With his hyperactive flows, harrowing lyrics, and boundary-pushing beat selections, Detroit rapper Danny Brown is one of hip-hop’s most animated and inventive artists.
• The future rapper started speaking in rhyme at a young age after being read Dr. Seuss books by his mother. • Brown realized that he wanted to be a rapper in Kindergarten but put the dream on hold throughout his rough childhood in the streets. • He began rapping with a group named Rese’vor Dogs and released an album with them, Runispokets-N-Dumpemindariva, in 2003. • While serving eight months in jail in 2006, Brown decided to get serious about rap. From 2007 to 2010, he dropped four volumes of his Detroit State of Mind mixtape series. • His debut studio album, The Hybrid, arrived in 2010. That same year, he recorded a joint project, Hawaiian Snow, with Tony Yayo, a member of 50 Cent’s G-Unit crew. Brown nearly signed with G-Unit, but 50 didn’t think Brown’s skinny jeans fit the label’s image. • With its techno-flavored production and wild-eyed rapping, Brown’s 2011 sophomore album, XXX, earned widespread critical acclaim. • Brown’s influences include the UK post-punk band Joy Division. His 2016 album Atrocity Exhibition is named for one of their songs.
