Danger Mouse & Black Thought

Cheat Codes

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About this item

Unbelievable to think that this is Danger Mouse’s first hip-hop album proper since the 2005 collaboration with MF Doom (“DangerDOOM”). Not only that, it’s the first and only time The Roots’ Black Thought has worked with anyone else!

Brian Joseph Burton has, of course, been keeping busy. 2011 and 2019 saw acclaimed collabs with Daniele Lupi and Karen O respectively, whilst production duties with Gnarls Barkley and Gorillaz have seen him achieve platinum success and global adoration.

With Tariq Trotter (Black Thought) we find the producer’s freewheeling and uplifting yet gritty production paired beautifully with the rapper’s relentless, chorus-free lyrical deluge. Visceral boom-bap with myriad samples moulded into an anthemic, underground and intoxicating concoction that fans of old school hip-hop are gonna go nuts for. Black Thought’s razor sharp flow and insightful observations keep you hooked, multiple listens revealing their lyrical genius whilst the plethora of other celebrity guest vocalists also turn out award winning, stellar performances. Danger Mouse’s beat tapestries rival Madlib and Apollo Brown’s – the two comparable beatsmiths that jump to mind when I first heard the record. Yet don’t be thinking that Brian’s ripping anyone’s style – these unforced yet rugged instrumentals seem to burst out of the MPC with their own vivacity. As soon we heard it we knew it’d be one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The long awaited return of Danger Mouse and with The Roots' Black Thought plus a host of other rap celebrities he's only gone and turned out what might possibly be hip-hop album of 2022. Authentic boom-bap, conscious lyrics, well dug samples - this one's got it all for that old skool hip-hop fanatic. Check!

TRACK LISTING

Side 1
1. Sometimes
2. Cheat Codes (Explicit)
3. The Darkest Part (feat. Raekwon And Kid Sister)
4. No Gold Teeth (Explicit)
5. Because (feat. Joey Bada$$, Russ, And Dylan Cartlidge) (Explicit)
6. Belize (feat. MF DOOM) (Explicit)
Side 2
1. Aquamarine (feat. Michael Kiwanuka)
2. Identical Deaths
3. Strangers (feat. A$AP Rocky And Run The Jewels) (Explicit)
4. Close To Famous Explicit
5. Saltwater (feat. Conway The Machine) (Explicit)
6. Violas And Lupitas (Explicit)

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