Clouds is the third studio album by Detroit-based hip hop producer Apollo Brown, released on February 22, 2011, by Mello Music Group. Upon its release, "Clouds" received mixed reviews from music critics. Despite that, it ended up being Apollo Brown's highest-selling album and the one he considers the most important in his career.
Recording.
Apollo Brown recorded "Clouds" using his unorthodox hardware setup: a computer with Cool Edit Pro audio editor, described by MTV as "almost archaic", blown speakers and a keyboard with only 16 working keys. The artist admits that he'd tried using newer and bigger studio equipment but ultimately returned to his usual setup, which he used for more than a decade, as he's more familiar with it and as it allows him to keep his signature sound.
Critical reception.
"Clouds" received mixed reviews from critics. Roman Cooper of HipHopDX gave the album three out of five, saying that it was "more akin to a beat tape than an album". Mike Baber of RapReviews gave the album nine out of ten and called it "a very impressive and thoroughly enjoyable effort", noting that "album's sheer range and variety of songs is remarkable".
Legacy.
According to Apollo Brown, "Clouds" was a "pretty big success". As of 2022, it's his highest-selling album. He considers "Clouds" to be the most important album of his career. In an interview with "The Source" magazine Apollo Brown also said that his fans loved the album and always asked him to make another instrumental album. Reluctantly, in 2014 he released "Thirty Eight", a more minimalistic, "grimy noir" album. In 2022 Apollo Brown released another instrumental album, "This Must Be the Place", which he describes as "a continuation of the celebrated "Clouds" and a departure from it".
Personnel.
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
References.
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