The Misadventures of Danny Brown

It takes a special character to receive surprise fellatio onstage mid-performance (we’re not making this up) and then keep performing. But I guess that’s what happens when the majority of your lyrics focus on drugs, sex and the rockstar life (listen to the track “Die Like a Rockstar”). It’s the nature of the provocative rap beast.

And although Danny Brown would like to forget the awkward, sexually explicit moment in Minneapolis that ultimately went viral via the interwebs, fans and dissenters will most certainly not. But that one conspicuous moment doesn’t define the true ethos of the Detroit MC — in fact, his lyricism is impressive and his rhymes are entertaining but they’re not anything you’ll want to write home to your mother about.

In 2010, for his latest and most widely received mix tape, XXX (released 2011), Brown signed with A-Trak’s Fool’s Gold imprint to critical and popular claim. For a while it seemed that Brown would be a sure sign to 50 Cent’s G-Unit label, but his predilection to skinny jeans ruined that opportunity. “It was a real thing. 50 was with it; he just didn’t sign me because of my jeans. He liked the music, but he didn’t like the way I looked,” Brown told MTV’s Mixtape Daily. Regardless, Brown didn’t need the reassurance of ghetto rappers; he was already on a path to pop culture enlightenment.

His raps are at once intelligent and irreverent. “Radio Song” is a sly prod at commercial rappers while “Blunt After Blunt” is a stoner’s anthem that makes a mockery of G-Unit’s disapproval of his fashion: “Complain about my jeans cause I’m taking all they hos.” But those are just two themes in a colossal 22-track collection, so there’s a lot to explore in the Danny Brown experience.

But his studio sessions don’t do Danny Brown justice; it’s his live shows that exemplify the true energy behind each lyric. And sure, he might not be flattering to pious ears, but the guy knows how to work a crowd.

Danny Brown performs with OverDoz 9 pm Thursday, May 23, at WOW Hall; $15 door, $75 Meet & Greet Package.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!