From Addiction to Success: Danny Brown's Sobriety Journey | Danny Brown DSH #940

Summary

Digital Social Hour Podcast Summary

Episode Title: From Addiction to Success: Danny Brown's Sobriety Journey | Danny Brown DSH #940
Host: Sean Kelly
Release Date: December 1, 2024

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of the Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly sits down with renowned artist Danny Brown to delve deep into his personal journey from addiction to sobriety. The conversation navigates through Danny's struggles with substance abuse, his path to recovery, and how these experiences have shaped his life and career in the music industry.

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Early Addiction and Struggles

Danny Brown opens up about his long-standing battle with addiction, particularly focusing on his relationship with alcohol and substances like weed and Adderall.

Danny Brown [06:03]: "I don't smoke... I don't do anything. Oh yeah, no, I'm pretty. I don't even smoke. I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. I don't even smoke cigarettes no more."

He reflects on how substances like weed served as a coping mechanism during his younger years but eventually became a hindrance to his personal and professional growth.

Danny Brown [07:35]: "I don't even have no desire to ever smoke weed again, dude."

---

The Sobriety Journey

Danny discusses his pivotal decision to seek help and the challenges he faced during his rehabilitation process. He emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and altering his environment to support his sobriety.

Danny Brown [10:17]: "Yeah, that was like my main focus of going to rehab, because moving out here. I was moving out here to get sober, to get in the cleanup."

He highlights how distancing himself from familiar environments in Detroit, which were saturated with his previous lifestyle, was crucial for his recovery.

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Impact on Personal Life and Relationships

Sobriety brought significant changes to Danny's personal life, including his relationships and daily routines. He shares insights into how maintaining discipline, such as journaling and adhering to a strict sleep schedule, has been instrumental in his sustained sobriety.

Danny Brown [02:38]: "Just like a stream of consciousness, just writing out everything."

These practices not only aided his recovery but also enhanced his ability to self-reflect and stay focused on his goals.

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Creativity and Music Career Post-Sobriety

A central theme of the episode is Danny's evolution as an artist post-sobriety. He contrasts his creative output during his addiction with his current state, where he finds inspiration and fulfillment in his music without relying on substances.

Danny Brown [11:34]: "I mean, really, now I've just been. I mean, I've just been more focused on making music as hard as, like, I say it was fun."

Danny describes the creative high he experiences from producing music, likening it to a new form of addiction that drives his passion and dedication.

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Perspectives on the Music Industry

Danny offers a nuanced perspective on the current state of the music industry, particularly in hip-hop. He discusses the democratization of music production and distribution, allowing artists to share their work more freely than ever before.

Danny Brown [12:14]: "I think that's great in anything, you know."

He also touches upon the challenges artists face with rapid content production and the importance of maintaining authenticity and quality in their work.

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Current Focus and Future Plans

Looking ahead, Danny shares his commitment to creating meaningful music and his plans to collaborate with other artists to push his creative boundaries.

Danny Brown [14:28]: "Then after a while, you know, you starting to see what works and start to craft around that."

He discusses his process of refining his music, ensuring that each project aligns with his artistic vision and personal growth.

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Conclusion

Danny Brown's candid conversation on this episode of Digital Social Hour offers a profound look into the struggles and triumphs of overcoming addiction. His journey underscores the power of self-discipline, the importance of a supportive environment, and the transformative impact of pursuing one's passion with authenticity and dedication. Listeners are left inspired by Danny's resilience and his unwavering commitment to personal and professional excellence.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Danny Brown [01:01]: "Smoking weed is not the worst, but it can be a gateway."
• Danny Brown [02:38]: "Just like a stream of consciousness, just writing out everything."
• Danny Brown [07:35]: "I don't even have no desire to ever smoke weed again, dude."
• Danny Brown [10:17]: "Yeah, that was like my main focus of going to rehab, because moving out here. I was moving out here to get sober, to get in the cleanup."
• Danny Brown [11:34]: "I mean, really, now I've just been. I mean, I've just been more focused on making music as hard as, like, I say it was fun."
• Danny Brown [12:14]: "I think that's great in anything, you know."

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Where to Find Danny Brown

Stay updated with Danny Brown's latest projects and performances by following him on social media:

• Twitter/X: @DannyXBrownX

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Note: This summary omits advertisements, introductory remarks, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive conversation between Sean Kelly and Danny Brown.

Transcript

[Unnamed Student]

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[Danny Brown]

Smoking weed is not the worst, but it can be a gateway. And I truly do believe that it is a gateway in some sense because I could totally see myself being high at some party after the 90 days. I didn't have no craving for it to do it or anything. Once I made it a year, I was like, man, you know, maybe I can just try it, you know, man, this weed is different nowadays, man. I literally took two puffs and was wondering what was going on in my life. It was almost one of those things like, when does it end? Like I used to willingly do this. I can't believe it.

[Interviewer]

All right, guys, got Danny Brown here today. Thanks for coming on, man.

[Danny Brown]

Thanks for having me, brother.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Out here in your hometown, Austin.

[Danny Brown]

I wouldn't call it my hometown just yet. Only been here a few years.

[Interviewer]

Home for now. You liking it though?

[Danny Brown]

You can see I live here.

[Interviewer]

What makes you like it here?

[Danny Brown]

I mean, it's just a. I mean, coming from Detroit, you're just a healthier lifestyle to live here, you know.

[Interviewer]

Detroit's cold, man.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I mean, obviously that too, so. But it gets so hot here is almost the same thing in some sense.

[Interviewer]

Like sweating my ass off.

[Danny Brown]

Yesterday, my favorite thing about Detroit was that at least two months, three months out the year, you can't go outside. So that's what I think breeds a lot of creativity being there. But here, same thing, it gets so hot sometimes three to four months out the year, you can't even go outside.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, you are very creative. You were just journaling outside just now.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, that's just something I picked up in rehab and just been keeping it going. I mean, it's just something like, you know, get up and get all your thoughts out in the morning and kind of. It's almost like I learned. It's kind of like a discipline thing too. Like if I put it down on paper, then I kind of have to do it.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You know, so you're just writing how you feel.

[Danny Brown]

Just like a stream of consciousness, just writing out everything.

[Interviewer]

That's cool because these days it's hard to self reflect because everything's so fast paced, you know, People never just sit down and think about their day.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah. I mean, it's. I wouldn't say it's more like a planning of my day, but sometimes like I just put certain things in there. Like I have to record a song today.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

And I. I don't know, something about it when you write it down, it just makes it like you have to do it. Yeah, it sticks in my brain or something, I guess.

[Interviewer]

No, it's powerful. I do it too. I have a gratitude journal. I have a little diary and I have a sleep journal.

[Danny Brown]

What is that?

[Interviewer]

I keep track of my dreams.

[Danny Brown]

Oh, okay. Yeah, I'm digging some of my. I mean, some of my dreams, I just can't remember them when I wake up. And then this is like I have a feeling.

[Interviewer]

Well, once you start writing them, you'll start remembering them. So now I remember four days I'd.

[Danny Brown]

Be having like weird dreams that don't make any sense though. So it's like. I don't know.

[Interviewer]

I saw you say on another show you had sleep paralysis.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, a few times.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

That shit's no joke.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I thought I was dying.

[Interviewer]

Same.

[Danny Brown]

I really, I didn't. Yeah, I had it a few times, but it happened once when I was like a teenager and I wasn't like drinking or doing anything. Damn. But the last time I had it, I was like, you know, I was partying and stuff. So.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I had it when I was a teenager. Dude, the guy was choking me out.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, it's pretty much the same thing.

[Unnamed Guest]

Crazy.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I thought it was real life.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, like. Like in like my mom, she called like the witch riding your back. It's like almost like some. I don't know. But it was definitely a scary thing to go through. I mean, what is the basic. Like, do you understand it? Like, why does that happen?

[Interviewer]

I don't think anyone fully knows, but I did find out my old house was haunted.

[Danny Brown]

Oh, okay.

[Interviewer]

Recently. So I think that guy just didn't like me or whatever that ghost was. Who knows though? I believe in ghosts. I know that's a controversial thing, but.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, I can say I've came across any ghosts.

[Interviewer]

See you're not.

[Danny Brown]

I mean I believe in energies and spirits. I guess so. I guess I do, you know. Yeah, so I guess I do in some sense.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I think when you pass there's. Because I've had some close people pass to me and I feel like I've felt them in certain moments. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, I know we're getting deep real quick. You, do you still sleep at 10pm?

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, definitely.

[Unnamed Guest]

Damn.

[Interviewer]

So you're super disciplined.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, you know, I just, I feel like I'm catching up. It's been many nights. I didn't sleep for days, so. And then it was a point in time in my life where I couldn't get more than four hours of sleep.

[Unnamed Guest]

Geez.

[Danny Brown]

So it's, it's been really great. I mean obviously I use the sleep aid now, you know.

[Interviewer]

Cannabis.

[Danny Brown]

No, I don't smoke. I don't do anything. Oh yeah, no, I'm pretty. I don't even smoke. I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. I don't even smoke cigarettes no more. I mean obviously I'm zen nicotine pouches.

[Interviewer]

Now, but those are addicting.

[Danny Brown]

I don't, no, I don't smoke weed. I actually once I became a year sober, you know, because I love smoking weed. I still do love it, you know, but I was like, you know, I made it a year and plus when I first got out of rehab it was, it was real cool. I was in there. Of course you in there, you don't really have no thoughts. But as soon as I got home it was almost like, like what do I do? You know, because everything I did revolved around me smoking weed with it. Like if I'm recording music, playing video games, it just, you know, just chilling every day. So when I got home it was really hard for me to sleep at night. All type of. So I was, you know, going to my therapist and stuff and I was just talking to him a lot like, you know, just asking him questions about. He was like, man, at least make it 90 days, you know, while you in a free world. And you know, if you still feel the same way, probably, you know, smoking weed is not the worst, but it can be a gateway, you know. And I truly do believe that it is a gateway in some sense because I could totally see myself being high at some part Way to eat a tea.

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[Danny Brown]

Somebody like, yo, you want a drink? And in my high brain be like, one drink ain't too bad. Before I know it, I'm back in the loop. But so I did give it 90 days. And after the 90 days, I didn't have no craving for it to do it or anything. But I was on tour and you know, my everybody around me smoked weed all day. So it's like once I made it a year, I was like, man, you know, maybe I can just try it, you know. But man, this weed is different nowadays, man. I. I literally took two puffs and was wondering what was going on in my life. It was almost one of those things like, when does it end? Like I used to willingly do this. I can't believe it. So I'm glad I got that FOMO out the way.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

So I don't. Yeah, I don't even have no desire to ever smoke weed again, dude.

[Interviewer]

It's too strong now. It's like probably 10 times as strong.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

Because the weed I grew up as a kid smoking, you know, it, it just make you sleepy and probably eat some bad food or something. But now this weed is almost like doing heroin, man.

[Interviewer]

This has you questioning existence.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah. So it's real. I just was like, so I'm glad I did get that out the way with. So now anytime I even think about smoking weed, I just remember back that time in that Seattle dressing room where I was going through my whole life, you know.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I had to stop with edibles too.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I used to love edibles.

[Unnamed Guest]

Used to love them.

[Danny Brown]

But I was up to taking like 1200 milligrams a day.

[Interviewer]

Oh my gosh.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, that was around the time, like I said, I was only getting like four hours of sleep a night. So it was really helping Me sleep good.

[Interviewer]

Dude, if I take 10 milligrams, I.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I'm sure I'll be the same way now, you know, 1200.

[Interviewer]

It's insane. Damn. So weed was a huge part of your life growing up?

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I smoked weed. I mean, I dabble with it in my teenage years, but at least every day of my life since I was, like, 18.

[Interviewer]

And did you feel like it helped your creativity?

[Danny Brown]

I thought so then, but now since I'm not using and I'm still. And I'm way more creative than ever, so I feel like it was anything. It was clouding my. You know, it was blocking my creativity, but.

[Unnamed Guest]

Wow.

[Danny Brown]

So I'm. I'm impressed with myself. To be able to do what I've done, as much stuff as I used to do.

[Interviewer]

That's interesting because there's a lot of artists that say it helps.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, you know, I would take a lot of Adderall, too, so that's.

[Interviewer]

A whole nother demon. Yeah, Adderall. You're not eating all day.

[Danny Brown]

You're just almost not sleeping. Just.

[Interviewer]

Everyone's taking. What's that? Ozempic now? Yeah, that shit's everywhere.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, we don't need it. I'm too skinny for Ozempic, you know?

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah, I've.

[Interviewer]

I've been skinny my whole damn life.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, same, same. I mean, I'm a little skinny fat. I get my little penguin belly every now and then. Yeah, I mean, I'm dropping ever since I've stop drinking, obviously, you know.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

So you're done drinking? Completely.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah. That was like. That was like my main focus of going to rehab, because moving out here. I was moving out here to get sober, to get in the cleanup. You know, I feel like, you know, your environment is everything. And in Detroit, you know, being around my friends and everybody knows, it would have been really harder for me to, you know, to get clean. But I moved out here and, you know, I was getting. I was away from the blow and, you know, stuff like that. But I would go out drinking all the time by mistake sometime because, you know, we was living downtown, and I could just end up going to, like, the Whole Foods, and before I know it, I'm. Something in my alcoholic brain was like, just stop at this bar and have a drink. And before I know it, it's been 10 hours I've been at this bar, now I'm doing blow with a random stranger in the bathroom. So it was like, it's gonna find you if it needs to, you know, that escalated quickly.

[Interviewer]

There's a lot of bars out here, though.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yes.

[Danny Brown]

I'm saying. But I just don't even. I kind of just don't even really put myself in that situation no more.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Environment's important. Why were. Why do you think you wanted to drink? Like, was it a coping thing?

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, definitely. I probably wasn't too satisfied with where I was at in my life, but at the end of the day, it was pretty much all my own doing from my alcoholism and my drug abuse, you know.

[Interviewer]

That's crazy. You had a lot of success in your, like, notoriety, but you still weren't happy.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I mean, I think. I think everybody always feel like they want more, but, you know, I. At the end of the day, I really just believed that it was. I was. I was a drug addict. I was, you know, I was alcoholic. So. You can't really get all your blessings when you clouding yourself like that, Clouding your judgment too and, you know, ruining relationships, being fucked up all the time, you know.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You see a lot of people with that lifestyle actually end up in rehab or something serious.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, it starts out fun, and before you know it, it's not fun anymore, you know?

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I don't. I'm not a partier, to be honest.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You know, I mean.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, you don't have to be if you really. I mean, once it. Once addiction grabs you, you're doing it by yourself. You don't even got a party no more, you know, I would say I'm.

[Interviewer]

Addicted, though, just to, like, success and networking.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, that's great business. That's the best way to be.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, once, you know, you drop. I mean, one. One good thing when you drop all the bad habits, you know, you pick up healthier ones.

[Interviewer]

Absolutely.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

What's the main focus for you now? Because I know you do a few things.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, really, now I've just been. I mean, I've just been more focused on making music as hard as, like, I say it was fun. You know, you party and you. And you make music and stuff. But then it gets to the point in my life where I was like, let me just. It became more like work, and I'll be like, let me just get this out the way with so I can go back and do what I was doing. But now it's like, that is my drug now. It's just creating stuff. So because you. You literally get a high. You get a high of making something crazy and just sitting back listening to it and be like, oh, man, I can't Wait to people hear this or just even being on stage. And after you leave stage, it's like a dopamine rush kind of thing. So I'm just more addicted to that now.

[Interviewer]

I feel that. How do you feel about the current state of the music scene?

[Danny Brown]

I love it. I think it's always been. People can always complain and say, you know, the good old days and stuff like that. But I think me being in Detroit all my life and not really an industry there, so I had to go to, like, to New York and LA to be able to get situations or to be able to work. And now you can just upload a song. Anybody can just be able to just make a song and just put it up. And if it's good, you know, you can get a following from it. So I think that's. I think that's great in anything, you know.

[Interviewer]

Let's dive more into that, because I just had Charleston White on yesterday, and he said he wants hip hop band. So you're like the complete opposite.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, it's. It's. That's the thing about hip hop is that they all box it into one thing. You know, it's so many different genres, sub genres inside the genre. I mean, if it was more, you know, like rock, it's alternative rock, hard rock, slow rock, metal, you know, I think hip hop probably needs to be divided up more. So he probably just talking about one style of hip hop.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, he's talking about the drug style, killing style.

[Danny Brown]

I understand that.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, I wouldn't say. I mean, art. Art is art. You know, if that was the case, then movies need to be banned, you know.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Well, he said Russia banned it. I didn't even know that, but I can see that. Apparently Putin banned it. Yeah, they're strict over there, right? God damn. Banning a whole genre, it's crazy. You're killing it with your pod, too.

[Danny Brown]

Hey, it's fun. It's something. You know, it definitely gave me more empathy for journalists and people that do interviews.

[Interviewer]

Oh, yeah. Because you were anti media before that.

[Danny Brown]

I wouldn't say never anti media, but, you know, sometimes just doing a lot of press, you can get, you know, you can get warped, you can get tired of it, you know.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

And not be your best self. So it was some times where I wasn't putting the best representation of myself out in interviews.

[Interviewer]

I feel that you see that with artists and athletes, but now they're starting their own shows, and it's cool to see their actual perspective on things. Like Draymond Green and stuff.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I love it.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Before, it seemed like the media would just provoke them with certain questions.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah. So you. I definitely have a lot more empathy for people that do this.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You working on an album right now?

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, just pretty much in the beginning stages, actually. As soon as I leave them here, I gotta go to studio.

[Unnamed Guest]

Nice.

[Interviewer]

What's that process look like when you want to start one? Like, how long does it take on it?

[Danny Brown]

Right now, it's just pretty much throwing everything to the wall and seeing what sticks. Then after a while, you know, you starting to see what works and start to craft around that.

[Interviewer]

Okay. Do you have collabs you want to do?

[Danny Brown]

I mean, I'm. Right now I'm actually going to a studio with Frost Children. So I've been working with them a lot and, you know, just a lot more people. I feel like that would challenge me.

[Interviewer]

The scene's good out here for music, though, in Austin.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, it's a musical place, but I wouldn't say for hip hop as much, you know.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

Right now it's going through, like, a comedy renaissance, I would say.

[Interviewer]

If anything, I'm a big food guy. So is the food better here or Detroit?

[Danny Brown]

I think Texas just crazy in general, you know, it's almost. It's almost a co sign to be fat here. You skinny here. They like how you do that, you know, But I mean, it depends on. It's certain things. Everybody got a certain thing, you know, Like, I feel like I can't get a better corned beef sandwich than Detroit, you know?

[Interviewer]

Corned beef. I love corned beef. I love brisket, too.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

But the brisket here is crazy. I. You can't get any better brisket than in here, you know, I gotta get that tonight.

[Interviewer]

Where's your favorite spot to perform? At cities or.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, I always love being in Europe because I got more of. I mean, I've just been so, like, London, you know, my record labels there, I've been. So this is like one of my biggest influences and how I make music is a lot of the London music. So.

[Interviewer]

Wow.

[Danny Brown]

When I'm out there, it's crazy. It's always love, you know? So I really love London.

[Interviewer]

So your labels in London.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, Warp.

[Interviewer]

What made you want to sign to an overseas label?

[Danny Brown]

I mean, at the. I mean, they get me. Like, I say a lot of my music is influenced from. From. From the uk, so. But, you know, during that time, and then it's just such a really, like, historic label. Like, all the things they've been doing for over the years and just to be able to be involved with them was just like an honor for me.

[Interviewer]

What did you think of this recent beef with like these artists Drake and Kendrick?

[Danny Brown]

I mean, that was just something brewing. I mean hip hop is always a. A dick slinging contest. So I mean, it was something that been brewing. I'm glad they got it up, got it over with.

[Interviewer]

I don't know if it's over with.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, I think it's over.

[Interviewer]

I think the best.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah. But I'm talking about with Kendrick and Drake, I think Rick Ross, once they, you know, turns to like physical violence and that's outside of rap music, you know.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Have you ever gotten any beasts like that or.

[Danny Brown]

No.

[Interviewer]

Do you stay in your own lane?

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I mean, I mean, but like I say rap, it can come, you.

[Interviewer]

Know, I could see why people do it because I heard a lot of them are fake. I mean, the views were nuts.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I don't think, I don't think.

[Interviewer]

This one was, but yeah, because being.

[Danny Brown]

Because people lose careers, there's been a lot of artists that they never been the same after they went through something like that. So I don't think anyone would want to fake it, you know.

[Interviewer]

So you don't think any of them have been fake in the past?

[Danny Brown]

Nah. Really? Not. Not none that I can think of. You know, I mean, if it was fake, then it probably wasn't that big, you know.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I could see that.

[Danny Brown]

Because you gotta hit below the belt, you know.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

You can't take things back. And so, you know, you don't engage.

[Interviewer]

In anything on Twitter, any trolls or anything.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, I used to, but you know, I'm. I'm 40 years old now. It's like, that's like even though I was in my 30s doing like that, but at this age of my life, I try to not even involve myself in any type of negativity like that.

[Interviewer]

You've really mellowed out and just kind of don't want any drama.

[Danny Brown]

No, definitely.

[Interviewer]

That's cool. Yeah, I'm like that now too, but I used to really get wrapped up in comments, to be honest.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I mean, once you understand how trolling works, you know, you understand it. So I, I really don't get. Only anything that I see online affects me in my personal life.

[Interviewer]

I feel that, man. Any upcoming performances or.

[Danny Brown]

I'm actually going to Detroit this weekend and opening up a Red man and Method Man.

[Interviewer]

Nice.

[Danny Brown]

So I've been a huge fan of them all my life, so it'd be real great. I actually met them a few times, so it's pretty cool. That's cool.

[Interviewer]

Who are your biggest inspirations for your music?

[Danny Brown]

You say Nas has always been my favorite rapper, you know, but like, Dizzy Rascal is like one of my hugest influences. On me, I would say MF Doom and Andre 3000 and Prodigy from my deep. It's like my top five, you know. Then of course, like Ghostface and E40, but, you know, they can all switch to one to five or whatever at any given time.

[Interviewer]

So you got a little old school taste.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, I'm old. I mean, what's. What's newer that I feel. I mean, like, I feel like Kendrick has consistently been the best rapper this newer generation, so.

[Interviewer]

Well, he took a few years off, but yeah, coming back, I mean, we.

[Danny Brown]

Just look at it like that in this new generation. But Art has always took two years off.

[Interviewer]

Really.

[Danny Brown]

You know, Nas never. I mean, now you've seen him be more productive because this is what the climate is. But it always been rappers. I remember me growing up, like every two years.

[Interviewer]

Okay. See, I like that more, actually, because then they actually have time to think.

[Danny Brown]

And I mean, you can get the best project out of them that way. And then it also give you. Give you time to miss somebody, and it also gives you time to grow with the album that you got from them.

[Interviewer]

Agree.

[Danny Brown]

You know, when someone released some music so quick, it's just you obviously know they didn't have enough time to sit with the music to see if they really like it. There's nothing worse than putting out a song. And now you on stage and you're like, I don't really like this shit no more.

[Interviewer]

No. Because now these labels, I don't know if it's the labels, but I feel like artists are dropping an album each year.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, that's just them. I'm pretty sure labels don't want that.

[Interviewer]

Oh, they don't want that.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Danny Brown]

They want to put out the best possible project that they can.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yes.

[Danny Brown]

You know, that's why you see a lot of artists always complaining like they I can't drop music. I can't drop music. I mean, the best thing to do is, because I learned this from working with Q Tip, is that you need to give the music all the love it can possibly get before you put it into the world. Because once you put it out there, you can't take it back. So the best thing to do is sit with it post, you know, always tinkering with it. Do Something like, I'll sit around with a song for a year or two years before I even think about releasing it.

[Interviewer]

And do you have people you send it to to get on?

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, you know, my A. R.S. and my manager and stuff. But it's almost like if you can sit around with a song for two years and you still love it the same way as when you first listen to it, then you know, that's. That's something you can put in the world, you know?

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Wow. I didn't know that much time went into your stuff. That's cool, though.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah. Pretty much put out albums every two sometimes. This last time, I think took four years, maybe four years.

[Unnamed Guest]

Wow.

[Interviewer]

You ever have songs that just popped off that you didn't expect it or.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, I mean, my. One of my biggest songs, grown up. I mean, I just made that song in, like, 15 minutes. It's almost one of those things where you'd be like, what? You know, because sometimes, like I say, you spend so much time on a song and making music, and then you can just do something so quick, and it becomes, like, your biggest song. It's like, great. But I think that's just Lightning in a bottle.

[Interviewer]

You hear stories of that where, like, their artist's biggest song, they wrote it in, like, 10 minutes.

[Danny Brown]

I mean, it's Lightning in a bottle for the most part.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Danny Brown]

But you still want to be able to have that groundwork of really solid material that you can always fall back on, you know?

[Interviewer]

Do you ever go through writer's blocks?

[Danny Brown]

Yeah, but I believe when you're writing about your life and you're telling the truth, you can never really have a writer's block.

[Interviewer]

Facts. Yeah. If you're not making up.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah. That's when you can't think of. Because you're trying to be. You're trying to be the coolest, and you're trying to say the dopest stuff you can possibly say. But when you just writing about what you're going through and you being honest with you with your words and whatever you putting out there, I don't think you can really have a writer's block with that.

[Unnamed Guest]

I like that.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. I feel like people can sense authenticity better these days.

[Danny Brown]

But also sometimes I feel like if I do have, like, you know, just a creative stint, I think it's time for me to go live life so I can have something to talk about.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Danny Brown]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Because, you know, it's home all day.

[Danny Brown]

If you're just in the studio every day. Every day. And that's all you're doing, but you know it. You're just going to be rapping about rapping.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

It's like those guys that read books all day. They never take action on it. 100%, dude. It's been cool. Where can people find you and find where you're performing next?

[Danny Brown]

You know, all my social medias is X, Danny X, Brown X. And I just pretty much finished a few tours, so now it's time for me to make music, you know, so I'll probably be chilling for a little bit.

[Interviewer]

We'll link your podcast, too.

[Danny Brown]

Thank you. Definitely.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Thanks for coming on, man.

[Danny Brown]

Thank you, man.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Thanks for watching, guys. See you tomorrow.