It goes against everything I believe in and stand for, but if the end result is making a mockery of the state of the rap game and the people who are dumb enough to help keep it running that way, then so be it.
The concept behind the album and the overall inner battle with my moral conscience was fused together to give Payback its storyline: a criminal who did a lot of bad deeds in the name of good now facing the consequences.
I risked professional relationships, my reputation Underhanded shit goes on in the industry on an everyday basis, so I'm not trippin' too much off of having to play by the "rules," but no one has ever been able to pull off what I pulled off with Payback.
Details, schmetails. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how many cows the chef personally slaughtered to prepare my steak, so long as that motherfucker is seasoned the way I want and lightly brushed with garlic.
But seriously, I'm currently working with someone to help create a behind-the-scenes documentary that'll shed some light on how Payback was put together. It won't be for the faint-hearted, I can promise you that. You have no idea how much of an understatement that question is. I'm still waiting to tell them. So I'm like the biggest Dipset nerd, well at least I was up until about or when they switched their beats up. Back then I'd always wanted to do a tribute to them for being awesome and for helping me get through a tough time—I had just got kicked out of college so all I would play is Cam, Jimmy and Juelz—and their beats used to get me crunk.
Hell, other than Just Blaze it was their production that got me into sampling in my beats in the first place. Say what you will about the lyrics but those beats? So anyway, I wanted to pay homage to that whole era a while ago but it would've been ill-timed at a point in my career where people didn't even know who I was, plus I wasn't that dope with the beats yet.
Fast-forward seven years later and I stumble on this glam metal sample that Juelz had used for his song "Crack Y'all Must Be Stupid ," an obscure track from some mixtape he did with DJ Kay Slay in or so. I had been looking for [the sample] for almost ten years because I'm a sample encyclopedia, I know almost every sample for every hip-hop song.
I finally found it and was like "this is it. I flipped the beat identically to the one Juelz used, knowing it's so obscure of a song that only Dipset stans would even recognize it; everyone else would just be like "This is dope, yo.
Much love to both of them. The whole song is just a wink-and-nod kinda thing honestly. I still needed my WTF factor, the last component that would make everyone's head explode. Then it hit me: who better than El-P? I swear every time I called him, it sounded like he was just waking up but it'd be like in the afternoon and shit.
But no, Kay Slay is cool as shit; much love to him. I'm hitting him for a drop constantly 'cause he keeps telling me "I'm gonna send it, I'm gonna send it" so I have to keep reminding him.
Finally I hit him with the ol' reverse psychology. I'm like "hey Kay Slay, it's cool if you're too busy and whatnot. I appreciate you anyway. I'll just hit up DJ Khaled instead. God bless. After that I still needed my WTF factor, the last component that would make everyone's head explode. If you google "danny def jux" now there's a ton of dorky message board posters who think I hate Def Jux after they signed me and nothing happened with the deal.
In reality, me and El talk fairly regularly and are on great terms. He told me years ago to reach out to him if I ever needed him for anything, much love to him for that. I figure, not only would getting him on the track blow people's minds for that reason but shit dude, that line-up?
Ultimately it's one big troll move because it gets me and El-P, two underground kings who could benefit well from the exposure, rotation on a Hot 97 or a Power This shit sounds right at home after a "Stay Schemin'" or something.
What are they gonna do, cut our verses out 'cause they haven't heard of us? It's my song! But the song's still hot! When is the album dropping? We've been hearing tracks and seeing videos for the past few months but where's the album at? It's a beautiful thing really, that the lack of initial hype delayed Payback and it became this mythical creature that some people don't even believe exists.
I fucking love it. Only a few cats have even heard it at this point and I've been blessed that having a good judgment of character—and technology that makes audio watermarks discreet—has made this an airtight effort. The album was done at the top of January and was probably sent out to press literally the next day. At this point I had dropped two singles and two videos.
There was no Questlove shout-out, no co-sign from Jay yet. We were exploiting the fact that, with all the guest features, some of the mainstream sites like Pitchfork or Rolling Stone would approve reviews whereas they may have passed in the past.
Like, Where Is Danny? So we're like, "oh they'll be dickriding now, it's inevitable. Now with the co-signs, those same major sites are claiming that they lost Payback and are asking us to send another copy but I'm like "fuck y'all. Some artists don't understand that nowadays you need a certain level of visibility and public perception before people that back you are willing to advance you to the next stage, and you need a steady progression of it.
It's like a board game and you've gotta keep circling the board until you have a certain number of chips. Your profile needs to keep getting bigger, not smaller. How's Pitchfork gonna review my album as an unsigned artist in but not ?
Like, rap consumers and the media continue to sleep on me and that's fine and all, but behind the scenes, people are losing faith. They're looking at my track record and saying, "Maybe he isn't this golden child we thought he was. It's not my fault that we got a shitload of commitment from the press to give coverage to my album and they pulled out at the last minute when they realized I was Danny Swain, not Danny Brown. Quiet as it's kept, Payback was actually set to be released in Japan next week but you'd literally have to be over there to purchase it, plus the distribution got screwed up on the back end.
I have a bigger and far more proactive following over there and in certain parts of the UK. The only thing stopping me from moving overseas and just doing hologram shows for the rest of my life is the visa process is too lengthy, and I hate paperwork. They hinted at it on their most recent blog post about me so I hope I didn't ruin the surprise. When you did manage to get reviews, it stirred up a plagiarism controversy over on HipHopDX.
What happened? Poor, poor Navani. How's that phrase go, "you'll never work in this town again"? That chick shot herself in the foot, the face, everything. I've been fortunate up until a certain point that all of the reviews for Payback that have been published so far have been written by actual Danny! Eventually you're gonna run into people who just don't give a shit about you. Case in point, SPIN reviewed it but the writer has had a personal vendetta against me for a while so even though I got the standard we-reviewed-your-album-are-you-happy "7" score, his piece was very backhanded.
So I'm cool if someone doesn't like me, but it's something totally different when someone doesn't even like writing at all. One of HipHopDX's hired "writers" was assigned Payback and straight plagiarized two different reviews that had already been posted because, according to an apology she later posted, she got tired of the pressures to write. The fuck? In the words of one of the victims, "what unmitigated gall.
First off, one of the sites she stole from is one of the oldest and most reputable sites for hip-hop album reviews of all time. I used to read that shit in high school in the 90s! That's like robbing Bank of America and cheesing at the security camera on the way out.
If your intent is to not get caught, that's pretty stupid. Not only does she plagiarize reviews for her own monetary benefit and cheat me out of legitimate publicity for Payback , but the victims happen to be two people in the journalism world that I've become close with.
So I'm like "hell naw! I appreciate when people aren't afraid to call someone out on their bullshit 'cause I do it all the time. It was overwhelming to see much support, even from people that hadn't heard of me up 'til that point. In the aftermath of that big debacle Byron Crawford caught wind of it and blogged about it, HipHopDX retracted the text and issued an apology to its readers, Navani got fired from her post there and started working in real estate, and one of the victims of the plagiarism wound up being offered a position there.
Where's my restitution though? I assumed that I had a decent rapport with HipHopDX built up over the years but I guess that goes to show you how fake people can be. I'm thrilled that there was a silver lining for some people, but I don't know They haven't posted shit since it happened. They're probably salty that I called them out but I think it's petty to hold a grudge.
Feeling good, feeling great, how are you? Still in the hood, building 8, tower 2 Pilates with my gal pal Spending royalty checks I got from Bow Wow Ghost writer du jour, on a world tour with Zsa Zsa Gabor I think I'll prank call Akon and Lady Gaga some more Nah nah, you borin' 'em Catch me in Manhattan at the Prada Emporium My chick got a sick shoe game But her hips too thick for the hoop chain, mayne I put her on that Jenny Craig diet Hire a private eye from Winnipeg I catch her slippin' then her food's mine Instead of steak feed her lines like Gertrude Stein And she'll be back to normal in no time.
Turn me up Yo yo, yo turn me up Now turn me up That's right, mow turn me up. Brown prowl Belize Lookin' for three brown breezies in the crowd Eating gouda cheese One of the gals gave the kid mad cow disease Now my knees powerless, my fever's a thousand degrees We're not allowed to sneeze, it arouses bees So let's smoke a pound of trees cause the weed Has been clinically proven to drown a disease Yo it was me, Chris Brown, Lisa Raye, and my pal Louise Getting blowed in the Panama Canal, please Keep it down or police will surround these And take the keys to the 'pala and impound Howard's Eddie Bauer power skis and my flower beads Now to appease one of these three teases That I found at the start of this verse Powder these nuts And since I'm well-endowed Squeezed on the whole ham This is what she told Dan, brougham.
You and your pranks, that's why you're our favorite in the family". And ran into a friend that saw you last I asked him when's the last he heard from? He said you had two kids and Now you're on your third one I still got love for you girl Swain strike a nerve in bitches that read Zane And swallow hominy grits, I'm back on my misogyny tip You got your heart broke? Probably bitch Well man up with your goddamn McGruff-lookin' ass Yo, met this chick Amanda in cooking class Took a last minute slot for the low-low Put some sassafras in the pot with the pollo Impressed the ho, yo Teacher say "now you're cookin' with gas" Introduced myself I said "it's nice to meet ya I like the meat you mixed with basil leaves and sliced paprika But why'd you jump on table 3 and bite the teacher?
We can smoke a stogie afterwards and go to sleep" Feelin' fly in my endeavors, she said "why I never! How dare you disrespect me boy you got me mixed up" Twenty minutes later I was diggin' out the thick slut Of course my aims is to one-night-stand it She telling me commitment is something she can manage Goddamnit, too arrogant to tell her what my plan is She fell asleep, I vanished Went home and made a Manwich I'm gone.
Maybe Been dead for thirty years I bet he smells crazy Too bad I pissed away the money Dave Chappelle paid me My doctor bills are through the roof I'm gettin' pale daily I pop some pills to end it all like 10 or 12 baby E-mailed my lady let her know I got to hell safely Wait, I think there's been a mistake Somebody must have went and spiked the kid's Dominican cake So box up all of my cinnamon and send it to Kate You got a problem you can vent at my wake They say the good die young I guess these grimey niggas live a long time But me and grimey niggas get along fine Man we all tryin' to come up, sundown to sunup Run 'round the dump trucks and gun down you dumb fucks Ugh, gee that hook was horrid I think I'll see if Mama Bear can re-cook the porridge She'd rather meet me at the Casbah for tapas So I can help her understand the "Fa Fa" synopsis.
Bison from kicking Chun-Li And I pressed pause, put on my fresh drawers quickly Yes y'all even shaved my chest all spiffy Then Nikki Jean hit me, said she was in town for the week And do I wanna come and join her in the sheets? That is comical No frills, whole phone bill's astronomical My chips so tight That's why I keep my talk time shorter Than the hair on a San Francisco dyke.
For cheese? That's the reason why I stick with her oh Grab the keys and drive to Pittsbizzurgh fa sho! Stack the cheese and buy a pit litter A sick spitter yo, I saw the big picture though Flew up to Chi-town and caught a Kid Sister show Toes done up with her fingernails matchin' But the ho's fucked up, sound like Tinkerbell rappin' Heard she was ready for some single male action So I made myself drink a pail of Captain Morgan One drum of rum'll have me rappin' foreign Like "humdumalemalemezacdezachdejournen" Me and Danny Brown Rockin' matchin' hand-me-down letterman sweaters Damn we some panty hounds Scoopin' chicks from the greasy spoon Been a freak ever since I stuck my feet out of Niecey's womb.
Who's disappointing who? Guess what you said was true, really wasn't room for two Superstars so you did what you had to do Brainwashed the crew, we still don't speak One thought for himself but the others is weak They lost one.
When it's all done Did you really gain from What you done done? It's so silly, how come? You just lost one. I would prob'ly love my family more than I did she So we don't speak, just keep excerpts From our relationship at arm's reach, it hurts To pretend it never occurred but I half-forgive her Even though she kicked me to the curb Coped with it the best way I knew Made a song and killed you off, named that shit "Where Were You" Remember when you called me and you said it embarrassed you Made me shake my head at how I had an affair with you 'Cause of you I couldn't let a chick get too close Soon as feelings started to progress I'm like "adios" I swear, you really brought a good man down I didn't think I'd ever pick the pieces and rebound But, Danny's driving 6's now I got riches now Paid back student loans for both of my sisters now I'm doin' real good, I don't miss you now See how life twists around, fucker?
You lost one. I mean, when he cheated on my mama I wanted to kill him And when he beat me he was treated like one of the villains But even felons get a second chance But with pride sentiments don't get a second glance I was fresh off the plane from the Grammys two years ago My folks had been divorced for some time, just so you know I got a phone call from this nigga like "here we go" Let it go to voicemail cause I don't talk to hoes And that began a pattern of extending himself But all I could remember is him grippin' his belt And smackin' me in the face so his hand I smacked away "That's what you get for breakin' my mama's heart," I'd say So the messages piled up Askin' me if maybe I would like to reconcile What?
What is you, crazy? Played 'em back for my friends, we all clowned him Little did I know that my own father was drownin' I got a call and my pops sounded real sick But I was still stiff and wasn't feelin' it As I continued to perfect my raps A month later, I found out that his kidneys collapsed Obituary said he died alone If I had tried to make amends he might have known I had grown, my atonement is too little too late Father forgive me for not starting a new slate Great, I lost one.
Nah-uh I'd rather have the french toast, you want some? Don't come near my plate unless you want a severed hand And when it comes to cereal Don't pick whatever brand, never man Them Apple Dapples is forever bland And the fake Alpha Bits got funny letters, damn You seen my cousin? This nigga makes the meanest English muffins Hit up the Krispy Kreme Bring a dozen of them Cinnamon rolls, save one for dinner But for now, sausage and toast is for beginners You wanna get with D.
Swain Then don't be rude with them Toaster Strudels If you're frugal with the food, nigga screw ya. Save me some scrambled eggs. Man I swear that smell is awful I like my hash browns scattered and smothered Battered and covered With diced ham and splattered with mustard I'm all about the fried potatoes And sliced tomatoes And beans and rice But I don't even like to try the bagels This sunny side egg is lookin' like a cyclops D.
Cracked a bottle in a fit of rage Disengaged, stabbed the second goofy in his ribcage The first clown I gave him a Mike Tyson Straight up and knife-sliced him and gave him a nice bitin' Then I grabbed their heads, banged 'em on the wall yo Repeatedly, frequently, brains was on the floor Man D. Swain does it all Took my size 17's and put the pain to they jaw One stomp for the blogs that overlook me Two stomps for the promoters that never book me Three stomps for you fickle-ass fucks That say my shit is weak and think that Nickelback sucks Blood was everywhere, I was feeling good Even did my Eddie Haskell dance Suga Lo was like "I ain't know you was a Dizzee Rascal fan" Well goddamn, ain't this a B Thought them boys was dissin' me Seven hours later called up Tiffany from the precinct Loyal to a T but her feet stink Bailed me out of jail even though her man was hatin' on me Took me to the crib, shorty had a Manwich waitin' on me.
I talked to Watson's family, he's in college already And he's only 11, you'll never make it to heaven rappin'" Her telling me I couldn't was the best that ever happened Word.
Candice Bergen. Swain Bathing Apes. No you're insane, Danny! I am the frenzy but Danny! Swain says he's the maniac Submitted permission to kill Any chickens I meet that like to swaggerjack You kleptomaniacs are lacking sauce, now pardon that Get my boy Danny!
Swain's initials tat-tatted on my tongue Tatted on my tongue, tat-tatted on my tongue Even got a Danny! Motherfuck these other rappers man.
Burns Coming back with a track for black kids to learn And white kids to recite Dykes will get excited Bi chicks'll probably try to memorize it I could glamorize this life, I'd rather not I'm not just a melanin-blessed Asher Roth I scoff at the haters, mock the nay sayers But never hawk my wares up on Okayplayer The kid's got the juice and the OJ flavor O.
Swain get on the mic He bring the game to life Making beautiful noise Creating the soundtrack Just for you and your boys, uh D. Overlooked five years in a row But it's getting to the point That my joints are a white shoelace Disappearin' in the snow Gonna have to get mentioned Some incentives, make it worth my while Sick of being underrated when I see All these shark-ass niggas tryin' to bite my style Catalogue twelve records deep That'll hold down all my peeps Niggas sleep so I can't keep putting out these LPs Studio time ain't cheap And to my fans I hope that y'all understand The difference between quittin' And takin' a stand I'm finished man.
Overview Preview Review Download. Sold Out. Man, Motherfuck An Intro. At The Disco.
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