Apollo began making his own music in 1996 using now-archaic Voyetra audio software, then upgraded to Cool Edit 2000 in becoming a self-described bedroom beat-maker for roughly the next eight years. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in business administration, he moved to the west side of Detroit and immersed himself in the local hip-hop community, forming the Black Day in July production crew with high school classmate and Wu-Tang affiliate Bronze Nazareth. When the pair branched off into individual work, Apollo relocated to the east side of the Motor City and continued to build before becoming disenchanted with music and stepping away from production for two years.
It was the mid-2000s, and the upstart producer saw no future for his work—work he had dedicated his life to—in an industry where radio was setting a formulaic pattern for mainstream music. But he eventually began to miss the creativity in his craft and began producing once again, releasing the instrumental albums Skilled Trade (2007) and Make Do (2009). Apollo was soon in high demand, collaborating with Detroiters Finale, MaGestiK LeGenD, Danny Brown, Paradime, and Kam Moye aka Supastition. He went on in 2009 to win the Detroit Red Bull Big Tune Championships and competed in the national finals. Apollo then signed as a producer with the Mello Music Group in December of 2009, having left Michigan in late 2007 to take a position as a property inspector in Cleveland, Ohio. A week after signing, he was laid off from his job.
“Beautiful,” was Apollo’s reaction, as he viewed the layoff as a blessing and prepared for what he terms his “one-year plan.” Starting things off will be The Reset, a series of reworked tracks in true remix tradition, with new music and arrangements for verses by Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother, Black Milk, MED, Grap Luva, labelmates Kenn Starr, Oddisee, and Diamond District, along with a host of others.
Next up was Brown Study with Boog Brown which features Miz Korona, Invincible, Kam Moye, and Kenn Starr. When the long-awaited Gas Mask LP by The Left with DJ Soko and MC Journalist 103 took the stage in late October 2010 Apollo cemented his place as one of the games best new producers.
Then early in 2011 Apollo released his first Mello Music Group instrumental album, Clouds, and dominated best of lists at the end of the year. 2011 also saw the release of the album Daily Bread, with Rochester, New York MC Hassaan Mackey.
After taking just under a year off to create a new masterpiece, Apollo released his biggest album to date with the legendary O.C. of D.I.T.C. entitled Trophies. The internet again became abuzz with talk of album of the year. Never one to rest on his laurels, Apollo spent the next 7 months both campaigning for "Trophies" and putting together another album, Dice Game, with Motor City compatriot Guilty Simpson. The result of his intense immersion in his work was yet another year with two albums ("Dice Game" and "Trophies") ending up on people's Best of 2012 lists.
Apollo’s credo is simple: “Everything I make, I try to make it my favorite album of all time.”
Balance
Apollo Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whiskey's streamin' just like wine
Tell me down in New Orleans
Whiskey's streamin' just like wine
Lord, my baby, she down there
Wonders my baby, she gone wild
They tell me Canal Street
Is the longest street in town
Is the longest street in town
Yes, you ride all day long
You still on Canal Street, yes, yes
Then they tell me again, people
Lord, have mercy, it's the widest street in town
Then they tell me again
It's the widest street in town
Lord, I just gonna keep on ridin'
Keep on, down in New Orleans
In Apollo Brown's song "Balance", the lyrics describe the singer's fascination with New Orleans, particularly with the abundance of whiskey and the endless stretch of Canal Street. The first lines of the song repeat the comparison between whiskey and wine, emphasizing the excess and indulgence found in this city. The singer also mentions their "baby" being down in New Orleans and wonders if she has succumbed to the wildness and temptation that the city offers.
The song then shifts its focus to Canal Street, which the singer claims is the longest street in town. However, as they continue to ride down the street, they realize that it's actually the widest street in town. This repetition of the length and width of Canal Street could be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer's own journey towards finding balance or understanding of themselves. The confusion and uncertainty of the measurements represent the singer's own confusion and uncertainty about their own life, and their search for clarity or balance.
Overall, "Balance" presents a gritty and intoxicating perspective on New Orleans, a city known for its wildness and excess. The lyrics suggest that while the city may lure people in with its indulgence, it also has the potential to overwhelm and leave one feeling lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me down in New Orleans
Apollo Brown is asking someone to give him insight into the situation in New Orleans.
Whiskey's streamin' just like wine
He's describing the abundance of whiskey in the city.
Lord, my baby, she down there
He's talking about his significant other being in New Orleans.
Wonders my baby, she gone wild
He's curious about what his girlfriend is up to and worried she might be getting into trouble.
Tell me Canal Street
Continues his request for further info on New Orleans, specifically about Canal Street.
Is the longest street in town
Asking if this is true and portraying it as something impressive.
Yes, you ride all day long
Acknowledging that the street is indeed long, given that one can ride on it for a whole day.
You still on Canal Street, yes, yes
Emphasizing the fact that despite its length, Canal Street is worth riding for a long time.
Then they tell me again, people
Others are telling him something new about the city and Canal Street in particular.
Lord, have mercy, it's the widest street in town
Expressing amazement at learning that Canal Street is also the widest street in town.
Lord, I just gonna keep on ridin'
Apollo Brown plans to keep exploring New Orleans and seeing all it has to offer.
Keep on, down in New Orleans
Reiterating his desire to continue exploring the city and learning more about it.
Contributed by Alyssa H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Darek Read
on Learn the Meaning
feeling apollo brown been writing to his beats for years some of my best i ever wrote