Danny Brown ignites a crowd of loyal fans at The Howard Theater; virtuosity, sincerity, and sobriety merge in the most lit tour of the season
Danny Brown released his sixth studio album, Quaranta, in November of 2023, though most of the songs were conceived during the pandemic lockdown when the artist was in his deepest period of drug and alcohol addiction. Among those credited on Quaranta are Kassa Overall, Mike, and members of Brown’s musical collective Bruiser Brigade (Bruiser Wolf and Skywlkr).
In his opening set, Bruiser Wolf took us back in time with early-nineties-inspired delivery and a Method Man meets Eminem vocal timbre. On the January 2024 release, My Story Got Stories, Bruiser and producer Raphy are a match made in heaven—the heaven where undeniable grooves and poetic verse reign eternal, of course. Aside from “Dope Boy,” a gorgeous track produced by Greg Zola, the Raphy tracks are clear standouts. In “Holla At Ya Mans,” Raphy’s lo-fi sensibility and effortless layering elevate Bruiser Wolf’s zany intonation. With the unexpected introduction of Eastern bell tone clusters, “Dope Ain’t Good” sparkles and unfolds as organically as the vintage soul sample nestled artfully into its beat. After delivering line after line of bitingly sarcastic verse, Bruiser Wolf’s grief was palpable as he ended his set with “Momma Was a Dopefiend,” a vulnerable tribute to his late mother from his acclaimed 2021 album Dope Game Stupid. “I was addicted to sellin', she was addicted to usin’; Opposite ends of the spectrum but go together; Like problems and solutions”—the line that stuck with me long after the lights came on.
Dressed like Darth Vader on his day off in a floor-length grey hooded hybrid duster/cape, Danny Brown kicked off his fierce set with the first four tracks from Quaranta. In the title track, Italian language samples and distant surf-sound guitars ease the listener into the artist’s alien sound world. Danny Brown’s time-tested dedication to his roots in the underground hip-hop scene is unparalleled at his level. Through his virtuosity and eccentric ear for producers, Brown has kept his finger on the pulse of the most innovative new music for over two decades. I first took notice of the rapper’s ability to unpack some seriously dark psychological material in his incandescent party anthems. Now, the 40-something artist stands before us, newly sober, radically present, and at the top of his game.
Wasting no time, Brown launched into “Tantor,” a minimalist math-rock-ish collaboration with The Alchemist. Using the center of the stage like a lectern, his body was still during verses, all rhythmic vitality transmitted through his flow. Despite broaching serious topics in his bars, Brown kept the vibe playful with his offbeat adlibs and a memorable sample from none other than Michael Scott.
“Monopoly” signaled a quick pivot to the white-hot braggadocio of XXX. Brown ignited the crowd, delivering lines like “Irritated when I’m not sedated” in the same breath as the infamous “Cool Ranch Doritos” bit (if you know, you know), which the crowd shouted in ardent unison. A significant portion of the set was dedicated to the JPEGMafia collaboration, Scaring the Hoes, released in March of 2023. Brown performed six selections from the record, truncating the tracks to shine a spotlight on JPEG’s technicolor instrumentals and arguably the rapper’s most intricate bars. Other highlights included Bruiser Wolf’s return to the stage for his inimitable verse on “Y.B.P.” and the searing social commentary of “Jen’s Terrific Vacation”. Brown decided to forgo the more introspective latter half of Quaranta for a fiery streak of bangers (“Really Doe,” “When It Rain,” “Ain’t it Funny”), a move that gave life to a full-fledged mosh pit.
I think the Quaranta tour will secure Danny Brown’s voice among the best rappers of all time. But this show was more than that for me; it felt more like a party than a concert. The vulnerability and raw talent of both Bruiser Wolf and Danny Brown created a special pocket of freedom from the outside world within the four walls of The Howard Theater. That’s what honest art does. From what little I know, the road hasn’t been an easy one for either artist. Highest praise to these two for staying true to themselves in the omnishambles of the music industry. In Danny Brown’s own words, “A lot of these rappers are like Fortnite. We’re the fucking Dark Souls of the shit.”
