Mello Music Group always comes in with the heat, and Ugly Heroes is no exception. Formed by MCs Verbal Kent, from Chicago, and Detroit’s Red Pill backed with production from fellow Detroit native Apollo Brown, their self-titled album received a solid review here on Word Is Bond, the success of which has lead them to announce a vinyl release! ‘Ugly Heroes‘ is a bonus track put out to celebrate the announcement – really and truly, a vinyl release is mega dope – and it features exactly what you’d want from the trio. Apollo Brown’s beat is mad soulful and is laced in equal measure by the delivery of the MCs, with the welcome edition of DJ Eclipse with the razor sharp scratches. Nice track.

Detroit’s most consistent producer, Apollo Brown, comes through with his trademark sound – brassy horn chops, vinyl crackle, and layered drums that knock just right. Definitely turn this one up and let Apollo’s production bump at it’s head-nodding, face scrunching best. 

Red Pill jumps out first with a quick shout to Mello for making the deal on this record: “It ain’t a major deal yet, but it ain’t minor shit / got the industry by the throat with an iron grip.” By :53 seconds in Pill puts a sock in all those armchair comment box reviewers mouths with a display of lyrical wordplay that I’ll leave you to unravel on the repeated rewind. After the verse, DJ Eclipse lays a gorgeous scratch hook, reminding people Ugly Heroes is Ugly as ever. 

The second verse finds Chicago veteran Verbal Kent choking listeners out with their livestrong bracelets. Verbal proves he’s a bad dude like Erykah… knocking your wheaties bowl offa the table, liftin you up and literally throwin’ you offa the label. Then at 2:16 Mr. Kent decides to jump it up a notch and match Pills tongue twisting throw down with another display that leaves your pause button worn. 

Before it’s over Apollo masterfully brings it back to a sit down soul stirring conversational tone.

[wpsharely]Download ‘Ugly‘: Bandcamp[/wpsharely]