Danny Brown Generation RX

Might as well get it out there early: Detroit-bred Danny Brown does not make politically correct rap music. He is misogynistic, violent, drug-glorifying, and all of the other horrible traits associated with hip-hop. He's also an incredible lyricist, hilarious and deft at crafting street narratives that are multi-dimensional; he exposes the good, bad, and ugly of life on Linwood Avenue in the economically depressed Motor City. With a nasal-inflected flow and a skewed sense of humor, Danny Brown's breakout LP The Hybrid is bound to make a strong impression on his audience one way or another.

"New Era" is a Detroit anthem with an arena-sized beat and ultra territory specific lines like "I've been in the D so long I don't even like Coney." Only locals and well-versed out-of-towners would get the joke and know that "Coney" refers to Coney Island, an über-popular Detroit fast food establishment. That's the kind of unorthodox charm that The Hybrid showcases. Danny Brown isn't so much coming out of his world as he is drawing the listener into his. Yes, the grim realities of Detroit slums prevail in the lyrics of the album with stark tracks like "Nowhere 2 Go," but Danny is skilled enough to transcend the stereotypes.

"Generation RX" examines the effects of both legal and illegal prescription drug consumption with surprising critical analysis. "Thank God" is a very human take on Bridge cards, the Detroit equivalent of electronic food stamps, and the oft-neglected issue of nutrition in inner-cities.

However, it's not a conscious album by any means; there are plenty of tracks whose subject matter don't go past Danny's dominance over other rappers, his mission to proliferate his penis as much as possible, and weird references to Carlton from Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

While it's definitely not for everybody, those that are willing to overlook the personal flaws that Danny himself makes no excuses for might actually find themselves enjoying The Hybrid.

Download the album for free here.