Hot on the heels of "From The Top," the Oddisee/Stik Figa collaborative single off the recently released Helpless Dreamer compilation album, Mello Music Group has announced the titular track "Helpless Dreamer" as the latest single to show off their talented roster. This time with Apollo Brown, whose own group album from The Left is enjoying high acclaim, on production, affiliate emcees Roc Marciano, X.O. (of Diamond District) and Tranqill offer up verses to compliment the dramatic, horn-heavy beat.

The song acts as the confluence of gifted artists working together for the sake of working together. "That lineup is beautiful, why not collab with them?" Apollo explains of the partnership. He even goes so far as to call Roc Marciano's Marcberg one of his "favorite albums of the year." As far as the song's inspiration, the title of the song says it all. "Sometimes, we want something for ourselves that might be unattainable today," says the Detroit producer. "But if we work hard and dream hard, we'll be able to get it tomorrow." Judging from his contributions on this and his other tracks from Helpless Dreamer, Apollo Brown's tomorrow is approaching fast.

The Mello Music Group compilation, Helpless Dreamer, is available now.

Listen to "Helpless Dreamer" (the song):

http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11....usiness

"How We Live," featuring Rochester rhymer Hassaan Mackey, is the latest single from Gas Mask, the already highly lauded debut album from Detroit hip-hop trio The Left, comprised of producer Apollo Brown, rapper Journalist103, and DJ Soko. The song is heavily influenced by The Left's and also Hassaan Mackey's surroundings. "I wanted us to make something that hit home," says Apollo Brown. "Not just the city where we live, but every inner city where people are being affected by these same issues."

Hassaan Mackey kicks things off with a depiction of his own environment Rochester, a city of New York often disregarded. "I'm a product of my environment/ Weed smoke and silencers/ Victims run from gunshots where projects sit," rhymes Mackey, with stark, vivid imagery over top Apollo Brown's soulful, wailing beat, before following with, "Reminiscing the view of skeletal frames/ Memories of life hang from what little remains." Offering his own take on the ills of inner city life, giving listeners a glimpse into one of the most notoriously rough cities of the 2000's, Journalist 103 takes to the chorus rapping, "Where we live at, kids they die from bullets that fly/ Where the code is eye for an eye, go 'head and try."

The Left's Gas Mask is currently available via Mello Music Group. Apollo Brown and Hassaan Mackey will also be releasing their own album together in 2011, titled Daily Bread.

Download The Left's "How We Live"

Purchase Here:

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gas-mask/id392459687
eMusic: http://ow.ly/2ZLtO

also check out Skyzoo and !llminds live performance of their single "Speakers On Blast" at 106 & Park