Thirty Eight

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. The album was later released physically, on CD and vinyl, with their own bonus tracks. Apollo Brown described Thirty Eight as a ride through Detroit of the early 1980s, that was inspired by various 1970s and 1980s films' soundtracks. One single was released from the album, "The Answer", as a preorder bonus.

Album title
According to Apollo Brown, the album was named after .38 caliber revolver:

"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
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". 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.

Personnel
Credits adapted from Bandcamp:


 * 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