I heard Danny Brown’s XXX as soon as it came out; about a month ago if I have my timing right. I wanted B-Easy to review this free album so the site couldn’t accuse me of being hometown bias. But for whatever reasons, Easy couldn’t get around to it so I’m going to review the album because I think it deserves one. Anyway…..the title XXX is a double meaning referring to Brown’s sexual nature and him recently turning 30. After Brown’s last release he had a total persona changed and inked a deal with Fools Gold Records, an underground powerhouse. After The Hybrid, Brown had a lot to live up to and to be honest I thought he couldn’t do it but…
1. XXX
Produced by Frank Dukes
Danny comes on doing what he usually does with his hilarious lyrical bars
Colder than the gritz they fed slaves
Me to rap is like water to raves,
AK’s with Bayonets on deck
rep my set sorta like Squidward and his Clarinet.
This intro isn’t the typical BS mixtape intro, Brown is completely honest about his situation and keeps it real.
Tryna keep it original something thats overlooked
Way a nigga goin might go out like Sam Cooke
Or locked up calling home for money on my books
Cause if this shit don’t work nigga I failed at life
Turning to these drugs now these drugs turned my life
It’s the downward spiral, Got me suicidal
But too scared to do it so these pills a be the rival
Surpassing all my idols
Took the wrong turn
But can’t go back now so now let that blunt burn
Cause now its my turn if I fuck it all up
Took a while to get here now I depend on these drugs
I took a while to get here now I depend on these drugs
Triple X
Great intro.
2. Die Like A Rockstar
Produced by Skywlkr
A hard ass dark beat on this one. To me this is the standout song on the album. The creativity and lyricism along with the extreme darkness on this track is amazing. The song is about doing hard drugs and going out like famous rockstars.
Bitch I wanna party like Chris Farley
Shot of Hennessy spike that with some molly
Tell mommy I’m sorry god bless my soul
But life is so sublime going out like Brad Nowell
I got that Kurt Cobain type of mind-frame
Feeling like Keith Moon shrooms in my dressing room
Amazing track.
3. Pac Blood
Produced by Brandun Deshay
Crazy hard track with is produced by former Odd Future affiliate Brandun Deshay. The hook on this one makes the track with Brown’s usually comedic style,
Tears to Mona Lisa, Medusa to liquid
Make Gandhi grab the burner while they shoot shit
Rhymes that make the Pope wanna get his dick sucked
Had Virgin Mary doing lines in the pick-up
Make Sarah Palin deep-throat til’ she hiccup
Had T.D. Jakes round this bitch doing stick-ups
Rhymes so real, thought I wrote it in Pac blood
Told me in my dreams that these niggas is not thugs
4. Radio Song
Produced by Brandun Deshay
A poke at the commercial music or “radio songs”. This is made purposely to sound like a “Radio Song”. And the hook is purposely made to be a little bit irritating. I notice the last few songs have been really short though but nice track.
5. Lie 4
Produced by Skywlkr
Really dope beat. This is a song where Danny goes into some typical bragadocious raps but THEN turns it around tells his real reality then goes “What I got to lie for” and going “Naw nigga, I’m lying I got that income tax swag, that income tax swag”. This one is infectious. What I appreciate most about Danny Brown is his originality honesty and being unafraid to be himself. This song reflects it.
6. I Will
Produced by Squadda Bambino
I’m gonna be upfront here: This is a song about eating pussy……that’s it but its dope. It has so far one of the best beat and hook combinations on the album even though the hook really doesn’t get you ready for what the song goes into. It’s better to listen than for me to explain so check this one out.
7. Bruiser Brigade
Featuring Dopehead; Produced by Skywlkr
A Waka Flockish type track. First time I heard this I almost broke everything in my living room………. HYPE! Get down with the Bruiser Brigade! Dopehead lets you know:
Bruiser Brigade bitch!
If you ain’t pullin a nigga dick out and slapping yourself with it
Throwing this bitch in your mouth sucking dick with bubbles
Fucking all night and drinking protein shakes in the morning
Dopehead’s verse is also nice as I think he slightly outshines Danny on this track. Can’t wait to hear more from the Bruiser Brigade. And just to let yall know, “You soft as Elvin off the Cosbys”.
8. Detroit 187
Featuring Chip$; Produced by Nick Speed
This is the first track off the album I’m really not feeling. I think this track relies on Danny to much to make it dope. The beat is not very good, somewhat irratating, plus there is no hook. This one isn’t that hot.
9. Monopoly
Produced by Quelle
This whole song is actually a freestyle he did off Toca Tuesdays (Which I believe was posted in the Forums) with a different beat. But it’s still hot. They could have put more effort into putting the song together though. But… “You still fucking wit dem freak hoes stank pussy smelling like cool ranch Doritoes”.
10. Blunt After Blunt
Produced by Skywlkr
Hard gritty street track; something that sounds like it should have been on The Hybrid but that’s definitely not a bad thing. The hook is simply “I smoke blunt after blunt after blunt after blunt after blunt” but this is crazy and lifts the album back up from a small drop-off.
11. Outer Space
Produced by Skywlkr
A spacey beat with Danny spitting is all you get here but that’s all that’s needed here. Funny shit like usual, Danny is definitely entertaining.
12. Adderall Admiral
Produced by Paul White
Brown spits some shit over this one. It’s very similar to the last track thought but still on the same level lyrics wise. Example:
You softer than Flanders’ son
Don’t make me put hands on son
Jump niggas like “Fuck one on one.”
Used to be locked up watching One on One
Young Kyla Pratt was looking thick, nigga wanted some
But soon as I got out white bitches by the tons
Check this one out.
13. DNA
Produced by Frank Dukes
The hook on this one is a rhyme from Dead Prez
It’s in my DNA, cuz my moms like to get fucked up the same way,
DNA DNA, Cuz my fam like to get fucked up the same way
This one Danny Brown obviously goes into his drug use. I love how Danny is letting us know all about him on this album. Dope track.
14. NoseBleeds
Produced by DJ Houseshoes
A smooth beat from Detroit legend DJ Houseshoes. Short story about a girl addicted to cocaine, not much to say other than this should have been longer.
15. Party All The Time
Produced by Brandun Deshay
This, like the last track, is a story about a mislead female who wants to party all the time. As silly as Brown is, he does these type tracks excellently and he has a lot of them about realistic lives of people down the wrong path. Still, the album is starting to lose steam though at this point.
16. Ewnesw
Produced by Quelle
Love this beat. This is also a Detroit themed song and you can I can feel that Detroit feel all through this one. Danny tells a little more about his life growing up. You would appreciate this song even more if your not from Detroit but its still a good track.
17. Field
Produced by Paul White
This is a track based around vacant lots in Detroit where homes used to be. You would really have to be from the D to understand this all the way. There are so many abandoned houses in here that when they get tore down there are huge fields in the middle of almost every neighborhood. Another gritty track and I’m feeling it.
18. Scrap Or Die
Produced by Paul White
This one made me laugh really hard on first listen. This is really uncharted territory in rap and its very interesting. It goes on in every hood in America and its about stripping houses for scrap metal money. Leave it to Danny Brown to make a song about this. This dude is one of the most honest rappers ever. I like the concept but the hook and beat kind of annoy me on this one.
19. 30
Produced by Skywlkr
MAN……this is honestly the best outro I’ve ever heard. This outro is so great it brings together the whole big picture of this album and it is this point you really understand. And it so dark yet somewhat inspirational in a weird way. At the same time Danny leaves you almost on a cliffhanger that makes you just want more. After this outro. I guarentee you you’ll be wanting to hear what’s next from Brown. He really poured himself on this track:
Came along way from extension cords in the window
Borrowing neighbors power just to plug up the Nintendo
Where the ovens never closed and stoves never off
Every winter so cold niggas sleeping wearing scarves
But I would always tell myself that its gone get better
You know who you is you the greatest rapper ever
So now the pressures on em to prove that voice right
Some people never know they goals he know his whole life
So now his turn up fixing up to bat
Pitching singles to the label when I use to pitch crack
Never learned to rap I just always knew how
So ever since 8 I knew what I would do now
When I turned 28 they like what u gone do now
And now a nigga 30 and I don’t u heard me
So the last ten years I been so fucking stressed
Tears in my eyes let me get this off my chest
The thought of no success it got me chasing death
Doing all these drugs in hopes of OD’ing next
Triple X
Pure Genius
Bottom Line:
So at the end of the day ,Danny doesn’t dissapoint me with this at all. I’m not gonna say it was better than The Hybrid or it was worse because they are both great albums but yet still have a lot of differences (These tracks and beats fit him a lot better than The Hybrid). It’s obvious that since the release of The Hybrid, at some point he had some sort of huge life change or revolution. This album was so genuine because you feel as if Danny is being himself yet still makes greats music while doing it. As serious and lyrically dope as this album was, I guarantee you you’ll also get a good laugh off some of stuff of this album. Check this out please.
