Apollo Brown – From One to Won
So, I listen to beats. That is what I do while i paint. I am in a constant search for new and good producers of these beats. Instrumental beats. I have been digging through tons of beat makers for the last year or two, and recently came accross Apollo Brown. Out of all the beats I had heard over the past year (1000’s) this dudes stuff really stuck out. He has something really good going on. As soon as I heard the first song off his first record I knew I was in for a treat. Yesterday, I was funtunate enough to recieve a copy of Make Do, Apollo’s very recent release, I was again amazed by the skill. Every single track is on point, that is rare in beat CDs. Check out this interview I did with him last week and then go to Itunes and buy Make Do, you wont be disappointed in either… Enjoy:
Who are you? Where from? What do you do?
The name is Apollo Brown, I’m originally from the Gun Rule or Grand Rapids, Michigan(home of DeBarge, La The Darkman, and Floyd Mayweather). I came to Detroit after college in 2003 to get things poppin’and been representin’ ever since. I’m a producer and one half of a hip hop collective called “The Left”.
Who and what inspires you to do what you do?
I was always over-analyzing songs when I was younger. When everyone else was just listening to the song as a whole, I was always like “yo, did you here that sample?”, “listen to how that snare sounds!”, or “how did they get it to sound like that?” I was always a big hip hop head growing up in the late 80s/early 90s and I wanted to know certain things, so I started making music. I just wanted to be the one who made that incredible backdrop in a classic joint. I grew up on a lot of classic and soft rock, so my influences are not the same as your average producer. I take jewels from musicians such as Seals & Crofts, Soft Machine, The Carpenters, Journey, etc. Composers like David Axelrod, Galt MacDermot, and Quincy Jones are big too. In hip hop, my influences are producers like DJ Premier, Pete Rock, DJ Muggs, J Dilla, etc.
You keep it real with your music. How do you feel about all this futuristic bring it back to the 80’s shit that is going on, and all the hipster/scenester shit that is happening?
I could care-less whether it’s here or it’s not. It doesn’t affect me one way or another. I’m not really into it, but obviously a large group of people are. It’s cool to latch on to the era, especially if you grew up in it, but some cats try waaay to hard. The music is ok, just not for me. The clothes, hi-top fades, and Beat It jackets aren’t either. Been there, done all that, in the actual 80s.
Are you on a label? If so, what label? If not, how do you go about getting your music to peoples’ ears?
I’m not on a label as of yet. My collective, “The Left” is working on an album called “Gas Mask”, which will hopefully be picked up by a very “reputable” independent label. Stay tuned…Right now, I get music to the ears the old school way. I trunk shit like crazy, I send shit out, I always have music on me for sale. I also have music on iTunes and Rhapsody for the people. Until I get a deal with mass distribution, that’s how it is. By the way, “Make Do” is out now!!!
Do you have any rituals you partake in prior to sitting down and making music?
No rituals, I just need “TIME” and maybe an Arizona Southern Style Sweet Tea to get me started.
Do you tour?
I wouldn’t say tour. My work is displayed at a lot of shows and I attend and support a lot of artist’s show dates, but I haven’t personally toured as of yet. “The Left” will definitely be touring in late ’09 though.
If you could get any rapper to rap on one of your beats, who would it be and why?
Nas. I think this answer is self-explanatory.
Do you have a collection of anything other than vinyl records? If not, tell us about your record collection.
My collection consists of vinyl, cds, tapes, mp3s, and whatever makes a sound. My vinyl collection is full of dollar bin classics, water-damaged garage sale finds, old soul, 60’s psychedelic, 70’s Curtdom, 80’s soft rock, etc. I buy anything, because I sample any genre as long as I feel it.
Do you get permission for samples? How do you go about that? If you don’t, more power to you.
Shhhhh! I’ll just say, I do a lot of choppin’ and obscure sample findin’.
Do you listen to much current music? If so, who are you feeling right now? If not, what do you listen to?
Most of the music collection I listen to consists of early to mid-90s hip hop and current underground. Detroit, LA, DC, and Chicago are killin’ the underground scene right now. I don’t listen to radio music. It’s sad to say, but radio DJs sold their souls years ago. The airwaves are filled with bubblegum ring-tone rap! How could anyone that grew up listening to hip hop during the monster era of 1991-1996 listen to this radio shit? I don’t even watch MTV or BET! Why, so I can hear AND see that bullshit? If I want to see and hear a good video, youtube is where it’s at for me.
How do you feel about mainstream music?
Well, I guess you can refer to the above question.
Tell us about the new record. What do you already have released for folks to look for?
The new album is called “Make Do”. It’s basically and instrumental sneak preview of just some of what’s to come from Apollo Brown on LPs in ’09. It was released on January 31st in select stores and also on iTunes and Rhapsody. I always keep a box in the trunk too just in case! My first instrumental album called “Skilled Trade” is floating around the internet too for free download, just Google it.
Also, look out for Finale’s “A Pipe Dream and a Promise”, The Regiment’s “A New Beginning”, Danny Brown’s “The Hybrid”, Phat Kat’s “Katacombs”, Magestik Legend’s “TheMe Musik”, and The Left’s “Gas Mask” coming out in the next few months. These are all bangin’ albums that I’m a part of right now.
Do you ever sing melodies or rap while creating beats?
No, not really. I usually make my own melodies through trial and error when I’m choppin a sample. Some producers already have in there head what they want the beat to sound like. I don’t, I build as I go along.
What is your favorite thing to eat for dinner?
Man, my girl makes this crazy chicken tortilla casserole that I will literally stop in the middle of makin’ a beat for! A well-done pepperoni pizza with green peppers and extra cheese is the shit. I’ll smash some catfish, cheesy potatoes, and broccoli too.
Do you have anything else you would like people to know?
I just want to thank cats for supporting me and my kind of music! Again, my album “Make Do” is out now on iTunes and Rhapsody! Look out for my collective with Journalist 103 called “The Left” and the album “Gas Mask” coming in July! Check me out at www.myspace.com/thevintagemovement. Serious emcees, hit me up if you want to get it in!
