Defying all sense of normalcy while glamorizing dysfunction, Danny Brown strives to maintain balance between style (his trademark ad-lib) and substance. One of modern culture’s most engaging freak shows, he casts a net that reels in opposing demographics: progressive “Hypebeasts” who accept his brash character as gospel and Rap nerds generally appreciative of his technical ability to push the envelope. The outlandish calculated means of separating himself from the fray have included odes to copious drug abuse and unkempt hair—tricks which have paid off in spades as a younger following finds a hero figure in his lack of decorum. Aiming to please both of these crowds, Danny Brown’s latest initiatives are sure to shock and awe timid onlookers with his second Fool’s Gold release Old.
Shaping and shifting the genre at his will, Danny Brown’s design for Old is that of an autobiographical Bible split into two sections: one describing hardships encountered before his professional career, and another where he exorcises his demons through partying with reckless abandon. The first portion is more in tune with his earlier releases such as 2008’s Hot Soup and the “Detroit State Of Mind” mixtape series, telling a tale that strays from the typical glorification of street life to give the other side of the coin.Toning down his beloved yelp and the comedic presence of previous lines such as “No not Superman, you can call it X-Clan / Black red and green, sissy / and all my bitches eat pussy like Missy,” this concept further fleshes out the notion that Danny’s humor was birthed from his city’s grim conditions.
Danny Brown has a knack for extreme imagery and a dead serious conviction, both facets that serve to remind his audience he can captivate with more than shiny objects. “The Return” does away with his jokey demeanor, as the cold couplet “Fuck a hipster, squeezing triggers / You got me fucked up, I’m a hood ass nigga” renders a guest spot from the usually outstanding Freddie Gibbs unforgettable this go round. Imagining himself a tour guide for the universal ghettos of his city and similar metropolitan jungles, “Gremlins” explores the lives of those prone to evil after midnight. Here Danny starts, “I know some little niggas that thirst cream / That popped a bitch on cam and we ain’t talking ‘bout Twerk Team,” as he muses towards the end, “Listening to 2 Chainz ain’t thinking bout college / I wonder if he knew that 2 Chainz went to college…” Functioning as a bridge between Old’s polarizing ends, “Dubstep” has a sound that is inspired by the genre of the same name, with its chorus cleverly repeating, “I had them dubs on the step.” The backdrop of this flashback to marijuana peddling makes it possible for Danny’s stories of dwelling within urban decay to transition into adventure that is more fun, yet potentially just as dangerous.
The double-edged sword of fame has brought Danny Brown into a world of inescapable demands and a “turned up” lifestyle that ultimately risks being detrimental despite boosting his creativity. As true fans have come to revere his transparent penchant for getting wasted, he is rarely concerned with judgmental naysayers easily made to feel discomforted by his antics. Blending the newer wave of EDM with Hip Hop, he channels the delivery of Triple 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul on the intense “Smokin’ And Drinkin’,” also paying homage to one-hit wonder Freaknasty’s memorable dance hook on the molly anthem “Dip.” Proving himself one of today’s most flexible emcees, Old’s back end is Brown’s furthest departure from straightforward Rap to date, with him successfully adapting to faster 4/4 tempos reflective of the more erratic subject matter.
Simultaneously targeting fanatics who believe Danny Brown can do no wrong and traditionalist skeptics who show up for highlights like the Oh No produced “Red 2 Go,” Old requires the patience and empathy one would lend to a friend suffering from a bipolar disorder. Its primary shortcomings stem from ambition gone awry (examples include the pop flair of Purity Ring on the off kilter “25 Bucks”) and experimental beats that don’t necessarily bring the best collaborative efforts out of ScHoolboy Q (“Dope Fiend Rental”), Ab-Soul and A$AP Rocky (“Kush Coma”) to no fault of their own. Notable attempts to unmask Danny’s conflicted facade, “Clean Up” finds him detailing the tolls that being on the road so often have taken on his well being and “Float On” rationalizes his psychosis as the result of pressure to create compelling art. Whether the enigma of Danny’s ongoing identity complex is an elaborate ruse he controls in efforts of not being boxed in has yet to be determined, but the most exhausting aspects of his routine manage to convey an occasionally exciting tale of instability.
Dear lame ass DX,
Where’s Pusha’s review? As always late. Go copy and paste a review from another site
Pusha’s cd just came out today dude. Chill out.
yeah like http://www.telepathsatnight.blogspot.ca
Great rating… ha @ dude below.
Been listening for a straight week. Still love XXX but this is a decent follow up.
First good Danny Brown project. 4/5
eat a bag of baby dicks you bitch nigga.
Cannot stop listening to this album
A great cd!
Danny is arguable the best well rounded rapper out, he can do it all. Funny how people just now listening to him, before this album he already had a great catalog.I agree halfway with the review, but I would give it a 4.5.
25 bucks is a dope ass song in my opinion.
I concur bitch nigga…i concur
This dudes voice just grates on my nerves
Which one? You can tell you never even listened to dude. He has multiple styles and voices …
I disagree, I think Q, A$AP, & Ab-Soul killed their features
Agreed. I dunno what the reviewer was thinking.
Really satisfied with what Danny did with this project. Not a perfect project by any means but definitely did not disappoint 4/5 stars
Most entertaining rapper out there today.
loved it.
cdc
great one
dope album, innovative and fresh
In da cutty same color uh steak sauce,
Eyeballed the work, was jus a point eight off.
Album of the Year
Faggots on this site were talking insane amounts of shit on Danny Brown a few months ago, now it’s all praise. FlipFlopDx last month Papoose was “amazing” and anybody telling the truth about how shitty he was, was deemed a K. Dot dickrider, a week ago DX posts an article about Papoose, and now everybody thinks he’s a piece of shit? He’s always been a piece of shit, fuck this community. This is a good album though.
^^^
Album of the year…breath of fresh air my gzzz
This guy is just a flat out good artist, 4.75/5 I would say this is one of my Top 7 or 8 albums of the year at worst, Top 4 at best
Danny has quietly become one of the best new artists across all genres. The extreme imagery he uses is breathtaking and his lyricism is on another level. I thought he would have difficulty matching his phenomenal mixtape XXX, but he made a project in Old that is arguably better. Best conventional rap album since good kid m.A.A.d city. Hopefully Mr. Brown will finally get the mainstream praise he deserves.
Well said Sir!
i honestly do not see what you people are seeing in this dude
maybe i just don’t “get it”
im like danny brown biggest fan but i dont fuxk with this album
then youre not danny browns biggest fan.
also the albums a 8.5/10 easy
dope!
I don’t fuck with how he looks or that retarded sign-of-the-horns bullshit, and I can’t stand his laugh or how he always seems to feel the need to stick his tongue out, and some of the beats towards the end of the record become a bit tedious in all their “I need summin’ for all them white boys to spaz out to on festivals” semi-glory – but he is one of the best right now.
Still wish he’d do a straight up boom bap record sometime.
not going to happen
dude is a straight up clown
wishes he was white
Yeah, it’s a bit of a shame really. If you watch ‘The ‘Old’ Documentary’, you can see he used to look grimy as any other hoodlum out in the streets, just a tad less menacing. And that was just a couple years ago, ’09 or whenever. Just recently he told Complex he chose to dress the way he does now because the girls like it. Still looks like some white trust fund hipster faggot.
If he was doing what you guys were telling him to do, chances are this article wouldn’t even exist. This is WHY he’s as famous as he is.
Ain’t nobody telling him nothing, b. He a grown man after all, even if he don’t exactly behave like one. It’s just I ain’t fucking with his awkward frat boy mannerisms (the horns, the tongue) and his style, is all. That don’t take away from ‘Old’ being one of the best records out this year though.
5
am i the only one on this site who doesn’t think this dude is the second coming of jesus
gtfo, JC can’t fuck with Danny’s swag bruh
XXX might have better lyrical content but I like the production on this one more.
ILL
Rappers should listen to Kendrick and stop that molly rap garbage. 1st half of the album is dope though!
Kendrick raps about Alcohol. So it doesn’t make him any better. Stans always have Kendrick on their mind and his name in their mouths. smh
I liked this and especially the first half of this was dope gave it a 4 if half of the dudes on this site were in charge of giving official ratings there’d be so many “classics” but this would probably be in alot of best releases of 2013 including mine. Dope shit
Personally I feel both Q & Soul fit perfectly.. I also loved 25 bucks, but I think it should’ve been placed elsewhere on the album (like inbetween Red 2 Go and Dope Song for instance) as it feels out of place coming after Old and The Return..
This sh!t is HOT !! #Detroit
U have men talking about they dont fuck with his music because how he looks. Who cares how he looks are you his bitch? Just because he has his own style doesnt mean he is trying to be white. Not all black people dress in bag pants and over sized shirts All that matters is his work and dude has flow. Get off that gay shit
Dope AF 4/5
Danny Brown killin’ it
Dope Shit right here!
I’m new to Danny Brown, I saw him at Dilla Day and he moved the crowd, but this album is solid with a lot of breadth: he gots the story telling of Kool G Rap and can bring the party out, I think he’s one of the few rappers that can balance those styles in one album.
Danny is the shit
This album is really growing on me, good range of music.
I wasn’t a huge fan of “XXX” I mean it had some dope songs on it but it didn’t make my albums of the year list like it did for lots of people. This album on the other hand is absolutely amazing. Seriously whether you’re into newer type shit or someone who mainly listens to old underground will find something to like here. Highly recommended
danny is imo for sure the most underrated rapper out there at this time, Old and XXX are masterpieces
I loved this album, even though there was a boring track on side a, and 2 questionable instrumentals on side b. Danny Brown stays consistent with his rapping though.
Hottest MC to come out in awhile, I love what TDE is doing, and the A$AP crew. These new cats aren’t beefing or b.s.ing, just creating 21st century MUSIC….for my stuck in the 90’s bruhs…CHECK#OLDDANNYBROWN#RAPGOD
Amazing album, Danny Brown’s best yet, love the difference in side and side 2 that showcase his split personality
Amazing album, Danny Brown’s best yet. Love the difference between Side One and Side Two showcasing the 2 sides of his split personality.
0
This music is for the younger generation. Late 90s and 2000 babies. Can’t mess with it, gave it a try though.
Honestly, this is one of the best albums of the last 10 years
fiyahhhhhhhh