In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Danny Brown opened up about his sobriety journey. The performer went to rehab earlier this year, and has since developed a new outlook on both life and death. Brown says that he used to be afraid of dying, but no longer fears it. He described coming to peace with the idea of dying now that he’s sober, claiming that the inevitable will happen at the right time.
“I was scared of this sh*t,” he told the outlet. “Now, I just look at it like, ‘Man, when it’s the time, it’s the time.’ It’s almost like life is a school, and when you die, it’s graduation. When the higher power is ready for you to graduate, you’ll graduate. And obviously, I haven’t done what I’m supposed to here.”
Danny Brown performs on stage at Splendour in the Grass 2023 on July 21, 2023 in Byron Bay, Australia. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)
Brown got out of rehab back in May, taking to his his podcast, The Danny Brown Show, to share his experience. “I will say, man, being in treatment and all that sh*t, one thing it did do, it humbled the f*ck out of me,” the artist explained. “Like a lot of these muthaf*ckas, man, that’s in there, you know, they had drinking problems, drug problems and all that sh*t, they got to go back to work. They gotta go and work a real regular 9-to-5 job, like, you know, I have one of the best jobs in the f**king world, man. And so, I was taking a lot of s**t for granted, man. So I will say, man, like, I’m back. Your boy is back.”
Fans are glad to see that Brown is feeling back to his old self again now that he’s sober. He seems to be in a much better place after going to rehab, taking on a more positive, focused perspective. Keep an eye on HNHH for more updates on Danny Brown.
Danny Brown and Logic both discussed the idea of writer’s block during a recent episode of the Danny Brown Show. Brown argued that he doesn’t deal with any writer’s block as long as his work is honest and comes from his own life experiences.
“Where’s the creative energy coming from?” Danny asked while discussing Logic’s output. “I just can’t f-ckin rap that much, man. Maybe I’m getting that age, that’s what it is. But no, I was like that even when I was younger.”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 23: Rapper Danny Brown performs onstage during the Capitol Hill Block Party on July 23, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)
Logic responded: “I don’t think it’s an age thing. As creatives, we all work differently, you know what I mean? I got this shit that’s just pent up in me, y’know, like I write novels, I write movies, I write albums, I have fun, I do, y’know, whatever.” He then brought up getting over writer’s block by forcing himself to “just write.”
Danny added: “When you writing about your life, there ain’t no writer’s block. If you telling the truth, it ain’t no writer’s block. And that’s what I learned — when you trying to be cool and trying to make up bars and trying to do shit, yeah, you going to have writer’s block ’cause shit gon’ get dry, but if you just talkin’ about what you got going on in your life, no matter what, you never gonna have writer’s block.”
The conversation comes after Logic recently shared the new song, “Noell,” which acts as a tribute to his wife. It’s just the latest of several singles that Logic has put out since the release of his most recent album, College Park, earlier this year. As for Danny Brown, he recently teamed up with JPEGMAFIA for the release of their collaborative album, Scaring the Hoes. The two will also be embarking on a tour together, later this year. Shows will run from July 25th through August 26th.
We’re diving into the wild world of rapper and comedian Danny Brown. The Detroit native is highly regarded in the underground world of hip-hop, employing dense sonics and a uniquely glass-shattering vocal pallet. That unique voice has made waves over the past decade. He’s worked with the likes of JPEGMAFIA, Earl Sweatshirt, and Kendrick Lamar. The past five years have seen Brown translate that bold energy into the world of comedic podcasting. He’s made a name for himself as a hilarious storyteller and unhinged personality.
Danny Brown was surrounded by drug use and poverty throughout his childhood. While his parents strived to keep him out of the streets, he became a drug-dealer by 18. However, his rap days got started in kindergarten. “I went to school one day, and it was show and tell,” Brown said during an interview. “But I didn’t know that it was show and tell, and I had nothing to show or tell. So, I was just like, forget it, and just rapped in front of the class – and then everybody went crazy. So I was like, I don’t know, maybe I got something.”
XXX Was Danny Brown’s Breakout Album
Danny Brown has never fallen into the traditional confines of the hip-hop scene. He almost signed to 50 Cent’s G-Unit back in 2010. While his raps were compelling, his tight jeans and abrasive hairstyle didn’t exactly fit into the conceptual aesthetic of the G-Unit Label. However, Brown’s unhinged energy would eventually find its way into the blog era of the internet. A mosh-pit-inducing sonic pallet was found on Atrocity Exhibition‘s “Ain’t It Funny,” with bold horns and songwriting. Atrocity Exhibition saw him depict drug use in a multi-faceted manner. He takes the listener on a journey through the come-down of an all-night bender.
Brown has always been a magnetic current against the prevailing trends of hip-hop. Rather than romanticizing drug use or excessive wealth, he focuses on attacking the grim realities of the industry through his music. Unfortunately, he’s been in and out of rehab for alcohol abuse. However, he translates that pain into his standout sound. Brown’s breakout album, XXX, saw his commanding flow layered underneath distorted synths, as he conveys an increased sense of panic as he begins experiencing the damning effects of drug addiction. A self-described rap nerd, he’s admitted to having heavy No Limit and Def Jux phases. That background has enabled him to hear “words that rhyme together just appear all in my head,” he said.
He Recently Released SCARING THE H**S with JPEGMAFIA
Danny Brown released the collaboration album SCARING THE H**S with JPEGMAFIA in March. The JPEG-produced album was poised to be great, with the two existing on the fringes of hip-hop throughout their respective careers. From the distorted horns on the title track “SCARING THE H**S” to the chaotic sampling on “God Loves You,” it’s immediately entered the shortlist for rap album of the year. The slapshot blend of emo-rock and soul sampling was a much-needed moment for Brown, who’s been predominantly silent on the music front over the past five years.
Consequently, JPEGMAFIA discussed the reason for contacting Brown, stating, “I wanted to unite the underground. You look at all the mainstream dudes, and they all make songs together. They get money together, and they come up together, and they give each other strength. It’s like a spirit bomb.” Two artists that are known for being unequivocally themselves, they spent a year curating a project that’s both progressive and compelling. After its release, Brown fans wonder whether he’ll put out a solo project shortly. It’s been four years since his fifth studio album, uknowwhatimsayin?.
However, Danny Brown’s career goes well beyond hip-hop. Media outlets have picked up on his cartoonish and downright hilarious personality throughout his career. It led to him to hosting the celebrity talk show Danny’s House on Noisey, where he held his own with fellow rap comedians such as Zack Fox. In addition, he’s recently begun hosting The Danny Brown Show. Spotted by fellow comedian Tom Segura, he gave Brown a platform to host within a podcast format. The Danny Brown Show has been highly successful from the jump, quickly becoming one of the go-to podcasts in the YouTube comedy space.
As mentioned, fans have been anticipating a new solo project from Danny Brown for years. Controversy began surrounding the release of Quaranta back in March, when he accused Warp Records of delaying the release of the album. However, he backpedaled on his comments over Twitter, stating, “Aye chill out with the #FreeDanny shit I was drunk and talking shit and that’s why my dumb as is checking into treatment tomorrow got nothing but love for Dart and Warp so chill out the album is mastered.” More recently, Brown has been in better spirits leading up to his next album.
The last time we heard from Danny Brown he was admitting himself into a rehabilitation center. Back in March, the rapper and podcast host checked himself into rehab after a string of drunken tweets. Danny Brown expressed to his fans that he was voluntarily seeking treatment after filming an episode of his podcast The Danny Brown Show drunk. “Alcohol is something I need to be done with ’cause it makes me hurt the people that care the most,” Brown conceited. Danny Brown has never shied away from speaking about his addictions. Moreover, it’s one of the things that was heavily emphasized upon his ascension.
Furthermore, the SCARING THE HOES artist even had to back peddled tweets saying #FreeDanny campaign due to him being intoxicated. Additionally, Danny Brown alleged that his manager, Dart Parker, and Warp Records of delaying the release of his new tape Quaranta. According to Danny Brown, he turned in the album without any urgency from the label or management. Moreover, shortly after he urged fans to shut down the hashtag. “Aye chill out with all the #FreeDanny shit I was drunk and talking shit and that’s why my dumb ass is checking into treatment tomorrow,” he tweeted to his fans. Not only that, but Brown also added that he had no hard feelings toward Warp or his manager.
However, Danny Brown has returned with a new episode of his podcast. He spoke on his recent stint in rehab head-on. The Atrocity Exhibition artist described his experience as “humbling.” Secondly, he shared that it gave him a newfound appreciation for his career and his work. Especially compared to the other patients there alongside him, the rapper mentioned how much he had to be grateful for. “Being in treatment… one thing it did do: It humbled the f*ck out of me,” said Brown.
Later he mentioned, “It made me real f*ckin’ umm… Just showed a lot of gratitude.” The rapper/podcaster made light of how cool his life really is (he’s not wrong). He also admitted that he was taking his career and life for granted after hearing others’ stories. “‘Cause a lot of these motherf*ckers that’s in there, they had drinking problems, drug problems, they gotta go back to work…. I have one of the best jobs in the f*cking world,” he said on the pod. It’s great to see Danny back in good spirits and good health. Let the HNHH crew know what you think in the comments section!
We really haven’t lacked any new music from Danny Brown in the four years since releasing Uknowhatimsayin? He pushed several releases under the Bruiser Brigade umbrella that he also feature on while recently teaming up with JPEGMAFIA for their joint project, Scaring The Hoes: Vol. 1. Still, fans are awaiting Quaranta, an album intended to serve as a spiritual successor to 2011’s XXX. Unfortunately, it appears that there’s a lack of urgency surrounding its release.
During the latest episode of the Danny BrownShow podcast, the Detroit native revealed that he already turned Quaranta in to his label, Warped Records, though they, nor his management, have provided him with a detailed outline of the album’s release schedule. “Y’all gotta understand, me working with Warped – I don’t know with Warped and my management, man. I turned my album in two years ago” he explained.
Danny Brown Says He’s Still Working On “Quaranta”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 23: Rapper Danny Brown poses for a photo in the pit before performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party on July 23, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)
Though Danny revealed that he handed in the album, the lack of urgency to release it has him tinkering and working on it further. “I will say, we’re still working on the album and shit’s getting doper but at this point, man, it’s like where’s the urgency?” he said. The Atrocity Exhibition rapper wanted his fans to reach out to Warped Records and Dart Parker, who he says deserves the majority of the blame for the album’s delay, with the hashtags #FreeDanny and #FreeQuaranta.
“At this point, it’s like shit, just put the Peggy album out. Y’all bullshittin’. Why y’all holdin’ me up for? The album been done, been out, so I almost feel like they shelved my shit,” Danny Brown continued. “‘Cause that’s what happens a lot of times. They shelf my shit and don’t wanna tell me.” At this point, Danny encouraged his fans to leave Dart Parker’s social media in shambles in an attempt to get Quaranta an official release date.
Danny Calls Out Warped Records
Danny also alleged that Warped Records is now upset with him over the release of Scaring The Hoes: Vol. 1 since it didn’t actually release through their imprints. “They all hating about this Peggy shit because… they ain’t got nothin’ to do with this,” he continued. Danny explained that they intentionally held up Quaranta to prevent the release of his joint album with JPEGMAFIA, comparing his situation to Lil Wayne’s ahead of Tha Carter III. Check out his interview above and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
