Monday, September 03, 2007




Support young folks making good Hip-Hop (Part 2)

Artist: Danny!

Age: 24

Sounds Like: 1/3 Kanye West before he became famous (I know he hates that comparison but it’s true), 1/3 Lupe Fiasco if he didn’t take himself so serious and 1/3 nothing you’ve ever heard before

Recent Project: Danny is Dead EP – by far one of the freshest and most ambitious projects of the year.

Background Information: Danny Swain is a South Carolinian kicked out of college a few years back as the result of a grade changing scandal (this is addressed on “Clap Back”), he’s had a long running beef with some cat named Charlemagne, and has emerged from a battle with alcoholism to become a leader of today’s school. His introductions to the world were The College Kicked Out and F.O.O.D and while you were at home watching the 2007 Grammys, Danny was there (look between Justin Timberlake and the woman) because his album Charm was nominated for the Short List.

Danny is proof positive of the line that a true fan of all types of Hip-Hop walks. He’ll be putting out a project through Def Jux (as the winner of the label's MTVu affiliated Best Music on Campus contest) but he pays respect to his commercial peers shouting out Young Jeezy, Jay-Z, The Clipse and Papoose in his music, while never being anyone other than who he is. Once you listen past his soft spoken voice he’s very slick with a killer flow.

Further impressive is how Danny does everything on his own; aside from MCing he produces all of his own music, records, mixes, masters, clears samples, secures distribution, does all of his own promotions and so on.

A staggering amount of introspection coupled with battle rapping and a creative talent that’s constantly improving makes Danny one to watch out for.

Here's a collection of my favorite songs from Danny's discography.

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