Danny Brown started his career in 2007 by handing out mixtapes in Detroit, where he’s from. In 2011, he put out his acclaimed second album, XXX. Since then, he’s collaborated with rappers like Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky and JPEGMafia, but he’s also worked with electronic bands like Purity Ring and The Avalanches, and he did a verse on a remix for Korn.
When I first heard him, around when XXX came out, I was really drawn to his voice. And I also appreciated that, given how young so many artists are now when they get really famous, Danny Brown’s career really started taking off in his 30s. He put out his sixth album, Quaranta, in 2023. And for this episode, I talked to him about one of the songs from that album, called “Y.B.P.," which features guest vocals from Bruiser Wolf.
For more, visit songexploder.net/danny-brown.
alt-J - In Cold Blood
Michael Kiwanuka - Black Man in a White World
Perfume Genius - Slip Away
Little Dragon - Sweet
Aimee Mann - Patient Zero
Gorillaz - Andromeda (feat. D.R.A.M.)
Norah Jones - Day Breaks
Dirty Projectors - Up in Hudson
Sleigh Bells - I Can Only Stare
Bonobo - Break Apart (feat. Rhye)
Sara Watkins - Without a Word
Dropkick Murphys - Blood
Nicholas Britell - Moonlight
Solange - Cranes in the Sky
Metallica - Moth into Flame
Justin Hurwitz - La La Land
DJ Shadow - Mutual Slump
Angel Olsen - Shut Up Kiss Me
Jóhann Jóhannsson - Arrival
Flatbush Zombies - Bounce
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