This album was released on November 17th this year. Danny Brown is one of my favorite rappers of albums all time, so I’m pretty excited to check this out. I had mixed feelings about the two singles I heard, and I wasn’t really into his collaborative album with JPEGMAFIA at all sadly, although I did prefer the follow up EP that they released. Despite my ambivalence towards most of Danny’s output this year, I’m definitely looking forward to this album. I think it was mostly recorded in 2020, so it’s interesting that we’re getting three, almost four year old songs now. That’s not really a good or bad thing to me. I do find it interesting though. Anyway, I’ll be shocked if I don’t like this album to some extent. I’m not expecting this to be my favorite Danny album or even one of my favorite albums of the year, but I’m positive I’ll get some enjoyment out of this experience.
The album begins with the title track, Quaranta, which is a highlight for me. This song indicated to me that this would be one of Danny’s most introspective albums.
This rap shit done saved my life
And fucked it up at the same time
That pain in my heart, I can't hide
A lot of trauma inside, you can see it in my eyes
I love how he spit with a more traditional vocal delivery than usual. It definitely fits the tone of the track really well. The production here from Holly is really excellent too. Lyrically, this song introduces the themes of the project really well. My main takeaway from this project is that despite all the fame and success, Danny’s personal life was in shambles. Now that he’s gone to rehab hopefully things are improving for him. He spends a lot of this album reflecting on his mistakes though.
Almost had a spouse, got caught up, she was out
Now I'm sitting here, questioning what life is about
Can you separate the life from the music?
I was clueless, now a nigga foolish
On my own, gotta get to it
Came too far to right now just lose it
Lost everything in pursuit of my dream
Pushed everyone away, now no one here for me
This song really had me excited for the rest of the project. I think it’s a fantastic way to open up the album. It’s dope as hell. Track 2 is called Tantor, and it was the first single released from this album.
This is definitely my least favorite track on the album. The Alchemist produced this song, and it’s ironically my least favorite instrumental on the record by a pretty wide margin. It’s kind of a cool loop, but it’s just way too repetitive for me, and it gets old really quickly. I wish there was more going on here. The rapping from Danny thankfully prevents this song from being completely unenjoyable though.
Go in like scuffed Timbs, nigga, this Above the Rim
When Birdy whipped the blade out, nigga, time to fade out
Mr. Playground, get down to lay down
Nigga better stay down, greyhound my playground
I honestly think he sounds really good here. A lot of people were really hyping up this line and making it out to be one of the funniest lines of the year…
Got a Mexican homie named Chinese Mike
Don’t get me wrong; I don’t think it’s a bad line by any stretch of the imagination. I just don’t find it as hilarious as everyone else seems to. It’s slightly humorous. Maybe I’m just being a hater though. This is not a bad song at all. I enjoy it to some extent. It’s just not something I see myself returning to. My favorite thing about this song is the music video honestly. It’s pretty awesome. This track kinda had me worried about this album when I heard it as a single, but I understand why they chose it after hearing the full project. It’s easily one of the most energetic, explosive tracks on the whole LP. The following track is called Ain’t My Concern, and it’s thankfully a lot better. I really love the production from Quelle Chris & Chris Keys. This one grew on me a lot with repeated listens. There’s only one verse, but it’s excellent.
Slicе of humble pie, look myself in thе eye
You can never trust yourself when you're livin' a lie
Like a few of these rappers I know
Always following trends, never stick to the code
Back in the day they sold their soul for Rock n' Roll
But with this rap shit a nigga sell his booty-hole
What you doing over there, we doing this over here
My aunt died, was on tour, couldn't shed no tears
Had to go, won't stay, so I'm turning the page
We can wish all we want, but this ain't back in the days
The song’s got a very straightforward structure, so I think that’s probably why it didn’t really blow me away on my first listen. I love it now though. The verse is really great. Neither this track nor the preceding one are as personal and introspective as the opener led me to expect, so perhaps that’s why I was a little underwhelmed on my first listen. However, like I said, this one really grew on me. I think it’s dope as hell. Track 4 is called Dark Sword Angel. Once again, the production from Quelle Chris & Chris Keys is fantastic. I might like this beat even more than that of the preceding track. I really like how this song is structured. It’s just one long verse with no hook or bridge or anything like that. There are a lot of bars that I really like on this one.
My raps like Tetris
Bars keep fallin', gotta know whеre to place 'em
Smokеd with Dave Chappelle, the nigga think I laced him
Knew it was the pack, he started talkin' 'bout spaceships
Maybe it’s just because I’m an ardent stoner, but I really loved those lines. These ones were also really good…
My nigga did a bid, just got home with a rack
Last time he heard me spittin', he had a Nautica jacket
But he still packin', God gave him a hat trick
When his ass got out, LeBron suddenly on the Mavericks
Something I noticed about this track is that there here are a lot of references to athletes and comedians. Most of the athletic references didn’t really have an impact on me since I have zero interest in any sports. I don’t really watch stand up comedy anymore because I kinda hate it, but I used to watch it all the time when I was in middle school, so those lines stood out to me a bit more. Anyway, this is a really dope track. I fuck with it. The only track aside from Tantor that I don’t see myself returning to is Y.B.P., and it’s mainly because of the Bruiser Wolf feature. I just am not a fan of that dude at all. He sounds old as shit, and not in a cool way to me. I don’t like his voice or flow. Lyrically, he’s fine. I just can’t get into him sonically. It’s unfortunate because I actually really love the performance from Danny on this track.
Seen her crying in the kitchen and I don't know why
Caught my aunt smokin' crack and she got a black eye
Living on Focus: HOPE and we tryna get by
Sippin' on WIC juice, wash it down with chili fries
Homie shot at the Coney, hope he survive
Only go to church when someone die
Kids raisin' kids, all tryna be grown
Things never fix when we come from broken homes
His flow is really nice, and same goes for the beat from skywlkr. This is far from a bad song, and I kind of enjoyed it on my first listen, but it just doesn’t have replay value for me. That Bruiser Wolf verse really tarnished the track. It’s a decent song overall though. It’s followed by the second single from the album, Jenn’s Terrific Vacation.
Unlike some of the other tracks, this one actually grew off of me. I still like it a lot, but the brevity of the verses just left me wanting more from Danny here. The production from Kassa Overall is phenomenal though. It feels like most of this song is made up of the hook rather than verses, which is why I don’t love it as much as I wanted to. The content about gentrification is pretty cool, although I’ve definitely heard this subject matter covered more in depth by other MCs such as Gift of Gab. This shit is still really dope though. Especially the music video. The following track is a major highlight entitled Down wit It. This is easily my favorite track on the album. It’s an amazing song in which Danny kinda laments for a relationship that didn’t work out. The main emotions expressed here are regret and sorrow. This is the most introspective track on the whole record.
Lifestyle of this music shit had me on some stupid shit
Never would've thought I'd fuck up who I'm closest with
All my fault, for most of it
Thought I knew everything, but don't know shit
That's why I'm so sick
Lost in my emotions, the path that I chosen
Left a nigga broken, can't stay focused
Hard for me to think
Tryna kill my pain, so I drink
The production from Paul White is superb as well. I don’t even mind the brevity of the second verse since the actual lyrics cut so deep. Perhaps my favorite part of this song is the outro in which Danny repeats “Now I’m realizing that I love her” as the instrumental builds up. It sounds really awesome. I love it. This is honestly one of my favorite songs of the year. I think it’s dope as fuck. The following track is another highlight called Celibate. The production from Kassa Overall and Samiyam is exceptional, and Danny sounds really nice on the first two verses. I really like that line where he calls himself “the matador of metaphor.” That’s awesome. His performance on this track is nice, but what really elevates this song for me is the guest verse from MIKE. I haven’t really enjoyed a MIKE project since Disco!, but this feature really blew me away. He kinda stole the show here honestly. It was nice to hear him over this more traditional production style, and his flow and rhymes were absolutely stunning. I love this line in particular…
I had to pull a blessing out the sky at my emptiest
That’s fire. He is easily my favorite feature on the whole album. The song is dope as hell. Track 9 is called Shakedown, and it’s produced by Kaelin Ellis. I honestly love the beat on this track. It’s really smooth. I just am not crazy about the uncredited background vocals during the hook, but it’s not something that bothers me enough to really tarnish the song for me. The first verse is nice, but the second verse is where Danny really opens up about the infidelity in his relationship.
You don't like me now
When I made a mess, always there to wipe me down
Now that you're not around, felt like Miles without Francis
Always question everything, but you had all the answers
Everything my fault, thought that love could be bought
It was all sugar 'til it turned to salt
Felt like I was trapped until I got caught
Thought I had everything until I took that loss
But cheaters never win is what some might say
I threw the whole game, in the end got paid
Had to cover the spread, cold side of the bed
Never miss nobody when you live in your head
I remember seeing an interview in which Danny admits that his significant other was upset about him getting head from a random groupie on stage at a show. That was wild. Anyway, my feelings towards this song honestly fluctuated a lot, but I think my opinion is solidified now. This track is really dope. The penultimate track is called Hanami, and it’s produced by Sven Wonder. I really like the “fuck it, we ball” tone of this track. The beat is really great, and same goes for Danny’s writing here.
They say age catchin' up, so I'm runnin' from death
I done walked through the fire, trippin' on Heaven's steps
Gotta keep shit movin', time won't stand still
Movin' on with my life, can't cry when the milk spill
If Down wit It was Danny tearing himself up over his own mistakes, this is him accepting them and finding peace.
All the trauma I endured, drugs and drink was the cure
Had to sin to make ends, but my soul was pure
He just sounds really content here, which is a feeling as addictive as marijuana for me, so I always appreciate when it can be conveyed through the music I listen to. This is another track that grew on me heavily. I think it’s dope as hell. The last song is one final highlight entitled Bass Jam. The production from Paul White here is outstanding. Lyrically, I don’t really know that this was the best way to close the album. It kinda feels more like a bonus because it doesn’t touch on the main themes of the project. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though. Like I said, this is one of my favorite songs on the album. I just think it would’ve made more sense if this track and the one that preceded it were swapped in the track listing. This one just has Danny reflecting on the music his mother used to play during his childhood, and the memories he’s attached to certain artists and songs.
Remember back when it was hard for me to sleep
Mama played them old school jams on repeat
A little Sade sent me on my way
Dreamin' 'bout the shit that I'm doing today
Cleanin' up the house, Mary J on cassette
Smokin' on a J, sauce on the TV set
Runnin' home from school, Loose Ends on blast
Tyin' up loose ends, runnin' low on cash
It kinda reminds me of the song Grown Up a little bit. That might be my favorite Danny Brown song honestly. Anyway, I appreciate that this album ends on a more warm, joyful note. The beginning and middle portion of this LP are kinda dark and depressive, so it’s nice that he was able to find solace by the end. This track is dope as hell.
This is a great album. It’s not my favorite Danny Brown project, but I think I would probably place it right in the middle of his discography if I were to rank his albums. This is probably gonna be one of his more accessible records just because he doesn’t employ his signature over the top vocal delivery on most of the tracks, and the production isn’t as abrasive as it was on songs like Goldust or Ain’t It Funny. As I mentioned in the preamble to this review, Danny recorded this album in 2020, so I’m kinda curious to hear what the solo stuff he’s making now sounds like. The lyrical themes of loss and regret really resonated with me, and there are some very somber moments on this project that I really appreciated. I definitely think the second half of this album is better than the first, but that’s not to say anything on the first half is wack. There were just a couple songs that I won’t be returning to, and the second half had more highlights to me. Overall, I really enjoyed this. Again, I was kinda worried when the first single came out, but this thankfully ended up being a satisfactory listening experience. It’s dope.
Favorite Song: Down wit It
Least Favorite Song: Tantor
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Watch the videos below for more thoughts on this album.
Focus Hip Hop 