. Marv Won)

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The Left: Gas Mask, 9.5 out of 10 based on 52 ratings

Related posts:

  1. The Left: Scared [prod. Apollo Brown]
  2. Apollo Brown: Real Detroit (feat. The Left & Marv Won)
  3. The Left: Binoculars [The Lyrics]
  4. The Left: Reporting Live (feat Guilty Simpson)
  5. D Wirks: Foot On The Gas EP

Follow: Arasia Magnetic on Twitter


Posted in Album Reviews

  • Thomas

    This joint has edged a few out of my top ten of the year. I’ve said this in my lyrics post that Apollo Brown will get mad props for the production (and rightfully so), however, Journalist bodies these beats.

  • Sussman

    Kind of off-topic, but does anybody know when apollos joint with hassan mackey is coming out? It wasn’t on this sites fourth quarter releases list and no ones talked about it so im curious.

  • Thomas

    @Sussman

    The joint with Hassan Mackey (The Daily Bread is what they are called) is scheduled for 12/28 I believe.

  • http://djevolv26@gmail.com Dj ILL One

    This is a good time for hip hop right now. Great albums have been released in the last 2 to 3 months. The Left is one of them easily.

  • keith n dem

    there is something off about this album, and i cant quite put my finger on it. i like apollo brown, have for a while now, but especially on this record, every beat sounds the exact same. celph titled and buckwild have the album of the year in my opinion.

  • Thomas

    @keith n dem
    Not questioning your opinion about the Celph Titled/Buckwild album, but what makes that album so special, the beats? The beats are top notch for being 15+ yrs old, but to me Celph is below average over them classic joints. I’m interested in knowing what’s so good about the album from someone who is diggin it.

    Probably not the correct thread to discuss this. Maybe save it for the review of the album that I think we will have soon. I think….

  • http://drakeblackmon.bandcamp.com Drizz

    I think Journalist is a dope emcee… but like Keith n Dem says there is usually somethin a lil off about Apollo’s beats. Not to say they’re not sick cuz they are but they all have an identical feel to some degree. 9.5 seems kinda high to me, but from what i’ve heard the album is worth coppin.

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Justin

    To me, Apollo’s just released so much this year that we’re having “overload” on his sound. There’s nothing to break it up and it gets the 9th Wonder syndrome. It’s not that the beats are good, it’s just they started to blend together. Nonetheless, this is dope album and Journalist 103 is a solid emcee.

  • http://drakeblackmon.bandcamp.com Drizz

    Ur right Justin… He has been droppin a ton of shit so go figure. When it comes down to it, its all good music imo.

  • http://tokyocigar7.wordpress.com/ Tokyo Cigar

    @ Justin and Drizz. Y’all make a good point about releasing too much stuff. I remember that cats were talking about LMNO doing the same thing. As someone that dropped mad joints my damn self ( 2011 i’m deading that ) it hits me when cats bring up that point. I think that if someone is gonna flood the game with material it’s not a good idea to have “a sound” Its better to have a “Vibe”. Speaking for myself, my stuff like FROZEN FLESH, UGLY SOUL sounds nothing like my PLEXIGLASS FOUNTAIN stuff etc. I learned that from RZA’s 1995 run cause the beats on Cuban Linx would not have fit on Liquid Swords or Return to the 36 and vice versa.

    I think producers that blow up tend to find themselves locked in. People like Pharell obviously come from a place where they can do so many sounds ( N.E.R.D. and “In my mind” for example ) but the Neptunes will always be known for that tribal robotic sound cause in interviews he says that’s what the labels always ask them for. But regardless. From what i heard Apollo Brown is that DUDE though. I’m late on learning about him so i do like his sound on everything i’ve peeped. I doubt we’ve heard what the homie is fully capable of and all the joints he already has put out are CRAZY.

  • http://drakeblackmon.bandcamp.com Drizz

    …and Journalist 103 reminds me of Mr. Voodoo from Natural Elements. LOL!

  • Thomas

    I like the fact that he has a sound or vibe. I know what I’m getting with him. Hard drums, crazy vocal sample, and Havoc/Premo like static filled beats. I think each project he dropped this year blended together, but the beats on The Reset are different than Brown Study and different than Gas Mask. The likeness of the beats tie each song together, which adds to the overall cohesion of the album. I don’t think Journalist could have sounded “good” over Brown Study tracks and likewise for Boog Brown over those Gas Mask joints.

    There’s a lot of movement and variation to his tracks. Lots of different elements to his beats. Like Drizz said….it’s still good music.

  • http://tokyocigar7.wordpress.com/ Tokyo Cigar

    @Thomas. I feel you but i think balance is also important though. When a cat has a vibe about his beats he can always go back and tap into it but it’s always good to expand for different albums/artists. I mean what if Eminem was getting G funk era Dre beats when he signed. Would he have popped off like he did? ( but then again those beats were RIDICULOUS so maybe lol )

    But heads started building about other real shit about hip hop ( that’s why i stay on the site lol ) getting back to the album. Like i said i feel this joint. I peeped the whole joint out and rocked to it. I aint up on all of Apollo’s stuff. This ain’t the 90′s where cats had time to really sit with albums so there’s a lot of ill joints i just aint get around to peeping cause i’m already bumping shit like Marcberg and Kill Devil Hills ( which to me is Album of the year ) so i’m still vibing with the stuff i heard which has all been dope. This joint is no exception. The beats knock crazy. The samples are chopped ridiculous and it blends flawlessly. Plus Journalist 103 is crazy on the mic. “Frozen” is my shit. The impeach break, the horns, the Nas chops and Giacana on it combined to make something fantastic. Word to Slum Village.

  • http://drakeblackmon.bandcamp.com Drizz

    @Tokyo-yesssssssssss Kill Devil Hills is fuckin fantastic!
    the real standout track on this album (widout a damn feature thankfully) is the Funeral.

  • Bi.b4.Bs

    Who cares if the production sounds repetitive? The chops are all dope. Period. I’d rather hear a steady diet of soul samples and hard drums, that may sound similar, if you dont listen discerningly, than a steady diet of synth beats like chaundon’s new ish (no disrespect to chaun, hes amazing on the mic I just dont like the new direction) I think the albums consistency is a testament to the overall concept. Consistency is what a lot of potentially dope mc’s and producers are missing today. One.

  • Mello

    Man, I been digesting and bumping this album for 9 months. In the end, when I compare it to his other top notch material, Gas Mask, is still my favorite album this year. It plays incredibly well over a long period of time, has dope guest verses, has a cohesive sound, yet each track individually says something very different – just play Homage and the Real Detroit – so different. It’s 17 tracks and all of em are solid as hell. Apollo has stamped himself into the game for history. My advice, take your time and talk about the album after you’ve let it spin for a few weeks, months, or years – it will stand the test of time in my opinion.

  • Mello

    This album is important to me because it is a true “record” – it records a moment in Detroit Underground Hiphop as well as any album made in recent history. It is the sound of the city right now with Invincible, Mu, Paradime, MarvWon, Finale, and Guilty Simpson as well as Apollo, Journ, and Soko. Then add to it that Magnetic mixed it at The Disc, and this is classic Detroit 2010. Forever this album is going to hold down the spot in time we are at in Hiphop in Detroit. Don’t mistake cohesive for sounding the same – play Statistics, then Homage, then Desperation, then The Melody – these joints run the gamet of game – but they are mixed and arranged with meticulous detail so that the sound blends together and creates one moody piece of Hiphop genius. I’ll diss my own projects when they have flaws, but this one works for me on every level.

  • Dan Gee

    I think the review is on point…. by far the best album of 2010. The more I listen to it,the more I love it. Amazing production, but also journ is killing all of these beats. 9.5 is not much for me. Good review Arasia

  • skeme

    good review..this album will def be on the top ten album of the year list..one of my fave so far this year..im also glad more mc’s are going the one producer route.

  • Thomas

    My favorite track is Binoculars. Journalist kills that joint and the beat isn’t too shabby either!

  • Nauwiesbande

    Review ist spot on…made me cop the album, listening non stop since then.
    One of the best 2010.

  • Nick

    Maybe I’m out of place here but the best album of the year has got to be In Search of Stoney Jackson by Strong Arm Steady. Just my two cents.

  • jeff

    first off, ive never heard of this group..after all the good reviews i gave it a shot.
    solid cd. beats are almost all on point and above average lyrics

    however, the main mc, talks alot of shit about how good he is for not saying much. reminds me of masta ace in a way.
    id also say its a top 5 album of the year, hopefully some albums knock it off in the near future (J. cole, Joell Ortiz)
    By the way id cry if elzhi got the instrumentals and made this his LP

  • Mello

    j. cole and joell ortiz aint fuckin with this album because they’re gonna buy a bunch of random producer beats and play the trendy game trying to be everything to everybody. this album is one producer (Apollo Brown), and one city (Detroit) holding it down without chasing anybody else’s sound.

  • jeff

    thats your opinion..and joell ortiz IS fuckin with this album.

    and how can you say it’s not chasing anybodys sound?? people have already stated that apollos beats are similar to 9th wonder. and ill take a random producer beat (dj premiere) over an apollo beat any day, just saying.

    I like the album, still bumpin it, just lacks replay value because of the lyrics in my opinion

  • Mello

    tough crowd. not about to tell you not to enjoy your joel ortiz album – much respect to all the artists you named as well.

  • Thomas

    Me thinks Gas Mask is top 5 album of the year. Just enjoy music folks…..

  • TownBIZNES510

    DOPE ALBUM! im feelin it, apollo is my dude on the beats str8 nasty wit it. but 9.5 thats high then some of the classics u guys have posted : /

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Jon Garcia

    I’ve listened to this album about 3 times and i don’t see the big deal.
    It comes off as boring to me….idk. I guess I’m not that big of an Apollo Brown fan. I will give it a couple more spins though…

  • Thomas

    Boring how? Beats? Rhymes? Brown’s soundscapes are top notch. Lots of movement in the tracks. Emotion. Listen to “Desperation” and tell me you don’t feel that ish? Not liking Journalist 103? He’s not flashy at all. No frills MC. He’s straight forward with his delivery a la KRS One and Chuck D (1987-1991). Not punchline heavy like Ye or Jadakiss. Not heavy on metaphors like Method Man, just raw lyricism.

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