In the ten years since Danny Brown’s magnum opus XXX was released, he has permeated both underground and mainstream music culture with an authentic and ever-evolving persona and a sound wholly his own, transcending genres and any parameters the world around him might impose. He set the blueprint for many of today’s critical darlings and opened doors for so many following his personally audacious start. Today, Brown announces his long awaited and much anticipated return with his fifth studio album uknowhatimsayin¿, slated for release on October 4th via WARP. The news coincides with the release of the album’s first single and video “Dirty Laundry”, directed by Simon Cahn. Brown’s lyrics balance earnest storytelling with laugh-out-loud one-liners, especially apparent on “Dirty Laundry”; Danny’s ode to standup comedy, an art-form he’s long respected. Danny goes on to explain “This is my version of a stand-up comedy album. Most of my close friends now aren’t rappers -- they’re comedians and actors. So I wanted to create something that mixed humor with music. Something that was funny but not parody.”
Just one track into the new album and it’s obvious to see Brown is at the next high point of his career and life, meticulously crafting his next chapter. Earlier this year, Brown previewed details on the album in a cover story with High Snobiety, revealing executive production from the iconic rapper and producer Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. Q-Tip’s involvement in uknowhatimsayin¿ marks the first time the legendary artist has executive produced an album since Mobb Deep’s The Infamous. With Q-Tip's guidance Brown returned to his own version of traditional production but not without the toolbox of tricks he’s built along the way: “There was no room for error. Q-Tip wanted me to go back to that ‘Greatest Rapper Ever’ era. I almost had to relearn how to rap again -- an ego death type thing. He gave me this whole new outlook on music. I can’t go back to how I was before.” Additional production comes from Paul White, JPEGMAGIA, Thundercat, Standing on the Corner and more with features from Run The Jewels,. Obongjayar, JPEGMAGIA and Blood Orange (full tracklisting below)
Danny Brown
Uknowhatimsayin¿
01. Change Up
02. Theme Song
03. Dirty Laundry
04. 3 Tearz (feat. Run The Jewels)
05. Belly of The Beast (feat. Obongjayar)
06. Savage Nomad
07. Best Life
08. uknowhatimsayin¿ (feat. Obongjayar)
09. Negro Spiritual (feat. JPEGMAFIA)
10. Shine (feat. Blood Orange)
11. Combat
