Boasting production credits from Q-Tip, Danny goes into shocking detail of his past sexual escapades – in other words “airing out his dirty laundry.”
The theme of washing/doing laundry is repeated throughout the track, particularly in the second verse where he variously references: bleach, soap, Clorox, Tide, Arm & Hammer, Gain, hanging clothing out to dry, spin cycles, and mopping up.
“This is actually the version that people hearing, but what sparked it pretty much was just stand-up comedy. I wrote it more in a talky flow. The first version. And it was more of like, you know. It was just my version of doing a stand-up comedy set. It’s just jokes.“
“When I was talking about signing with Fool’s Gold, Q-Tip was the one that put the battery in the back to tell them to make it happen, you know what I’m saying? So I think he always been following my music to this point, so once we started to start talking about this album, it’s always want to have an executive producer involved in it, just somebody to help out. And he just came the board. My managers just hooked it up, so shouts out Tip. Working with Q-Tip, man, it was a humbling experience because we always think you know everything but when you’re around somebody like such a legend like him you got to take his criticism to heart. He ain’t going to steer you down a wrong path when it comes to making music. This is his passion, just like us. I used to record songs and it was almost like trying to catch lightning in a bottle almost. I’d just want to probably just get one take and try to capture the emotion more so than getting all the words right. But with him, he like, “Nah, man. You only got so much time before you put this music out in the world, so might as well give it all the love and care that it needs before people start to hear it. Because it’s like, once you put it out, it’s over.” So he pays a lot of attention to detail. Now I see that in the product after you put a lot of work into something like that. I’m happy with the way everything turned out.“
“Before, I felt like it almost had to be like I’m trying to do a séance or something. Man, I got to have the candles going, I got to have the right incense, the right show on in the background. But now, it’s like, “Man. I’m a pro at this shit, man.” I just sit down whenever I feel, because at the end of the day, I look at it like, “This ain’t you. This a talent. This is coming from a higher power, so who is you to sit around think you need all that shit just to make it happen? All you got to do it put the pen to the paper and it’s going to happen.” So that’s what I go for now. I look at more, not like a job I would say, but almost like getting reps. You know what I’m saying? Just being a pro, man. That’s how I look at it, man. You’ve got to train.“
- Danny Brown via Genius Annotations
Dirty Laundry
Danny Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sleep with the beast, then you in the lions den
Still drop dirty, have to pop a Niacin
Itched all damn day, just to get violated
Ever seen a roach with babies have babies?
In the hood, like whatever, we getting this bitch together
Once got a ho, ain't had money for the room
So we did the humpty hump in a Burger King bathroom
The way she slurp slurp, she's the quicker picker upper
No job, dropped out and a felon
On the Net, met a fat white bitch named Helen
300 hundred pounds, maybe more like 280
Had a couple babies, 270 give or takey
Call that securin' the bag, had to fight the baby dad
Try to stop how I eat, so I got up on his ass
What's in the dark, always come to light
Head was nasty, you'd think she had head lice
Why try? Throw bleach in your eye
Put your life on the line, hang 'em out to dry
Tryna keep my hands clean, out here ridin' dirty
Shit get messy? Mop him up with the .30
High Tide, Gain, or the Arm and Hammer
Swim towards the current, system tryna drown me
Stain your record like Clorox and darks
Spin cycle had four tops for one
Out the slums, nobody gave me nothin'
Had temptations, so I hustled, David Ruffin
Papa was a rolling stone, so I sold rocks to him
Beam up Scotty, we got lift-off Houston
Left my sack in my clothes, mama just did a load
Eight ball in my jeans, they say it tastes like soap
Twenty five peep show when I enter the booth
Mop the floor when I leave, might slip if you do
Cover your ears if you're kids, we got round two
Fuck a bitch two times, call it deja vu
Fuck a stripper for some change, actual change
Dime, penny, nickels, actual change
Okay, wanna hear the story? Left the house in a hurry
I was in Hunky Dory's, got some dances from Lori
Left my wallet at home, ain't wanna hear that story
In the car, had change from laundry
Had to wash clothes anyway, told her, "I'm sorry"
Slow anyway, before you was boring
Said, "Gimme a moment," jumped on it and bounced
No fabric softener, 'cause I was hard
Then she gave me head, had me moaning and groaning
Guess who I seen doing laundry next morning
In Danny Brown's song "Dirty Laundry," the rapper discusses various experiences he's had with women, drugs, and crime. The lyrics are filled with explicit language and vivid imagery, painting an honest and raw picture of the rapper's life experiences. In the first verse, Brown talks about the struggles of living in poverty, having sex in a Burger King bathroom, and getting involved with a fat white woman named Helen. He also touches on the themes of betrayal and violence, with lines like "try to stop how I eat, so I got up on his ass."
The chorus of the song further emphasizes the theme of darkness and the revealing of secrets, with the line "what's in the dark, always come to light." Brown raps about using bleach as a weapon and his experiences with drug use, all while trying to maintain his reputation. The second verse touches on the idea of being a self-made man and hustling to survive, with lines like "Out the slums, nobody gave me nothin' / Had temptations, so I hustled, David Ruffin."
Overall, Brown's lyrics in "Dirty Laundry" are reflective of his gritty and honest approach to his music. His storytelling ability is on full display as he delves into various aspects of his life, including the struggles of growing up in poverty and the realities of the criminal underworld.
Line by Line Meaning
The Hybrid, I'm telling you, try again
Danny Brown introduces himself with his stage name and tells the listener they should give him a chance and listen to him once more.
Sleep with the beast, then you in the lions den
Danny Brown warns the listener that associating with dangerous people or behavior can lead to being in a very risky situation.
Still drop dirty, have to pop a Niacin
Danny Brown confesses that he still does drugs and has to take medication to detoxify his system by flushing out the toxins.
Itched all damn day, just to get violated
Danny Brown shares a personal experience of being drug tested and having to endure the discomfort of itching all day knowing he will fail the test.
Ever seen a roach with babies have babies?
Danny Brown uses a metaphor to depict the harsh environment of the poverty-stricken areas in which he grew up by asking if the listener has ever seen how quickly multiple generations of roaches can reproduce.
In the hood, like whatever, we getting this bitch together
Danny Brown reflects on the resilience of people in the ghetto who band together to overcome challenges.
Once got a ho, ain't had money for the room
Danny Brown recounts a situation where he had sex with a prostitute but couldn't afford to rent a room so they did it in a Burger King bathroom.
So we did the humpty hump in a Burger King bathroom
Danny Brown uses a playful reference to the popular and provocative dance in the 1990s while emphasizing the less-than-ideal location.
Lowkey kept it undercover
Danny Brown acknowledges that it was important to keep his extramarital affair and prostitution hidden from the public eye and sanitized for his image.
The way she slurp slurp, she's the quicker picker upper
Danny Brown employs a clever play on words referencing the Bounty paper towel's popular slogan to describe the talent of the prostitute he hired.
No job, dropped out and a felon
Danny Brown admits that he didn't have many opportunities and challenges as an ex-convict, high school dropout, and jobless individual.
On the Net, met a fat white bitch named Helen
Danny Brown reveals how he found solace in online dating and a fling with a bigger woman.
300 hundred pounds, maybe more like 280
Danny Brown makes a humorous reference to Helen's weight and pokes fun, while also detailing an intimate detail of his past.
Had a couple babies, 270 give or takey
Danny Brown paints a picture of Helen's past, giving a broad idea of how many children she might have had.
Call that securin' the bag, had to fight the baby dad
Danny Brown comments on fatherhood and the financial responsibilities that come with a child, sharing how he secured the bag by fighting off Helen's baby daddy.
Try to stop how I eat, so I got up on his ass
Danny Brown emphasizes the importance of standing up for oneself and one's interests in the face of adversity.
What's in the dark, always come to light
Danny Brown recognizes the adage that secrets don't remain secret forever and that everything comes to light eventually.
Head was nasty, you'd think she had head lice
Danny Brown comments on the woman's hygiene who gave him head and suggests it was not up to par.
Why try? Throw bleach in your eye
Danny Brown recognizes the futility of trying against forces beyond one's control and instead suggests doing something to inflict self-harm.
Put your life on the line, hang 'em out to dry
Danny Brown suggests taking significant risks for personal gain even with the possibility of severe consequences.
Tryna keep my hands clean, out here ridin' dirty
Danny Brown suggests that he tries to stay clear of trouble and avoid legal trouble while still engaging in illegal and risky behavior.
Shit get messy? Mop him up with the .30
Danny Brown offers a graphic suggestion of how to deal with the messiness of illegal activity and personal conflict by shooting the problem dead.
High Tide, Gain, or the Arm and Hammer
Danny Brown lists different brands of laundry detergent, but in the context of the song, it could suggest how different people have different preferences and options based on the products' prices and their life situations.
Swim towards the current, system tryna drown me
Danny Brown notices the systemic oppression and racism present in society and how it is deliberately trying to suppress him and others like him.
Stain your record like Clorox and darks
Danny Brown cleverly plays on the phrase, trying to 'clean your record,' or criminal history, as he likens the importance of removing stains on clothes similar to removing blemishes on a criminal record.
Spin cycle had four tops for one
Danny Brown uses a laundry metaphor to describe the high turnover of relationships and sex partners he encounters in his lifestyle.
Out the slums, nobody gave me nothin'
Danny Brown acknowledges the harsh beginnings he had in life and how he had to rely on himself to make his way out of it.
Had temptations, so I hustled, David Ruffin
Danny Brown's hustle and financial motivation is compared to the late Motown singer David Ruffin's drug habits and slothful lifestyle.
Papa was a rolling stone, so I sold rocks to him
Danny Brown refers to his deceased father and his drug addiction, while saying he capitalized on his addiction and sold drugs to him to make money.
Beam up Scotty, we got lift-off Houston
Danny Brown briefly mentions a popular Star Trek catchphrase to suggest that he is finally leaving behind his hardships and escaping to a better life.
Left my sack in my clothes, mama just did a load
Danny Brown reveals that his mother did his laundry even though there were drugs in his possession.
Eight ball in my jeans, they say it tastes like soap
Danny Brown tells the listener what it's like to have an eight-ball of cocaine in his possession and how it feels to consume it.
Twenty five peep show when I enter the booth
Danny Brown describes his self-proclaimed artistry by likening it to an adult entertainment show.
Mop the floor when I leave, might slip if you do
Danny Brown suggests that he left a mess behind after his performance that could cause injury or harm and had to be cleaned up.
Cover your ears if you're kids, we got round two
Danny Brown warns that his material may contain explicit or adult-themed content that may not be appropriate for children.
Fuck a bitch two times, call it deja vu
Danny Brown uses a light-hearted tone with a pun to tell of the women he had sex with twice.
Fuck a stripper for some change, actual change
Danny Brown's story of receiving change after having sex with a stripper appears to be an anecdote to remind the listener of how low he had to stoop to get by financially.
Dime, penny, nickels, actual change
Danny Brown is demonstrating how little he got paid for sex as one dime equals ten cents, one nickel equals five cents, and one penny equals one cent.
Okay, wanna hear the story? Left the house in a hurry
Danny Brown employs a friendly and charismatic tone before launching into a story that he assumes nobody could possibly resist wanting to hear.
I was in Hunky Dory's, got some dances from Lori
Danny Brown recalls going to strip clubs and getting dances from women named Lori.
Left my wallet at home, ain't wanna hear that story
Danny Brown tells of a time when he left his wallet at home, which made him reluctant to repeat the story.
In the car, had change from laundry
Danny Brown had change from doing laundry in his car, which he used to pay for his lap dances.
Had to wash clothes anyway, told her, "I'm sorry"
Danny Brown plays on the double meaning of the phrase 'wash clothes' in order to express his sorry state of situation.
Slow anyway, before you was boring
Danny Brown has an eccentric and somewhat unpredictable personality which makes him stand out compared to what he perceives to be bland and uninteresting.
Said, "Gimme a moment," jumped on it and bounced
Danny Brown talks about his sexual prowess and instantaneous ability to get an erection when asked.
No fabric softener, 'cause I was hard
Danny Brown uses a raunchy play on words to refer to his sexual aggression while concocting a visual image of him having no desire to use fabric softener and metaphorically comparing it to his hard sexual performance.
Then she gave me head, had me moaning and groaning
Danny Brown describes a woman giving him oral sex and the sensations he feels as a result.
Guess who I seen doing laundry next morning
Danny Brown poses a question to the listener, luring them in with a tease and then letting his story end on a cliffhanger.
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED, INVERTED MUSIC UK LTD
Written by: Daniel Dewan Sewell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matthew Ko
Verse 1]
The Hybrid, I'm telling you, try again
Sleep with the beast, Daniel in the lion's den
Still drop dirty, have to pop a Niacin
Itched all damn day, just to get violated
Ever seen a roach with babies have babies?
In the hood like whatever, we in this bitch together
Once got a ho, ain't had money for the room
So we did the humpty hump in a Burger King bathroom
Lowkey kept it undercover
The way she slurp slurp, she's the quicker picker upper
No job, dropped out and a felon
On the net, met a fat white bitch named Helen
300 pounds, maybe more like 280
Had a couple babies, 270 give or take it
Call that securin' the bag, had to fight the baby dad
Try to stop how I eat so I got up on his ass
[Verse 2]
What's in the dark, always come to light
Head was nasty, you'd think she had head lice
Why try? Throw bleach in your eye
Put your life on the line, hang 'em out to dry
Tryna keep my hands clean, out here ridin' dirty
Shit get messy? Mop him up with the .30
High Tide, Gain off the Arm and Hammer
Swim towards the current, system try to drown me
Stain your record like Clorox 'n' darks
Spin cycle had four tops for one
Out the slums, nobody gave me nothin'
Had temptations, so I hustled, David Ruffin
Papa was a rolling stone, so I sold rocks to 'em
Beam up Scotty, we got lift-off Houston
Left my sack in my clothes, Mama just did a load
Eight ball in my jeans, fiends say it taste like soap
Verse 3]
Twenty five a peep show when I enter the booth
Mop the floor when I leave, might slip if you do
Cover your ears of your kids, we got round two
Fuck a bitch two times, call it deja vu
Fuck a stripper for some change, actual change
Dime, penny, nickels, actual change
Okay, wanna hear the story? Left the house in a hurry
I was at Hunky Dory's, got some dances from Lori
Left my wallet at home, ain't wanna hear that story
In the car had change from laundry
Had to wash clothes anyway, told her, "I'm sorry"
Slow anyway, before you was boring
Said, "Gimme a moment", jumped on it and bounced
No fabric softener, 'cause I was hard
Then she gave me head, had me moaning and groaning
Guess who I seen doing laundry next morning?
KHEYISSOU
[Verse 1]
The Hybrid, I'm telling you, try again
Sleep with the beast, Daniel in the lion's den
Still drop dirty, have to pop a Niacin
Itched all damn day, just to get violated
Ever seen a roach with babies have babies?
In the hood like whatever, we in this bitch together
Once got a ho, ain't had money for the room
So we did the humpty hump in a Burger King bathroom
Lowkey kept it undercover
The way she slurp slurp, she's the quicker picker upper
No job, dropped out and a felon
On the net, met a fat white bitch named Helen
300 pounds, maybe more like 280
Had a couple babies, 270 give or take it
Call that securin' the bag, had to fight the baby dad
Try to stop how I eat so I got up on his ass
[Verse 2]
What's in the dark, always come to light
Head was nasty, you'd think she had head lice
Why try? Throw bleach in your eye
Put your life on the line, hang 'em out to dry
Tryna keep my hands clean, out here ridin' dirty
Shit get messy? Mop him up with the .30
High Tide, Gain off the Arm and Hammer
Swim towards the current, system try to drown me
Stain your record like Clorox 'n' darks
Spin cycle had four tops for one
Out the slums, nobody gave me nothin'
Had temptations, so I hustled, David Ruffin
Papa was a rolling stone, so I sold rocks to 'em
Beam up Scotty, we got lift-off Houston
Left my sack in my clothes, Mama just did a load
Eight ball in my jeans, fiends say it taste like soap
[Verse 3]
Twenty five a peep show when I enter the booth
Mop the floor when I leave, might slip if you do
Cover your ears of your kids, we got round two
Fuck a bitch two times, call it deja vu
Fuck a stripper for some change, actual change
Dime, penny, nickels, actual change
Okay, wanna hear the story? Left the house in a hurry
I was at Hunky Dory's, got some dances from Lori
Left my wallet at home, ain't wanna hear that story
In the car had change from laundry
Had to wash clothes anyway, told her, "I'm sorry"
Slow anyway, before you was boring
Said, "Gimme a moment", jumped on it and bounced
No fabric softener, 'cause I was hard
Then she gave me head, had me moaning and groaning
Guess who I seen doing laundry next morning
Newinflux
Unbelievably hyped for new Danny Brown
Skankhunt 42
Newinflux yeah this might be album of the year. Danny and q tip is a deadly combination
Prod. Gael
Newinflux i was gonna like ur comment but its at 420 dont wanna fuck that up
tj3k
I hope people actually buy this one, Atrocity did atrocious on sales and he spent a lot on samples.
raki B
We been readyy🙌🏽
J_L Klap
Skankhunt 42 idk man Igor pretty damn good. We’ll see, atrocity exhibition was def up there back in 2016
Corbin Garber
Don’t know why but the line “So we did the humpty hump in the Burger King bathroom” resonates with me on a spiritual level.
Wesley Pipes
Listen to Humpty Dance by Digital Underground. It will make a lot more sense.
404
@Wesley Pipes don't need it to make sense if you actually did it
404
@Serg F calm down fam, just a funny line