Album Review - “Stardust” by Danny Brown
Danny Brown is one of the rare anomalies in hip-hop. This emcee stuck true to his sound, story, and consistency, and despite not having the commercial success of his rapping classmates, has been a mainstay of respected artists since entering the scene in the late 2000s. While he occupies a tier list alongside the Tech N9nes of the world, where his core audience praises him through thick or thin, one visit to his discography will uncover a host of unique sounds that are not only important to the rap atmosphere but significant to what music could enhance, should they study his artistry. This is why his latest project, Stardust, could be regarded as one of the most underrated pieces of media for anyone not exploring the legend of Danny Brown.
In short, Stardust builds upon the brilliance of Vince Staples' project "Big Fish Theory," an album that dares to explore the realm of EDM, remaining sonically exciting and never disrespecting the culture or love of hip-hop. It's the ultimate dream for anyone bold enough to say "rap all sounds the same."
Between his choice of features, which range from Jane Remover to Ta Ukrainka Zheani, every moment of this project is daring in the best way, and that's not even considering his choice of topics. It's quite possible that Brown entered this album with the mindset of flipping everything that isn't already upside down. Ultimately, it works out perfectly.
In terms of topics, imagine Jay-Z's 4:44 album, a biography of exploring rights, wrongs, struggles, sins, and turmoil, which completes the man in the booth today. While it would not be a far stretch to say Danny bears his soul on every song, newcomers to his music will certainly finish the project understanding the nucleus of Danny. Tracks like "The End" spring tear-inducing verses from the emcee, while songs like "Book of Daniel" feature the Detroit rapper with an inspirational approach; it's a complementary pairing of the album's range, two sides of the same coin willing to paint different pictures.
Overall, this project is nothing short of gold for anyone looking to uncover the lush sounds of Danny Brown. If nothing else, this is a beautiful addition to the world of music. You can hear the album here.
