A Recap on Danny Brown

Detroit born-and-raised rapper & producer, Danny Brown, as early as 2011 has been acclaimed to be one of hip-hop’s most unique and exciting voices. Even in kindergarten up to his early mixtapes, breakthrough 2011 album “XXX”, and 2012 XXL Freshman Cover appearance, Danny Brown has continued to deliver excitement to listeners through his musical ability. Providing one-of-a-kind vocal delivery, flows, hilariously crude but at the same time deeply personal lyrics, a vast range of production choices, and overall personality, Danny Brown over the 2010’s has grown to be the iconic figure he is today. Similar to the man himself, Danny Brown’s journey to the present day has been anything but ordinary. Today he comes as a sober man who’s done a lot of reflection on the battles he’s been through and is optimistically “excited for the future”. But how did he get there? Let’s look.

Likely to be the starting points for many in Danny’s discography, XXX was his breakthrough 2011 album. From the opening title track, listeners are hit with a nonstop, larger-than-life, delivery from Brown letting listeners know that they are in for a ride. This album consists of and highlights the hype high-like bangers, rapping ability, songwriting, and content many came to know Danny for and encapsulates what captured a wider audience’s attention. In 2013, Danny would release his double-sided album, “Old”. The first side of the album being a mostly calmer, at least by Danny’s standards, voiced performances, (featured on some songs of XXX), which matched the energy of guests like Freddie Gibbs and ScHoolboy Q. The B side served as another hit for fans of the high energy and all over the place Danny Brown sound, but now with an influence of EDM. (Accompanied by Ab-Soul, A$AP Rocky, and Charlie XCX)

In 2016, Danny Brown released an album both critically acclaimed and loved by fans, Atrocity Exhibition, becoming one of the most unique, experimental, and non-replicable albums of what is now somewhat recent years. Atrocity Exhibition served as a look into the darkness, as well as the shadowy thoughts, memories, and outlooks of Danny’s mind in an unprecedentedly vivid and depictive fashion.

If the last projects have been a long and fast-paced workout, listeners could finally not stop but more so catch their breath, with Danny’s 2019 album, uknowwhatimsayin¿. Fitted with relaxing grooves, retro sounds and aesthetics, easy on the ear drums, and Danny’s excellent rapping ability, this was his chance to level with the audience. In an interview with Apple Music, Danny described himself as “Uncle Danny” who can give advice and have the audience learn lessons from each song.

Now arriving to current times, 2023 was a busy year for Danny Brown. Fans first saw him appear in March on the collab album, SCARING THE HOES, with similarly creative and one-of-a-kind rapper/producer, JPEGMAFIA. Both being admitted fans of the other’s music and past collaborators, seeing the two outside-of-the-box artists come together on one project was great for fans and undoubtedly well-received. Later in November, Danny returned with his latest album Quaranta. Marking the entry into his 40’s (similarly XXX marking entry into his 30’s), Quaranta is a deeply thoughtful, emotional, reflective, and beautiful album that marks a new chapter in Danny’s life. The album shows his growth, which comes with acknowledging the mistakes. An older, wiser, sober, and still amazingly gifted wordsmith Danny Brown makes anyone listening appreciative of the journey to where we all are now.

Be sure to catch Danny Brown on Saturday, April 13th in Heaven.

Written by Jameson Sullivan