I remember being in L.A., standing alongside other Detroit artists DJ Houseshoes and MoeDirdee, repping Detroit. It was in one of those moments where I realized I had achieved a goal I didn’t even know I had—to be claimed by my city. There’s a sense of pride when you’re out of town, and you can say you’re from Detroit, representing its energy and culture. That was my moment of success. Truly, Detroit is the backbone of American music, and there’s no place like home.
Detroit’s musical history speaks for itself. From Motown to punk, hip-hop, rap, and techno, this city has shaped the soundtrack of America. You can travel the world and hear Motown in every corner. So when Apollo Brown approached me to capture that essence on film for his track “The Backbone,” I knew this was going to be something special.
Producing, filming, and editing the video for “The Backbone” was a challenge, but it was the kind of challenge I thrive on. This was the first of three videos I would create for Mello Music Group, and it came with a tight deadline. We filmed in iconic Detroit locations—Detroit Coney, the Bruiser house, Pallister Drive—each spot telling its own story of the city’s rich history. One of the most challenging shots was capturing Apollo’s classic car through the reflection on the glass. Pulling off that shot took patience and precision, but in the end, the results were absolutely worth it.
Working with a legendary lineup like Apollo Brown, Guilty Simpson, Fat Ray, and Melanie Rutherford on this project was an incredible experience. Apollo’s album Sincerely Detroit is poised to be a timeless classic, with over 50 rappers featured on it, and it’s already being hailed as “the new Detroit.”
If you haven’t yet, check out “The Backbone.” And yes, for those wondering—that is The Old Miami’s pool table in the video. Even Hex came out for the shoot, making it a full-circle Detroit moment.
Big shoutout to Mello Music Group for trusting me with this project! For more of my music videos, head over to www.auxiliarycinema.com.
Behind the scenes photos at the Old Miami below by James Johnson, aka Jimmy Goldfingers. Photos below that are by Brandon Damon.
