Rap virtuoso Danny Brown is no stranger to critical acclaim for his wacky, left-field rap records, all of them bringing something new and interesting to the table. Danny seems to be a master at pushing the envelope, with Atrocity Exhibitio
n being his magnum opus. This record has some of the most unconventional sounds you will ever find on a hip-hop record, from the searing instrumental on “Ain’t It Funny”, the nearly cowboy-western guitar line on the opening track, “Downward Spiral”, or Danny’s nasally, strained voice plastered across nearly every cut here. The writing from Danny on Atrocity Exhibition is top-tier, with the overall lyrical vibe
of the record feeling claustrophobic and chillingly introspective. Tracks like the aforem
entioned “Downward Spiral” and the insanely detailed and challenging “When It Rain” detail some of the darkest depths of Danny’s mind, whether it be about his life of selling drugs before fame, or the deep depressions he finds himself entrenched in. You also cannot talk about highlights on this record without mentioning the absolutely genius posse track “Really Doe”, featuring guest verses from Kendrick Lamar, who also provides a killer hook, as well as Ab-Soul, and the infamous Earl Sweatshirt. The lyrical content on this record feels claustrophobic, as if Danny is locking you in a room with his hardships, and forcing you to stare them in the face. There are a few low points on the record, but they are pretty few and far between. I am not a huge fan of the track “Lost”, as the mixing feels a bit odd at times, with the vocal sample in the track drowning Danny out a bit. I also wasn’t crazy about the track “Get Hi”, although I did like the guest verse from B-Real of Cypress Hill Fame. Despite a small number of duds in the tracklist, Atrocity Exhibition lives up to its name in interesting ways, exploring the deepest depths of Danny’s dark and troubled mind, while also offering some really enjoyable and accessible tracks despite the experimental aspect of the majority of the record.