Danny has released many free projects over the web, the most popular being 2011’s XXX. Brown released the album "Hawaiian Snow” with G-Unit’s Tony Yayo and several mixtapes (Detroit State of Mind 1-4, Browntown, It’s A Art (with producer Mainframe) and Hot Soup). Brown has found much success on the internet through the support of the music blogs and social media and the decision to release “The Hybrid” online as a free download.
Danny has worked with many artists in the Detroit hip-hop community such as the late J Dilla, Black Milk, Elzhi, Guilty Simpson, Trick Trick, and T3. Also known for championing up-and-coming artists, Danny has worked with lesser known acts such as Oakland, California's Main Attrakionz and is know for promoting these types of underground acts via his twitter.
Brown spent most of the summer of 2010 touring with G-Unit, and a few months later released “Hawaiian Snow” with Tony Yayo. Due to lack of promotion the sales were disappointing, however through the G-Unit connection Brown was able to experience firsthand the rigors of touring and the workings of the music industry as a whole. The experience served to jade Danny to the concepts of being on a major label and committing himself to appealing to an urban audience who he felt rejected him because of his look and style of dress which consisted of skinny jeans and vintage tees as 50 Cent refused to sign Danny Brown to G-Unit because he didn’t approve of his distaste for baggy denim. No longer concentrating on appealing to any particular audience, With this new found freedom, Danny delved into making more experimental music based on influences like UK Grime and Progressive Rock.
His experimental sound melded with traditional street narrative has brought about attention from progressive press such as Pitchfork.com, Fader Magazine, Spin Magazine and the like but no press more satisfying than making the cover of the Detroit Metro Times, his hometown’s alternative art’s and culture magazine.
Danny’s music later found a home on Fool’s Gold Records, the independent label helmed by internationally heralded DJ A-Trak and his partner Nick Catchdubs. The label and the artist having the same mindset, the two parties are now focused on releasing his upcoming projects, a free album that released Summer 2011 entitled “XXX” and his untitled Fool’s Gold records debut coming subsequently after.
His albums that followed also received positive feedback (Old, Atrocity Exhibition, U Know What I'm Sayin?).
He then sadly dunked on anyone else who had the misfortune to drop in the calendar year 2023 by dropping album of the decade Scaring the Hoes Vol. 1 with JPEGMAFIA on March 24th. It tragically received praise from disgraced music reviewer the BallDrop, but contrarily to this otherwise mark of disgrace from the worst person we all have the displeasure to be aware of, the album actually fye asl.
You know he had to go two for two on the DLC of Scaring the Hoes on the sacred national holiday of 7/11. No skips all Ws and is not mixed like shit for the "aesthetic" anymore, and JPEGMAFIA dodges the corny allegations by making Danny audible. Great news all around.
On October 17th, he began the rollout for his highly anticapted sixth studio album with the single Tantor (fire as fuck).
S O S
Danny Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I shine like I never seen a rainy day
Kinda cloudy like them diamonds that them rappers wear
Clownin' like jesters that be in front of kings chairs
But they don't make a crown big enough to fit my head
My self-esteem high, see it can nest eggs
I'm sipping vodka straight, eating on fish eggs
Cashmere, and the color pastel
But now I hit chicks with lips like Estelle
New SL, lights like fish eyes
Bitches say the dick good like Mickey D's French fries
Y'all never held weight sorta like a (?)
Think you're doing bad? Think about Apartheid
Look in a narc's eyes, ask him why he flicked me
Said, "Brown, I had to; just look at your history"
Tried to tell the dude the truth
He still reminiscing when he used to lock me up for curfew
But I was just a young nigga staying past street lights
Kinda fascinated finding out what the streets like
Learned my lesson, for sure changed my ways
But the hook still treat me like the kid I was yesterday
And I'm still that nigga
We just getting started, roll another swisher
Crack another brew, cop another fifth
These rap niggas trash and all their beats filth
I pull up on them, my hat on tilt
The cutty sitting high like Shaq on stilts
It's like a unidentified foreign object
How you describe Brown as simple as a clock tick
But his beats harder than a witch nipple
Crazy as a hippie with a rifle sipping ripple
Beat you with a mini bat 'til you reconsider that
That chain looking rusty dog, get rid of that
I'm a pirate with the pyrex
Might fuck a bitch raw, Magic ain't died yet
Y'all niggas flow like cable, just the basic channel
Dough in front the fireplace, stack center mantel
Pleading guilty to anything they offer us
Copping out like quitting police officers
But we off it bruh, cases we forfeit
6's high, hope the 24's fit
Instigate beef and we all get torched
In the middle of the bull, like united center half court
Blow newport, laughing at you hoes
Hitting y'all raw like wetting Gizmo
After twelve, how can I excel
In the city where niggas don't know what's real
And I'm still that nigga
We just getting started, roll another swisher
Crack another brew, cop another fifth
These rap niggas trash and all their beats filth
I pull up on them, my hat on tilt
The cutty sitting high like Shaq on stilts
The lyrics to Danny Brown's song S O S speak to his own sense of self-worth and success in the rap game. He compares himself to a discarded baby, yet exudes confidence and a high self-esteem. The clouds and diamonds he speaks of allude to the luxury and bling associated with rap culture, but he is clowning around, not taking it too seriously. Even with all his success, he still feels like he is viewed as the same kid he was yesterday, hinting at some sort of insecurity or doubt.
The second verse continues with Brown's bravado, claiming his beats are harder and crazier than anyone else's. He boasts about his pirating and sexual prowess, but also talks about the struggle and danger that comes with the rap game. The reference to Gizmo, a character from the movie Gremlins, adds a touch of humor and lightheartedness to an otherwise intense verse. Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a talented and confident rapper who is not afraid to clown around, but also acknowledges the struggle and danger that comes with the industry.
Line by Line Meaning
I act like I'm that baby Brenda threw away
I behave as if I am discarded just like Brenda threw away her baby
But I shine like I never seen a rainy day
But I radiate like I have never faced any obstacles
Kinda cloudy like them diamonds that them rappers wear
My thoughts are a little hazy like the diamonds worn by rappers
Clownin' like jesters that be in front of kings chairs
I act like a jester playing in front of the king's throne
But they don't make a crown big enough to fit my head
However, no crown is big enough to match my greatness
My self-esteem high, see it can nest eggs
Because of my confidence, it can harbor wealth inside of it
I'm sipping vodka straight, eating on fish eggs
I am enjoying sipping straight vodka and eating expensive fish eggs
Cashmere, and the color pastel
I'm wearing soft cashmere clothes in pastel colors
Used to have that crack like the liberty bell
I used to sell crack cocaine like the Liberty Bell rang freedom
But now I hit chicks with lips like Estelle
But now I date girls with lips as beautiful as Estelle's
New SL, lights like fish eyes
My new Mercedes SL car has bright lights resembling that of a fish's eye
Bitches say the dick good like Mickey D's French fries
Girls say that sex with me is as good as McDonald's fries
Y'all never held weight sorta like a (?)
You guys have never dealt with the same problems as me, somewhat like you never lifted any weight
Think you're doing bad? Think about Apartheid
If you think you have it tough, consider the struggles of the people under apartheid
Look in a narc's eyes, ask him why he flicked me
When I looked into the eyes of the detective, I asked him why he arrested me
Said, "Brown, I had to; just look at your history"
The detective replied, "Danny, I had to arrest you because of your past criminal record"
Tried to tell the dude the truth
I tried to explain the situation to the detective
He still reminiscing when he used to lock me up for curfew
But he still remembers when he would arrest me for breaking curfew
But I was just a young nigga staying past street lights
I was just a young person who enjoyed staying out past the street lights
Kinda fascinated finding out what the streets like
I was curious and fascinated about what the streets were like
Learned my lesson, for sure changed my ways
But I learned from my experiences, and I changed my behavior for the better
But the hook still treat me like the kid I was yesterday
However, people still regard me as the same person I was in the past
And I'm still that nigga
Nevertheless, I remain a great person
We just getting started, roll another swisher
We are just beginning, let's roll another cigar
Crack another brew, cop another fifth
Let's open another beer and get another bottle
These rap niggas trash and all their beats filth
Other rappers are horrible, and their beats are unpleasant
I pull up on them, my hat on tilt
I approach them with my hat tipped to the side
The cutty sitting high like Shaq on stilts
My car is elevated like Shaq standing on stilts
It's like a unidentified foreign object
Describing me is like describing an unidentified object from outer space
How you describe Brown as simple as a clock tick
Trying to describe me is as easy as describing the sound of a clock ticking
But his beats harder than a witch nipple
However, my beats are harder than the nipple of a witch
Crazy as a hippie with a rifle sipping ripple
My behavior is like a hippie with a gun drinking wine
Beat you with a mini bat 'til you reconsider that
I will hit you with a small bat until you change your mind
That chain looking rusty dog, get rid of that
Your chain looks old and untrendy; you should replace it
I'm a pirate with the pyrex
I am a pirate with a cookbook made of pyrex glass
Might fuck a bitch raw, Magic ain't died yet
I might have unprotected sex with a girl and not contract HIV because of Magic Johnson's survival after testing positive
Y'all niggas flow like cable, just the basic channel
You guys rap with the same old flow like basic cable channels
Dough in front of the fireplace, stack center mantel
I stack money on my fireplace's mantel
Pleading guilty to anything they offer us
We plead guilty to any charges that they accuse us of
Copping out like quitting police officers
We give in and admit our offenses like police officers who quit their jobs
But we off it bruh, cases we forfeit
But we do not dwell on it, and we give up our criminal cases
6's high, hope the 24's fit
My car has high rims and I hope they fit the tires
Instigate beef and we all get torched
If you try to start a fight, you will get burned along with everyone else involved
In the middle of the bull, like united center half court
We are in the middle of a dangerous situation like the United Center half-court in a basketball game
Blow newport, laughing at you hoes
I smoke Newport cigarettes and laugh at you women
Hitting y'all raw like wetting Gizmo
I have sex with you guys without a condom, like wetting the fluffy toy Gizmo
After twelve, how can I excel
After midnight, how can I become successful
In the city where niggas don't know what's real
In a city where people have no idea about reality
Contributed by Aubrey T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.