Apollo Brown

Erik Stephens
Born (1980-06-20) June 20, 1980
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Hip hop producer
Instruments Drum machine, keyboard, sampler, turntable
Years active 1996-2004, 2007–present
Labels Mello Music Group
Associated acts Ghostface Killa, The Left, O.C., Guilty Simpson, Verbal Kent, Planet Asia, Ras Kass
Website Apollo Brown on Facebook

Erik Stephens (born June 20, 1980), better known by his stage name Apollo Brown, is an American hip hop producer. Based in Detroit, he is a resident producer for Mello Music Group. He has released critically acclaimed collaborative albums with emcees such as Ghostface Killah, Journalist 103, Verbal Kent, Planet Asia, and Ras Kass, and in 2012 both his collaborations with O.C. (Trophies) and Guilty Simpson (Dice Game) charted on Billboards R&B Albums chart. Brown has also released a number of acclaimed instrumental albums, including Thirty Eight in 2014. Beyond periodically touring with collaborators such as Guilty Simpson at festivals such as the 80/35 Music Festival, Brown is a professional photographer for Crush Media Group, a media group he co-owns.

Early life

Apollo Brown was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan in a bi-racial family. He started liking hip hop while young, and became avid fan in 1991 when he first heard the album Breaking Atoms by Main Source, stating "that was what did it for me, and I’ve been hooked ever since."[1]

Around 1996 he began working on hip hop production,[1] using a number of different aliases.[1] After attending college, he moved to the city of Detroit in 2003, becoming a long-term resident.[1] From 2004 to 2006 he took a hiatus from producing music, stating that "When I decided to come back into [production], I wanted to come back fresh. I wanted the name Apollo, the Greek God of music, but I didn’t want to keep it just that. I wanted my moniker to have the sound of an actual name. I chose the last name Brown because of strong history it has. I wrote it down for a beat showcase one day and it stuck."[1]

Music career

2007-09: Early releases

After the Arizona hip hop label Mello Music Group was founded in 2006, Brown joined producers such as Dudley Perkins and Oddisee on staff. Skilled Trade was Brown's first collection of beats, compiled and released in 2007.[2] Brown called the instrumental album a "raw collection of old and unfinished beats made throughout the last decade."[1] According to PopMatters, while still based in Detroit Brown began "producing boom-bap beats [in] 2008 and quietly gaining respect in the hip-hop community. He's artform was aquired by the teachings from Bronze Nazareth, another artist out of Detroit."[3] Several years after 2007 he won the Red Bull Big Tune Championship in Detroit,[2] which marked his first appearance on the national scene.[1]

Brown released his second instrumental album, Make Do, in January 2009, which includes 37 tracks.[1] At that point he had done production for artists including Finale, Danny Brown, Kam Moye, Kool G Rap, Roc Marciano, Paradime, Kenn Starr, The Regiment , Hassaan Mackey, and Bronze Nazareth.[1] He released his first official debut project, The Reset, in the summer of 2010.[1] The Reset featured a number of guest vocalists and rappers, and Brown released an instrumental version later that year.

2010: The Left

Around 2010 Brown co-founded the hip hop group The Left with Detroit rapper Journalist 103. The duo soon brought in DJ Soko to add to the tracks and act as DJ for their live performances.[4] Their debut album Gas Mask was released in 2010.[5] According to The Michigan Citizen, "the concept of the album’s title was to warn audiences that hip hop music is being used against the people like poison. Positive, thought-provoking music can act as a 'gas mask' to help filter out the nonsense."[6] Gas Mask was named Best Album of 2010 by KevinNottingham.com, and was in the Top 25 Albums of 2010 by HipHopDX and DJ Premier. Sputnik Music named it one of the Best Underground Hip-Hop Albums of 2010.[4] Stated HipHopDX, Gas Mask "captured a nostalgic prestige,"[7] while RapReviews.com wrote about the album that "Apollo's nods to classic soul could hardly have come from another city [than Detroit]. An artistic statement and a brilliant debut, Gas Mask should be Motown's unofficial soundtrack, but its listenership should know no regional boundaries."[8]

2012: Trophies and Dice Game

In 2011 Brown released his instrumental album Clouds as well as the collaboration Daily Bread.[9] Trophies is the debut collaboration album by D.I.T.C. member O.C. and Brown.[9] It was released on May 1, 2012 by Mello Music Group. The first single was "Prove Me Wrong."[10] By that point he had also produced for Diamond District.[9]

Dice Game is a collaborative studio album by Brown and rapper Guilty Simpson. It was released online by Mello Music Group on November 6, 2012 in digital format,[11] and physical copies were made available on November 13, 2012.[12] The record was entirely produced and arranged by Apollo Brown, and features guest appearances from Torae and Planet Asia.[13][14] Both Dice Game and Trophies charted on Billboards R&B Albums chart.

2013: The Brown Tape and Ugly Heroes

An official alternative version of Twelve Reasons to Die by Ghostface Killah was released on April 22, 2013 on Bandcamp. It is nearly identical in tracklist (with the exclusion of the track "12 Reasons to Die"), but is produced by hip-hop producer Apollo Brown.[15] On June 7, 2013 the album was be made available in all other formats the original album was released on.[16]

In 2013, Verbal Kent, Detroit emcee Red Pill and Brown formed Ugly Heroes, releasing their self-titled debut in May 2013. The album examines the harsh realities of the members' hometowns.[17] PopMatters called the album "one of the better hip-hop records of 2013," describing it as "easily one of 2013’s most depressing albums, an unflinching look at the rust belt and a bankrupt city that threw its inhabitants under a bus. Yes, Pill and Kent’s weary and sleep deprived lyrics had a lot to do with it, but Brown can craft a crushingly sad background at a moment’s notice."[3]

He had a small tour stint with Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz, as well as touring Europe with Guilty Simpson.[18] He and Simpson also toured the US, performing together at the 80/35 Music Festival in 2013.

2014: Thirty Eight and Blasphemy

"Thirty Eight has more variety than Ugly Heroes, as Brown doesn’t have to tailor his sound to Pill or Kent. Instead Brown explores his love for film soundtracks, Motown soul, and boom-bap... At its best it doesn’t need maximal vocals to get a mood across. Some of these tracks do stand completely on their own and they tap into a deep sense of melancholy that Brown infuses his sound with."
— PopMatters, June 4, 2014[3]

He released the instrumental album Thirty Eight in 2014. Brown took a different approach to creating the album than his previous work, trying to make it sound like an “old school OST.”[19] Wrote OkayPlayer in a review, the album "features a more minimalistic and repetitive approach to beatmaking with a lot less emphasis on heavy drums, which has become a staple in Apollo Brown’s production."[19] PopMatters gave the album 7/10 and positive reviews, writing that "The 20-track release acts as a sampler platter, like instrumental tapas, with Brown dabbling in each part of his range. Consistency doesn’t reign here, but it’s solid work through and through."[3]

External video
Apollo Brown - "Lonely & Cold" Music Video (July 2014)
Interview with Apollo Brown on "Rhythm Roulette" (July 2014)

After the release of the instrumental album, the track "Lonely and Cold" was released with a feature by rapper Roc Marciano. The music video, which features Brown walking through neighborhood streets, premiered on Noisey in July 2014.[20]

Brown collaborated with rapper Ras Kass in 2014, and in October they released the collaborative album Blasphemy.[21] Wrote Vibe.com, "The LP is a welcome breath of fresh air in a stagnant terrain of modern hip-hop where content is all-too-often forsaken.... Ras Kass spits harsh philosophies and biting facts over Apollo’s smoother-than-butter beats...Apollo is unmerciful in his soulful melodies and arrangements."[21] The album's track "H20" features an appearance from Pharoahe Monch as well as Dilated People’s MC Rakaa Iriscience.[21]

2015: Words Paint Pictures & Grandeur

On March 24 Apollo Brown teamed up with Big Pooh to release Words Paint Pictures on Mello Music Group. The project contained 9 tracks including 2 remixes. HipHop DXrated the album 3.5 out of 5 and said "In response to America’s current events, he has delivered his most socially charged work to date at a time when it’s most needed."[22]

On July 21, it was announced Apollo Brown would be releasing an album entitled Grandeur on Mello Music Group. It was released on September 25, 2015, with guest including Oddisee, M.O.P, Masta Ace and others.[23]

Style and equipment

"The nucleus of my setup is Cool Edit 2000, which I’ve been using since ’97. I do everything in that. I still have the same old Syntrillium copy of Cool Edit, no plug-ins, no multi-track. I use an old Hewlett Packard desktop computer with no memory. I run all sounds through an old Philips stereo with blown speakers. I have a used Roland XP-50 that I use strictly for basslines and small filler sounds, only 16 keys work. I have an old Gemini XL-500 turntable for extracting samples... People laugh, but it works for me. I think the greatest asset to my setup though, is something a lot of people unfortunately don’t have, and that’s my ear."
— Apollo Brown in 2010[1]

Brown stated in 2010 that his favorite producer was DJ Premier, and that Premier "the ultimate influence in my music. Hard drums, thick chops, static, and that timeless boom bap sound is what I gravitate towards." Other producers he has been influenced by include Pete Rock, J Dilla, Da Beatminerz, Large Professor, and DJ Muggs.[1]

Brown only collaborates in person, having stated to Acclaim Magazine that "we’re always in the studio. I don’t do email albums, I don’t like that. I’m old school when it comes to working on an album."[18] In 2012, he explained that "My [studio equipment] setup does not change. I still have the same computer, I still have the same four blown speakers, and I still have the same keyboard that only 16 keys work because it got flood damage. I still have all the same stuff."[9] About his simple setup, he has stated that "As far as I’m concerned a good beat is a good beat, no matter how you made it. I don’t care if you use some spoons and some feathers. If you made a good beat that’s what it is, it’s all about outcome."[18]

Photography career

Brown is the co-owner of Crush Media Group, a media company he runs with his business partners Kevin Davis and Quinne Lowe. Brown works as a photographer for the company, and has shot artists including Nas, Invincible, and Mike Jones. His work has also been published in XXL several times, as well as other newspapers and magazines.[1]

Personal life

As of 2014 Brown continues to live in Detroit.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Nominated work Category Result
2010 Red Bull Big Tune Championship Apollo Brown Best Beat-maker Won
2012 HipHopDX Year-end Awards Trophies Slept On Album of the Year[24] Won

Discography

Solo albums

Albums by Apollo Brown
Year Album title Release details
2007 Skilled Trade
(instrumental)
  • Released: July 7, 2007
  • Label: 24 Carat Brown Music
  • Format: Digital
2010 The Reset
2010 The Reset Instrumentals
2011 Clouds
(instrumental)
2013 The Brown Tape
(ft. Ghostface Killa)
2014 Thirty Eight
(instrumental)
  • Released: April 29, 2014
  • Label: Mello Music Group
  • Format: CD, digital
2015 Grandeur

Collaborations

Albums by Apollo Brown
Year Album title Chart peaks Release details
Heat R&B —
2010 Gas Mask
(with The Left)		 — — —
Brown Study
(with Boog Brown)		 — — —
2011 Daily Bread
(with Hassaan Mackey)		 — — —
2012 The Color Brown Part II
(with UllNevaNo)		 — — —
  • Released: Jan 3, 2012
  • Label: Soulclap
  • Format: digital
Trophies
(with O.C.)		 — 202 —
Dice Game
(with Guilty Simpson)		 39 201 —
2013 Ugly Heroes
(with Verbal Kent and Red Pill)		 — — —
2014 Abrasions: Stitched Up - EP
(with Planet Asia)		 — — —
Ugly Heroes EP
(with Verbal Kent and Red Pill)		 — — —
Blasphemy
(with Ras Kass)		 — — —
2015 Words Paint Pictures
(with Rapper Big Pooh)		 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

Selected solo and collaborative singles by Apollo Brown
Year Title Album Certifications
2010 "Hungry" (ft. Rapper Big Pooh & Black Milk) The Rest
"Friends Like These" (ft. Supastition) Brown Study
2011 "The Times" (ft. Oddisee) Clouds
2012 "Prove Me Wrong" Trophies
"Reputation" Dice Game

Guest production

Selected guest production credits for Apollo Brown
Year Track title Album title Primary artist(s) Role
2010 "The Long Await" Go HAAM! Street Justice Producer
2011 "Kush and Green" Return of the Dozen, Vol. 2 Bizarre, others Producer
2012 "Joy and Pain" The Photo Album Wordsworth Producer
"Vanish" Producer
2014 "Got It From Here" Barrel Brothers Skyzoo & Torae Producer

Further reading

Interviews
Discographies

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Notingham, Kevin (June 18, 2010). "Producer Spotlight: Apollo Brown". KevinNottingham.com. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  2. 1 2 "Skilled Trade". Bandcamp. 2007. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Stevens, Nathan (June 4, 2014). "Apollo Brown: Thirty Eight". PopMatters. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  4. 1 2 "The Left". Facebook. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  5. ↑ "Journalist 103 (of The Left): Reporting Live". Underground Hip Hop. Oct 30, 2012. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  6. ↑ Furay, Steve (November 17, 2012). "Journalist 103 ‘Reporting Live’". The Michigan Citizen. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  7. ↑ Ortiz, Edwin (November 25, 2012). "Journalist 103 (The Left)". HipHopDX.com. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  8. ↑ Jones, Grant (February 6, 2013). "Journalist 103 :: Reporting Live". RapReviews.com. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Paine, Jake (May 19, 2012). "Apollo Brown Explains Using Broken Studio Equipment To Keep Signature Sound". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  10. ↑ Mello Music Group Discography at Discogs
  11. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Dice Game by Guilty Simpson & Apollo Brown". iTunes. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  12. ↑ "Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson "DICE GAME" (CD)". Mello Music Group. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  13. ↑ Dice Game (Media notes). Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson. Mello Music Group. 2012.
  14. ↑ "Apollo Brown / Guilty Simpson - Dice Game CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 4 Nov 2013.
  15. ↑ "Twelve Reasons To Die: The Brown Tape | Soul Temple Music:". Twelve Reasons To Die: The Brown Tape. Bandcamp.
  16. ↑ "Ghostface Killah's "Twelve Reasons To Die: The Brown Tape" LP Stream". Xxlmag.com. 2013-04-23. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  17. ↑ Jesse Fairfax, "Ugly Heroes," Hip Hop DX, May 27, 2013.
  18. 1 2 3 Hickey, Andrew. "Interview: Apollo Brown Andrew Hickey talks to the Detroit producer about how to put together a good collaboration". Acclaim Magazine. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  19. 1 2 Gase, Zach (May 2014). "Apollo Brown Breaks Down His New Album ‘Thirty Eight’ Track By Track [Interview + Full LP Stream]". OkayPlayer. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  20. ↑ "Watch the Menacing New Video for Apollo Brown's "Lonely & Cold" feat. Roc Marciano". Noisey. July 28, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  21. 1 2 3 "Premiere: Apollo Brown And Ras Kass "H20" Featuring Pharoahe Monch And Rakaa Iriscience". Vibe.com. September 2, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  22. ↑ http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2449/title.rapper-big-pooh-words-paint-pictures
  23. ↑ http://www.dotgotit.com/archives/32598
  24. ↑ "Year-end Awards". HipHopDX. 2012. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  25. ↑ "Premiere: Rapper Big Pooh Announces New EP And First Single "Stop"". xxlmag.com. 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-02-06.

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