It would’ve been a shame if Danny Brown hadn’t simmered down by now. After all, he’s 42 years old and far more susceptible to the self-destructive tendencies that have dictated such a large chunk of his catalog … until now.
When the Detroit MC released his sixth solo offering last month, it instantly stood out as his most introspective work yet. It is worth noting that he checked into rehab earlier this year and is currently more than eight months sober, though Quaranta was prepared, recorded and ready almost two years ago during the coronavirus pandemic. Though he was still negotiating his longstanding substance abuse problems at the time, the music he was making then holds up even today and is an accurate reflection of his current outlook.
Soon after its release, Brown took the album on the road for a limited-edition test run with shows in Detroit, London, Brooklyn and Los Angeles. From those four alone, it became evident that he’s now got a better hold on his life than ever before, yet he’s still that dude: funny, charismatic and unorthodox in all the right ways.
He is a changed man who has managed to retain his aura, except it now seems like he has a bedtime. This is more than just speculation, as he recently admitted to sleeping between eight to ten hours daily in an interview with Rolling Stone. Considering everything he’s given us over the past two decades, it’s only fair that we collectively participate and support the man’s well-being.
Danny Brown in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
When Brown passed through LA for a performance at the Masonic Lodge earlier this month, he craftily maintained a balance between composed and explosive as he fluctuated between new, old, insightful and entertaining. That’s just who he is now: a creatively and emotionally evolved artist who doesn’t regret the past that brought him to where he is today.
Next year, he will extend this streak for almost a month straight — 24 shows in 34 days across North America. Tickets for the Quaranta Tour can be purchased here.
