We’re only a few weeks into 2017 and already, we’ve had an incredible amount of new music flung our way. In the past couple of days alone, several incredible new hip-hop tracks have dropped, so here’s our favourites.
Paul White, Accelerator ft. Danny Brown
Earlier this month, it was recently announced that producer Paul White would be releasing a two-track and two-remix mini-EP featuring Danny Brown, and the first track is now upon is – with a ridiculous video to match. Brown has long been on the more, er, insane side of things, and his recent videos, notably including the Avalanches‘ Frankie Sinatra last year, more than match up to his maniacal voice in terms of sheer, terrifying surrealism. The video opens up with a weird interaction at a bar between a man and his mind. Brain and body soon engage in a deranged, increasingly tripped-out chase through London streets and beyond, coming to a head (lol, get it?) inside a harem-like apartment. The track is exactly as frantic, wild and intense as you’d expect from Brown and White, who produced two thirds of last year’s Atrocity Exhibition, and some of the best tracks from Brown’s previous albums XXX and Old. The beat is infectious – driving, churning, catchy as fuck. I can’t wait to hear the second new tune.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2eC70D2-Y
CyHi The Prynce, Legend
Kanye West protege, CyHi The Prynce has long been considered one of the most intriguing untapped sources on the G.O.O.D scene since he was signed back in 2010, and now, FINALLY, he has announced his debut album. The announcement came along with a fresh track, and it’s every bit as rich as you’d expect. With the old school soul sample, a big, swinging beat and his smooth flow, it’s immediately clear that he hails from the school of the College Dropout. Whether or not he’ll be ready to Graduate is yet to be seen, as, well, it sounds exactly – and I mean exactly – like an early Kanye West song (not an insult). I’m pretty sure that the sample at 4:16 is literally the same sample ‘Ye used on Runaway. As we’ve known for a minute, his flow is fire and his lyrics actually feel more natural than his master’s, but he’ll need to form his own sound and identity if he wants to stand on his own two feet and stay there. Whether this is him clinging to ‘Ye or whether G.O.O.D’s sonic stranglehold is too firm is currently unknown, but we can only hope we’ll hear more once No Dope On Sundays drops later this year.
SiR, All In My Head
So, SiR is the newest signee to the great and powerful Top Dawg Entertainment, obviously home to Kendrick, Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q, SZA and others. Last year, two new signees were announced. The first was Lance Skiiiwalker, whose album was frankly underwhelming – smooth, a little dark and lyrically quite interesting, but as a whole, it just didn’t live up to the [to be fair, extremely high] expectations. So now we turn our attention to John Doe 2, now confirmed to be SiR. How does he fare up? Well, for starters, he’s R&B, not hip-hop – more Lance and SZA than K.Dot and Q (an interesting and on-point choice for TDE, but frankly I’m waiting for them to discover the next K Dot). His voice is pure golden honey. Velvety smooth and hypnotically seductive, his melody sinks down into that bedroom bass and nestles between those syncopated beats. He’s great, that’s for sure. But will he stand out against the Anderson Paaks and the D.R.A.M.s and the the BJ the Chicago Kids out there? We’ll find out tomorrow, when his debut EP (which features Paak, as well as King Mez and Masego) is set to drop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7wVoMTZbdo&feature=share
Kemba, Already
Fittingly, the final track on this roundup is Kemba, who may just be the next Kendrick Lamar. Indeed, this is the guy who K. Dot pulled up on stage a few months ago to deliver a freestyle, only to then turn to the audience and tell them to “remember that fuckin’ name”. Formerly known as YC The Cynic, the immensely talented 26 year old is earning some well-deserved attention from the back of that fateful endorsement. Today comes the video for Already, a stunning piano-driven track. “What’s good, I’ve been gone for a minute,” he says, reintroducing himself, and his lyrical prowess, to his newly expanded audience. His natural flow is outstanding; his lines are fused to the rhythm, his lyrics at once provocative and dextrous. This is one of the best understated and ominous tracks I’ve heard since Ka’s similarly brooding album last year. There’s a storm brewing within Kemba. The brooding, blackening clouds are swelling faster than ever – and I cannot fucking wait to stand beneath that rain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSDb_wnKZnA
Image: Kemba, by Robert Adam Mayer
Good news, hip-hop heads: Vince Staples and Danny Brown have both just announced new music coming out very, very soon.
Vince Staples is everywhere. He bookended 2016 with Australian tours – first for Falls Festival last January, and in December he toured with golden boy Flume, released a stellar EP Primadonna, and featured on just about every online video series around from judging gold chains worn by rappers to buying sneakers and commenting on men’s fashion.
He has now announced new music, titled Bagbak, set for release this Friday February 3. It’s most likely a single, although we wouldn’t rule out the chances of a lengthier project.
The news came via Instagram:
Meanwhile, producer Paul White has announced a new EP, Accelerator, featuring Danny Brown to come out on February 10. This comes less than a year since Brown’s album Atrocity Exhibition, the vast majority of which was produced by White. White also released a free 19-track beat tape in January, Everything You’ve Forgotten.
The four-track EP has been announced via Bandcamp, and looks like it contains two tracks – Accelerator and Lion’s Den, and a remix of each.
Check out the artwork here:
Looks like 2017 is going to be pretty damn sweet for hip-hop!
Image: Amazon/The Every Girl
Kingswood – Creepin
The first single off their forthcoming sophomore album, Creepin is an uplifting yet melancholic anthem. Featuring their signature gritty guitar riffs, slapping drumbeats, and captivating vocals, this is a bold return from the boys. The video itself is also weirdly enchanting, featuring a range of ballet dancers who are accompanied by a freakishly face-painted ‘creep’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSDvchLmqnI
Torii Wolf – Body
Torii Wolf has released a seductive and meditative banger titled Body, produced by araabMUSIK. With her smooth and sultry vocals gliding through the track, the video builds upon these sentiments, but showcases the emptiness and longing one has for a past lover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=151&v=Ge1JUaXjULc
Danny Brown – Pneumonia
Detroit’s Danny Brown has released yet another visual accompaniment from his fourth studio album Atrocity Exhibition. This time with a haunting clip for Pneumonia, the kind of horrifying experimental track sees Danny tied up in chains and flailed through the air. While we don’t entirely get what’s going on, it definitely does a good job of keeping your eyes glued to the screen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-Dc3_eiV8
Pusha T – H.G.T.V.
After teasing the tune just days ago, King Push has finally released the new track H.G.T.V alongside it’s new video. Shot entirely in portrait orientation (maybe grab your phone), the simplistic, sub bass centred beat sees Pusha T flexing his vocal skills to the max. Just goes to show, with over 20 years in the game, Pusha has still got it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s63y_kfWt4
Kid Cudi – Frequency
Following the previously released All In, Cudi has returned with a new video for his upcoming project. An enchanting mix of auto-tune laced choruses and in-depth rap verses, catchy is an understatement. Frequency is actually directed by Cudi himself and follows him as he traverses through a mysterious and eerie jungle like setting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzvywmVRWAo
Glass Animals – Season 2 Episode 3
Dropping the visual accompaniment to one of their recent album’s favourites, the video game inspired single has now gotten a video game inspired clip! Centring around a disinterested, couch-bound girl, she is soon pulled into a psychedelic video game world at the flip of a button. It’s an incredible interpretation of the video game sounds used within the tune, and if that couldn’t get any better, this game will soon be playable by fans!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Kwos_oWSc
The Weeknd – False Alarm
For his second music video of the album, The Weeknd has certainly gone all out. Matching the fast paced and intense nature that the single presented, the clip follows a group of bank robbers as they make their heist and getaway. It’s an incredibly violent and cinematic film for something as simple as a music video, but the result is something utterly unique and head turning in every way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW5oGRx9CLM
The Lumineers – Cleopatra
Is there anything more pure than a classic On Tour style music video? Probably not. There’s just something about them that’s both exciting and nostalgic and Denver outfit The Lumineers have just unveiled their version. Filled with behind the scenes footage from stadiums through through the front window of a van en-route to a show, to shots of fans and crowds, Cleopatra’s got a bit of everything and gives a glimpse into the day to day touring life of a band during the a whirlwind that is a World Tour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClvG58Igo9o
Hayley Kiyoko – One Bad Night
Content Warning: transmisogynistic violence
Disney-actor turned singer Hayley Kyioko has never shied away from representation of people and experiences. Her new video for the synthy and guitar driven pop-centric One Bad Night is no exception. The clip sees Donald (played by Birth of a Nation actor Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Amber (played by trans YouTube activist Erin Armstrong) each go through a particularly rough night. After stealing a car from his valet parking job, Donald witnesses an attack on Amber and intervenes, the two strangers ending up their night together in a diner. Like her previous videos, One Bad Night is directed by Kyioko and places her LGBT+ activism at the forefront of her art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_wXWFnTjxU
Archivist – Everything is Wanted
Ahead of the release of their upcoming EP Memo, London electro-indie act Archivist have unveiled the video for their song Everything is Wanted. Cutting between colour and black and white, the jumpy nature of the clip fits perfectly with the song as frontman Ed Begley journeys through city and forest in an almost escapist nature. Particularly good are the slow shots of a gently wild sea, slowing things down for contemplation before urgently restarting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u15NmuWnBtE&feature=youtu.be
Seekae – Turbine Blue
If the location for the latest video from Sydney trio Seekae seems super familiar, that’s probably because you’ve watched Grease and/orTerminator 2 a few too many times. Directed by Kris Moyes, the video was the last to be shot at the iconic location before it was demolished and follows seven people with very different dancing styles. It’s a somewhat unexpected approach a fresh vibe and lots of super pleasing, crisp blue tones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2klcVENrEnQ&feature=youtu.be
Words by Ruby-Rose Pivet-Marsh and Martin McConnell
Image: Supplied
By now many of you reading this are likely aware of the nightmare that ensued when I sent a single, harmless DM to rapper Danny Brown yesterday about a photo he published without crediting our photographer.*
It sucks that Danny Brown is so disrespectful towards photographers and it sucks that he’s been so rude and uncooperative to a site who have loved and supported him since we began.
But the worst part about all of this is that I am no longer a Danny Brown fan.
Yesterday morning I was. Last week I was. Last week I even flew to Melbourne a full day earlier than I’d planned, just so I could catch him live.
I have long been a fan of Danny Brown’s high-pitched drug-laced party bangers. More than that, many of his deeper, darker songs like Lonely and Clean Up have meant a serious amount me over the past couple years.
However, this incident has shown me first hand what a douchey little weasel Danny Brown is. Considering how stupid and ironic it is to see a musician in today’s industry climate slamming an extremely simply request for another artist to receive credit, this has generally just left me bitter and pissed off. As a result, and this is completely beyond my control, I no longer have any interest or respect in his music.
This got me thinking about how artist behaviour can have such a serious affect on how we listen to their music, in positive and negative ways. There are plenty of artists who I might not have liked that much at first, but after having a great experience during an interview or other communication, or even just reading about them doing something that I respect, I find that my opinion changes and that I can appreciate them and their music more.
There are also a small number of artists who have acted out, usually towards me or someone I know, in a way that’s made me lose respect or love for them and subsequently their music.
Much like how it is difficult to accept the end of a relationship with someone you’re still in love with, it is difficult to end a relationship with an artist you love listening to. I imagine that many Chris Brown or Ten Walls fans have experienced this conflict, for example. Indeed I, like many others, flat out refuse to listen to these artists because of behaviour in their personal lives. I know a number of ex-Azealia Banks fans who no longer listen to her because of her endlessly frustrating social media presence. I certainly felt incredibly conflicted when Kanye West tweeted about Bill Cosby being innocent.
When you really love an artist, especially if you can relate to or draw real emotion from their lyrics, you can often feel like you know them personally. Like they’re your friend, an older sibling, or maybe even you yourself. This means it can be even more painful when they hurt you (this is also the reason I have a fairly long list of favourite artists who I never want to meet or interview.)
I understand that some may consider today’s photo debate a small or insignificant issue. In the greater scheme of things you are totally, absolutely right. Maybe I am indeed “butt hurt,” as Brown succinctly put it, and I’m sure I’ll forget about it eventually. But I cannot control or change this, it’s just how I feel.
It’s strange and confusing, because I very obviously know that many of my favourite artists (especially rappers) have behaved in far, far, FAR worse ways than refusing to credit a photo. As an Australian female obsessed with hip-hop, so much of the music I listen to on a daily basis is morally conflicting for me at the best of times. This raises an interesting question: why am I okay to listen to artists who I know have committed and glorified, say, serious criminal activity and a disgustingly misogynistic outlook, Danny included, but he insults me personally for a really stupid and easily avoidable issue, and I immediately lose all love, respect and desire to listen to him?
Obviously the answer is that this particular situation has affected me more because it happened directly to me. But surely that’s not right? Of course this isn’t always the case (refer to aforementioned comment about Chris Brown,) but how can I be okay with this sentiment?
Damn. Now I’m feeling conflicted about why I’m feeling conflicted.
Image: Peanuts / Focus Here And Now
*In a nutshell, he posted a photo of ours without crediting the photographer, Michelle Grace Hunder. When I asked him to add one in, he rudely accused me of being “butt hurt” and proceeded to announce on Twitter that, “If u want credit for your pictures then don’t take any of me if I didn’t ask u to!!! … Fuck outta here!!” For more, read this.
Image: Ysa Perez / Death & Taxes
It started off innocently enough.
Detroit rapper Danny Brown posted a picture to Instagram. The photo had been captured by Howl & Echoes photographer Michelle Grace Hunder at his concert in Melbourne last week.
Howl & Echoes has become increasingly vigilant about artists posting our photos without credit, following a recent issue where A$AP Rocky didn’t just post one of our images without credit, but actually used it to promote a new song. Each time we find uncredited photos, we either ask the artists’ publicist or management to add one in, or sometimes we go to the artist direct via social media. Nine out of every ten times, a credit is added – occasionally begrudgingly, usually apologetically. Even A$AP’s team eventually apologised and added one in.
Not Danny Brown.
Read more: Music piracy isn’t okay and neither is photo piracy. Stop stealing our images.
Hunder stated that this wasn’t the first time Brown had used one of her photos without credit. Not willing to let it slide again, we decided to ask him.
He follows us on Twitter, so I got down in the DMs:
He then immediately deleted the photo, unfollowed us and our photographer across all social media mediums.
He could’ve just said no if it was that big of a deal. The time it took to respond, delete the image, find and unfollow us on socials surely took far more effort than just adding a credit.
A few hours later, the topic was picking up some traction on Twitter. Then, Brown posted the following:
https://twitter.com/xdannyxbrownx/status/726785919399796737
Really? Reallllllllly?
Twitter was already going off last night, and by the time I woke up this morning it had already been picked up by at least one photography website, as well as a massive thread unfolding on Reddit. Pedestrian have also just posted all of Brown’s hilariously OTT deleted tweets, during which he somehow proceeds to challenge Project U’s Nic Kelly to a fight in Sydney this afternoon.
To clear it up for those who have been speculating: The photo was taken at Danny Brown’s concert. Hunder and Howl & Echoes had been approved by Live Nation to shoot the show. It’s not like it was an unwarranted paparazzi shot. These images are approved by the touring company and no doubt contractually agreed to by Brown and his management ahead of the tour.
We have removed the photo gallery from our website, so for the record, this is the image in question:
Here’s a damn good photo of Danny Brown taken by Michelle Grace Hunder for Howl & Echoes
I find it interesting and disappointing that so many people believe there’s no merit to photography and no need to credit photographers. Photography is as much an art form as anything else, and there’s as much copyright and ownership in photography as there is in music. Furthermore, most music photographers work completely for free. Often, a simple tag or credit can make all the difference in getting their work seen and attracting future work.
We’ve had a great response from the Australian hip-hop community. First, 360 explained why an artist can think that it’s okay to use photos without credit, but that he’s faced the consequences himself:
I actually got sued for posting a photo someone had taken and not crediting the photographer. I couldn't understand https://t.co/osaWosy06V
— 360 (@3ree6ixty) May 1, 2016
took me ages for my manager to explain to me that it's their intellectual property and i HAVE to credit https://t.co/osaWosy06V
— 360 (@3ree6ixty) May 1, 2016
i was like "Fuck that, they took a pic of me so i can post it" – i was wrong and sued for 10k https://t.co/osaWosy06V
— 360 (@3ree6ixty) May 1, 2016
i thought it was bullshit at first too but it's actually not, it's their property. It's really hard to comprehend https://t.co/BaF2rYIP66
— 360 (@3ree6ixty) May 1, 2016
often they shooting for free too, this is their career an how they make ends meet.. it took ages for me to get it https://t.co/BaF2rYIP66
— 360 (@3ree6ixty) May 1, 2016
L-Fresh the Lion sent us the following statement:
“It ain’t hard to tag a photographer in a post. It’s the least an artist can do to show an appreciation for the photographer’s work.
Hau also had this to add:
“Not crediting a photographer is mad disrespectful. I realise some artists may not be familiar with the protocol, but once you have been hipped to the game, you should act accordingly. How hard is it to credit someone for their hard work? It’s like if a producer makes you a beat, you release the song and you don’t credit them for producing the song. That’s some sucker shit!”
While Briggs added the following words of wisdom:
https://twitter.com/BriggsGE/status/726932806379544576
Look. Danny Brown is just plain wrong in his thinking that it’s okay to not credit photographers. That’s not how it works at all, and he should know this by now, considering he’s well into his second decade in the music industry. This issue seriously got out of hand. We’re glad that so many people are now discussing photo crediting and copyright as it’s a huge, ongoing issue for music photographers in this country and no doubt beyond, and hopefully this can help to clear up confusion for those who aren’t aware of how important this it.
What’s disappointing is that this issue has spiralled out of control, and that the main focus has now been this weird Twitter fight between Brown and Kelly. While that’s hilarious for sure, it’s totally missing the point of this issue. It’s upsetting that so many publications and outlets, including triple j, have chosen to focus on this issue while almost entirely ignoring the main point about photography, but I can’t exactly say I’m surprised.
Don’t be like Danny. Artists, credit the photographer just like you would a sample or literally any other kind of creative output.
Image: Michelle Grace Hunder/Twitter
Danny Brown is a polarising rapper who makes polarising music. He tends to be a “love him or hate him” kind of guy, particularly because most people only know the songs that feature his distinct, high-pitched voice, songs that pretty much focus exclusively on hoes and MDMA. His singles appeal to a pretty specific audience – those who love to party. On the other hand, many of his album tracks are completely different, and honestly they’re my favourites. While I’m a big fan of Party Danny, it’s Subdued, Dark Danny that demands my utmost love and respect. (If you listen to albums like Old and XXX, the songs are split between Party Danny and Real Danny, distinctly divided by those featuring his high-pitched lilt, and those in his gravelly, organic tone. Tracks like Torture, Lonely and Clean Up – an absolutely brilliant 3-in-a-row on Old, highly recommended for anyone whose never heard his non-single tracks – are remarkably moving and deeply personal. Of course, he pretty much never performs these live. Like I said, he’s mostly known a party rapper.)
This Tuesday, I caught Danny at his Melbourne headline performance at 170 Russell, while in town to play roving regional festival Groovin The Moo. Having had my mind blown by his set back at Splendour in the Grass 2014, I knew I was in for something high energy, heavy, exciting. While he hasn’t released any new music since 2013, I was secretly hoping he’d drop a new track, considering his new album is apparently right around the corner.
It was upsetting to hear that his Sydney and Melbourne shows had been downgraded to smaller venues (and the Perth leg cancelled entirely) but to me, it didn’t matter – I love intimate hip-hop shows. Besides, I can understand why some people wouldn’t care to buy tickets to an artist who hasn’t released anything since before his previous Australian tour.
The first opener was local rapper Baro and quite frankly, it was disappointing. I’ve seen Baro a couple times in the past, and he’s delivered fresh, powerful sets. We’ve spent some time writing about how we think he’s on the rise, ready to be a driving force in Australian hip-hop. Yet he totally missed the mark, for two main reasons. Firstly, and not his fault at all, it was a strange choice of opener as he’s a totally different brand of hip-hop; apart from his last two songs, the beats chugged along, his understated drawl and laid-back flow more stoner than party rap. Secondly, his completely nonchalant attitude really pissed me off. He lazily swung from track to track, and at one point noted that he hadn’t even prepared beforehand, having only recently found out that he was playing. He really didn’t seem like he cared to be there, noting that he and a mate he brought out with him were simply “two stoned n*ggas on a stage.” Ho-hum. While I totally get that it was just a different vibe to the Danny Brown Party Atmosphere, his obvious apathy really irked me. It’s genuinely upsetting to be so let down by an artist we’ve really been gunning for, but so it goes.
Up next was Detroit MC Zelooperz, who came out to Australia with Danny (also, the pair share the same DJ). His beats were incredible, and his huge, fiery productions immediately woke up the entire room, who were quickly getting as turnt as they could on a cold Tuesday night. Brimming with charisma and drive, he constantly bounced around the stage, engaging with the audience and having a great time. He jumped into the crowd a couple times, with a full on mosh quickly forming around him. One thing to point out however, is that his lyrics were pretty awful. Multiple songs in a row about ‘bitches on my dick’ type stuff? Zzzzz. I’m not even saying this from a feminist, stop-talking-about-bitches-and-hoes perspective, more than it’s just boring as hell and completely unimaginative. That said, his beats were phenomenal; packed with a serious punch, as heavy and aggressive as any Danny Brown hit, the crowd – myself included – were heaving. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Zelooperz over the next couple years.
Image: Michelle Grace Hunder
Danny took to the stage shortly afterwards, with the sweaty, churning mass of fans ready and waiting. He can command a crowd like no other; a master of live performance, he knows exactly how to get each and every person moving – and move we did. Wild-eyed and donning a band t-shirt and black jeans, he looked more rocker than rapper, an interesting contrast to Zelooperz, who shortly came back out on stage to act as Danny’s hype man.
It soon became quite clear to us that he was a little worn down. His movements, while lively, were less spirited than usual, certainly less so than the last time I saw him perform. I imagine he was just tired, so I cannot criticise this even slightly. This was his fifth show in five days, across four states – after his Brisbane headline set, he travelled to Maitland, NSW, Canberra, ACT and Oakbank, SA for three Groovin The Moos before arriving in Melbourne. Combine this with the low ticket sales, it’s no wonder he may have been feeling a little flat.
The thing is, even a flat Danny Brown show is more hyper and animated than most, and although he played a compacted 45 minute set with no encore, it was raucous and fun from start to end. His set was jam packed with his biggest tracks, including Blueberry, Smokin & Drinkin, the Purity Ring-featuring 25 Bucks, Dip, one of my personal party favourites Handstand, and his Rustie collaboration Attak. The production and beats are so explosive and lively that they carried him throughout, and the crowd had a great time in spite of the weariness.
At his best, Danny Brown is ferocious, wild, intense and exhilarating. At his worst, he’s still more energetic, fun and party-starting than others, so even a subdued performance like we saw this week still kicked ass. Fingers crossed he’ll come back with renewed vigour once his next album is out.
Read our interview with Danny Brown
Check out our full photo gallery of Danny Brown with Zelooperz at 170 Russell, Melbourne.
Image: Michelle Grace Hunder
Images: Michelle Grace Hunder / Howl & Echoes
Danny Brown and A$AP Rocky are both set to appear on Rapper Warrior Ninja, a skit from the upcoming fourth season of The Eric Andre Show.
Over in Austin, SXSW is currently taking place, and among the many musical showcases, films, interactive media, conferences and more, a sneak peak of the upcoming segment was premiered by Andre and Hannibal Buress.
Rapper Warrior Ninja, which is a loose spoof of the popular show American Ninja Warrior, shows A$AP Rocky and Danny Brown blindfolded, and told to freestyle rap while they attempt to navigate a range of obstacles. The two rappers face the perils of trying to balance across a plank suspended above mousetraps, while having balls thrown at them and then attempting to somehow get around “The Snake Pit”, which is a kiddie pool filled with water and one very real looking snake. Oh and at some point a random guy in an American Gladiator costume comes out and smacks them with a foam lance, all the while Andre and Hannibal yell at them to keep rapping.
Needless to say, the two rappers don’t fair very well, both predictably stacking it fairly hard, with Danny Brown absolutely finding himself in the pool with the snake.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HogPNdDHbm4]
Danny Brown has appeared on the remixed version of A$AP Mob’s Hella Hoes, the original of which was released over two years ago.
Shortly after the record was released, Danny Brown took to Twitter to complain about being cut from the song. On June 6th 2014 he sent out a series of tweets explaining the situation and was understandably not happy about it:
If u took time out your busy ass schedule to do a feature for somebody and they cut u off the song without telling you…Would u be hot??
— Danny Brown (@xdannyxbrownx) June 6, 2014
Or does that mean my verse was wack?
— Danny Brown (@xdannyxbrownx) June 6, 2014
Brown was on tour when the track was being created so he had to book some studio time in order to record his verse for it. Something which, again, he wasn’t happy about.
@tribecadreams @AyyThatsMoney exactly bruh made me waist a day off going to the studio i was on the road at the time had to pay for studio
— Danny Brown (@xdannyxbrownx) June 6, 2014
However, fans have now finally been given the chance to hear Brown’s cut verse, as the song has been released as part of this week’s “Wavy Wednesday”. The campaign sees A$AP Mob dropping previously unheard tracks every Wednesday for their fans, a bit like Kanye’s (currently botched) G.O.O.D Fridays. It was originally introduced two weeks ago when A$AP Rocky announced it on his Twitter page during a Q&A session before the Grammys.
Danny Brown last released a studio album, Old, in 2013. Since then, he has only been seen on features for a number of other artists including Rustie, Eminem, and Action Bronson. Early last year during an interview, he stated that he was in the “early stages” of making a follow up to his successful last album, but we are still yet to see or hear any details about the supposed album, despite the man himself declaring that he had been recording “like a maniac,” after he built a studio in his new house in Michigan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQpPDH6yLXM
Image: FACT
Ladies and gentlemen, one of hip-hop’s finest party starters, Danny Brown, has announced a string of national tour dates!
The artist has previously been announced as one of the international guests at regional festival Groovin The Moo. Now, a full tour has been announced, which will see him headline shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Brown, real name Daniel Dewan Sewell, last visited Australia for Splendour in the Grass 2014. Having collaborated with a full range of artists including A$AP Rocky, El-P and Purity Ring, he’s one of the most invigorating and unique voices in hip-hop, and his live shows are quite simply insane. He’s reportedly putting “the finishing touches” on a new album soon, so Australian fans may be among the first to hear some new tunes spun live on stage.
Tickets to all shows will be on sale on Tuesday February 9, from 1 pm local time, but Live Nation members will be able to access a pre-sale from Monday, February 8 at 11 am. Visit the official website for details and more information.
Danny Brown Tour Dates
Friday April 22: The Tivoli, Brisbane
Tuesday April 26: The Forum, Melbourne
Tuesday May 3: Enmore Thaetre, Sydney
Sunday May 8: Metro City, Perth
Click here for all Groovin The Moo dates and details.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG_lZK5AK9Q
There are two types of rapper in regards to their attitudes towards their hometowns – the ones that rep their city by name drop and the ones that give back to their cities. Danny Brown, RZA and Kendrick Lamar are the latter, with each of the rappers hosting upcoming events for their chosen charities.
Danny Brown is throwing a Bruiser Brigade II show for Thanksgiving on November 25. Unfortunately, it is a Detroit only show, but this year Brown has decided to turn the event into an annual charity event, partnering with InsideOut Detroit’s City Wide Poets Project (CWP). Brown has set up a fundraising page for both CWP and the Detroit Public Schools system, and the pledge drive aims to help put a poet in every Detroit school. On top of the show and the fundraising page, Brown will also be hosting a poetry workshop aimed at teens and young adults in Detroit.
Having spent some time running poetry workshops with The H.U.N. Poets in The United States I can say this is truly a remarkable initiative, and there is nothing more rewarding than giving teens and young adults the tools they need to express their voices. It might seem like such a small thing to teach someone how to express their thoughts and feelings through poetry, but it sets people up with the know-how of channelling emotions into positive work and not letting them get the better of you.
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And now for one of those “if you don’t know, now you know” moments – the Hip Hop Chess Federation (been running 5 years and I’ve only just heard about it) has received a donation from RZA. Any Wu-Tang fan can vouch for the positive influence chess has had on RZA’s life, so it makes sense that he has now helped to fund a program to share that positivity with the next generation. The aim of the non-profit chess program is to spread “Chess and Life Strategies” to at-risk youth
RZA also spoke last month to 400 high school students from the St Louis area, including many from Ferguson, Missouri. After the talk, he spent some time playing chess and speaking with juvenile hall inmates. “Chess study, along with martial arts, along with music, is the best way to help develop your mind and body and protect you from pitfalls in life that will surely come at you,” RZA said.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE3hb__ylG4]
Let us not forget Kendrick Lamar’s scholarship fund. The ‘Be Alright’ scholarship encourages students at a New Jersey high school to submit short videos demonstrating some of the positive messages and impacts of hip hop. Read more about it here.
The way the world sees hip hop, and even more so, rappers, is starting to change. The 80s saw black power rappers, the 90s the gangster rappers, the 2000s the big money rappers – perhaps today, we will see the ‘giving back to the community’ rappers.