Danny Brown - Quaranta
This is the Danny Brown album I didn’t think I’d ever hear; a sober, fresh out of rehab album from the rapper that once celebrated his vices and self-destructive nature. The guy that rapped about how he thought rehab was “pussy” and how he was on his way out with a bottle of Hennessey, is now clean from alcohol and drugs. 2023 is also the same year he collaborated with JPEGMAFIA on the wild and crazy Scarin’ The Hoes album, which definitely delved into chemical excess, but hearing interviews the pair did afterwards, it wasn’t made in a good environment. Danny admits when he was sober he could be super productive, but at times he was blackout drunk and useless.
So Quantra comes out with a newly sober Danny in charge, but with a mix of tracks that came before he cleaned up. That redemptive tone starts from the first song on the album, the title track where Danny rhymes about his current state of life and reflections of where he’s come from (“This rap shit done saved my life, and fucked it up at the same time”). There’s a tone of regret and finality on “Hanami” (“Rap a young man game, and ya missed ya mark/Probably never win a Grammy or chart on the charts”) and on “Down Wit It” (“Should've listen to my homie when he told me "slow down"/Caught up in the moment, head was stuck in the clouds”). These tracks are more chill from Danny’s other material and mostly lack that dark, destructive edge that he had before.
But then there’s the old manic Danny on “Tantor” with it’s stuttering drums and spaghetti western guitar sounds and on “Jenn’s Terrific Vacation”. I’m also not a fan of Bruiser Wolf’s guest verse on “Y.B.P”, he sounds like he’s rapping an outtake from the Sugarhill Gang which doesn’t suit the song. Half of the album is pretty chill and the songs are definitely coming from a heartfelt place, but they’re not really exciting. It’s not the thing I’d expect from Danny, but to be honest, if this is where his head is at, then that’s not a bad thing. I’ve no time for the “live fast, die young” rock and roll ethos (I mean, Danny’s 42 so errr….) but I can’t lie and say I miss the deranged energy that Danny brought to his music.
Other Stuff
This trailer for Amazon’s upcoming Fallout series looks great, with the likes of the always dependable Kyle MacLachlan and Walton Goggins starring. Will it be as middling as other videogame TV shows recently, like Twisted Metal or Halo?
Again, scary stuff is for all year round, not just the mandated glut of October goodness. Jacob Geller’s videos are always worth watching: