Listen: Apollo Brown – The Answer

“The Answer” is the first single from Detroit Producer Apollo Brown’s new instrumental LP Thirty Eight. This is Apollo’s first instrumental-only release since Clouds back in 2011, as he has worked with emcees like O.C on Trophies, Guilty Simpson on Dice Game, and more since then. This album only has two features, both by NY emcee Roc Marciano.

Apollo Brown’s Thirty Eight is a contemporary throwback, inhabiting the realm of reverent reinvention and innovation. It deftly bridges the gap between ‘70s Blaxploitation soundtracks (e.g. Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly or Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man) and the hip hop records that sampled from them.

The tracks on Thirty Eight are presented in gritty, heavily saturated Technicolor, the scratches and cigarette burns as purposeful as they are happily accidental. These are suites sounding from long barrels held by lone men lurking in grimy project hallways. Tinged with revenge and regret, shrouded in thick tendrils of hollow-point smoke, the songs have all the makings of an epic gangster tragedy. They’re also great when paired with anything Raymond Chandler.