Despite enjoying the music, this writer had difficulty coming up with direction for his review of Where Is Danny? Iâm not alone in my confusion, though. Def Jux, which nabbed Danny! as a result of a contest with MTVU, seems uncertain how to effectively market the South Carolina emcee/producer to new listeners. Desperate to categorize him, some journalists inaccurately compare his multitalented approach and his quirkiness to Kanye West. But whatever Danny! is doing, itâs working to a certain extent: his last few discs have helped him build a convinced fan base, and his album Charm made for a Grammy nomination short-list. Fortunately, Where Is Danny? (a free-then-online retail collection) breaks the rules.
For his Def Jux debut, Danny! changes as much as he stays the same, stepping up his skills while finding comfort in the elements that got him here. He usually handles most of the production on his own, but he enlisted Alex Goose (of âThe Blueprint 3 Outtakesâ Internet fame), and Goose mirrors Danny!âs style so much that you canât tell the difference. His mix of carefree soundbeds and somberly soulful beats works cohesively, with instrumental interludes connecting any stray pieces. He adds cartoon sounds and a small R&B sample to the otherwise boom bap sound of the Von Pea-featured âHoedown Showdown,â and jubilant horns and strings fuel âWake The Fuck Up Man (Youâre Trippin Man).â Danny! has notably stepped up his rhymes, adding multisyllabic flows while still understanding how to not take himself too seriouslyâan endangered species in rap. âScrambled Eggsâ celebrates breakfast food, while other tracks name themselves after Cheers actor George Wendt and joke about selling heroin to Ellen DeGeneresâ children. But comedy isnât Danny!âs only strength; âMama I Want To Fucking Singâ narrates his motherâs lack of support for his music career, while âStill Loveâ regrets prioritizing music over a significant other. With beats that go down easy, rhymes that entertain and eccentricity that charms, Where Is Danny? should definitely an impression on new listeners.
The album has its flaws, but nothing that prevents its enjoyment. Though Danny! has stepped up his rhymes, his mic presence lacks a certain punch. While his voice is perfect for lighthearted tracks like âTattered Fedora Flow,â it isnât as effective on songs like âLost One,â which bites the structure of Jay-Zâs Kingdom Comesingle and fails despite its vivid, heartfelt lyrics. And the disc flows so well that it works to a fault, as short song lengths and the aforementioned mic presence issues make it difficult to find standout selections, forcing the listener to pay more attention than he/she naturally may. But in an era where itâs common to find scatterbrained albums with disjointed production rosters and only a few worthwhile songs, an album that plays best as a whole product is a good problem to have. Danny! has crafted and perfected a formula that is his own, and it worksâwhether you can classify it or not.