Thirty Eight (album)

Thirty Eight is the fourth studio album by Detroit-based hip hop producer Apollo Brown, released digitally on April 29, 2014 by Mello Music Group.[2] The album was later released physically, on CD and vinyl, with their own bonus tracks.[3] Apollo Brown described Thirty Eight as a ride through Detroit of the early 1980s,[2] that was inspired by various 1970s and 1980s films' soundtracks.[4] One single was released from the album, "The Answer", as a preorder bonus.[5]

Thirty Eight
Studio album by Apollo Brown
Released	April 29, 2014
Studio	Studio A, Detroit The Disc, Detroit[1]
Genre	Instrumental hip hop
Length	65:20
Label	Mello Music Group
Producer	Apollo Brown Michael Tolle (exec.)
Apollo Brown chronology
Abrasions: Stitched Up (with Planet Asia) (2014) Thirty Eight (2014) Ugly Heroes EP (with Verbal Kent and Red Pill) (2014)
Singles from Thirty Eight
"The Answer" Released: March 25, 2014

Album title

According to Apollo Brown, the album was named after .38 caliber revolver:[4]

The original title to the album was Pop's Revolver. I started calling it Thirty Eight just to be a little bit more straight to the point. I call it Thirty Eight because a .38 caliber revolver or weapon in general, at its peak and in its prime, was probably the most used, sought after, and reliable caliber of its kind. A .38 was police-issue. Every cop in the United States used a .38. The .38 was that old gun in your grandma’s purse. The .38 was also that old, trusty gun that was in the shoebox in your grandpa's closet. When all else fails, when everything jams, you can always trust that .38. You can always go to that good, old, trusty, reliable .38. It will always work for you. It will always fire. That’s why I call it Thirty Eight.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Exclaim!	7/10[6]
PopMatters	[7]

Thirty Eight received positive reviews from music critics. Exclaim! gave the album seven out of ten, saying that the album "carries an inference to the smoky, gritty sound of '70s soul while updating it with modernized production and hip-hop soul sensibilities" and commending Apollo Brown, who "gets better each time out".[6] PopMatters also gave it seven out of ten, calling it "another win for Brown", but named lack of rappers as album's biggest weakness. "These beats are crying out for rappers," added the critic.[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Thirty Eight"	1:07
2.	"Cellophane"	2:48
3.	"Learn The Meaning"	3:12
4.	"Shotguns In Hell"	2:52
5.	"Dirt On The Ground"	3:00
6.	"The Warning"	3:07
7.	"Cleo's Apartment"	3:25
8.	"Sweet Revival"	3:07
9.	"Life Is A Wheel"	3:12
10.	"Black Suits"	2:56
11.	"Never Disappear"	2:46
12.	"The Laughter Faded"	2:49
13.	"All You Know"	2:56
14.	"Strange Things"	3:20
15.	"Heaven At Last"	3:10
16.	"Lonely and Cold"	3:01
17.	"A Wise Man's Woman"	3:05
18.	"Felonious"	3:00
19.	"Weight In Gold"	3:00
20.	"The Answer"	3:27

CD version bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lonely & Cold" (featuring Roc Marciano)	3:08
2.	"Shotguns In Hell" (featuring Roc Marciano)	2:52

Vinyl version bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hey Joe"	3:03
2.	"Make Bread"	3:05

Personnel

Credits adapted from Bandcamp:[1]

• Apollo Brown – producer
• Michael Tolle – executive producer
• Matt "Magnetic" Oleksiak – mixing
• Eric Morgeson – mastering
• Sarah Mattmiller – design
• Austin Hart – creative director
• Corey Sheridan – digital advisor
• Joe Dent – physical advisor
• Matt Conaway – media advisor

References

1. Brown, Apollo. "Thirty Eight, by Apollo Brown". Bandcamp. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
2. Nostro, Lauren. "Premiere: Stream Apollo Brown's New Album "Thirty Eight"". Complex. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
3. Kyles, Yohance (26 March 2014). "Producer Apollo Brown Announces New Instrumental Album "Thirty Eight"". AllHipHop. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
4. Kimble, Julian. "The Origins Of "Thirty Eight" & My Favorite Original Soundtrack Influences". HipHopDX. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
5. Baker, Soren. "Apollo Brown "Thirty Eight" Release Date & Cover Art". HipHopDX. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
6. Patrick, Ryan B. "Apollo Brown Thirty Eight". Exclaim!. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
7. "Apollo Brown: Thirty Eight". PopMatters. Retrieved 26 August 2016.

External links

• Thirty Eight at Discogs (list of releases)