Danny Swain’s Where Is Danny? is available now via Interscope. Stream the mix and download after the skip.

Download: Potholes Podcast (Danny Swain) [Right Click Save-As]

01 Lakeiya Voicemail (Intro)
02 Le Pamplemoüse – No One Has To Know (instrumental)
03 Collette – Sparks (produced by Danny Swain)
04 Tatsuro Yamashita – Windy Lady
05 Rolf Glasen – Cool Night
06 Aaliyah – One In A Million f. Missy Elliott and Ginuwine (Timbaland Remix)
07 Quincy Jones – Wee B. Dooinit f. Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Take 6
08 Mahagon – More Klidu
09 Funkadelic – How Do You View You?
10 Andre 3000 – Movin’ Cool (The After Party) f. Debra Killings
11 Marz – Make It Right
12 Shax – Lovely Jubbly (Badabing Badaboom) (produced by Danny Swain)
13 Sylvia St. James – So I Say To You
14 Juelz Santana – U Ought To Know f. Cam’ron
15 Gringo – Moonstone
16 Arkestra One – Seu Pariso
17 Vince Guaraldi – Red Baron Theme
18 Trio Esperança – Não Agüento Você

Danny Swain hit me up this weekend letting me know about a bunch of weird/exciting news. One, Danny’s Where Is Danny? release, which was originally supposed to drop on Def Jux last year, is now being picked up by Interscope. Two, that album, which was entirely produced by Alex Goose, is now being reworked and produced entirely by Danny himself. While the beats were straight up fantastic, for one reason or another (a falling out), Danny does work now on both the raps and beats. The title track, which I have to say, was slightly better off with Goose production, still goes over well with a more basic break beat. Either way, the raps are the same on this song, and they remain absolutely hysterical to this day. Got to love that Charles Hamilton reference!

Stream “Where Is Danny?” or download after the skip.

Download: Danny! – “Where Is Danny?” [Right Click Save-As]

The hype has come and gone. Countless delays made it unclear whether or not we would ever get our hands on a new Danny! release. But finally, out of the blue, we are graced with Where Is Danny? Weighing in at a hefty 26 tracks (coinciding with his 26th birthday), this Def Jux production contains absolutely no filler. Brushing up on the few missteps from previous releases like Charm and And I Love H.E.R., Mr. Swain comes correct with a flawless masterpiece. Filled with hilarious skits, miraculous production and witty wordplay, this is exactly what hip-hop has been looking for.

Jumping right in, “Man, Motherfuck An Intro” sets the tone for a creative classic that will hang in the same vein as Madvillainy. That’s right, I said it. Obscurity is an understatement when it comes to this album, especially Danny’s raps. On tracks like “Where Is Danny?” and “George Wendt”, D.Swain finds himself dancing with Ted Danson on one line, and having illegitimate kids with Ashley Olson the next. But this comical approach allows us to laugh at some rather serious subjects in today’s popular culture. And for you backpackers looking for underground hip-hop references,  he has that too. Shouting out misfits like Charles Hamilton and Asher Roth, Danny has no problem saying it like it is.

One minor issue I had with Danny prior to Where Is Danny?, was his overall flow and delivery. Although his voice isn’t as commanding as one would hope, he has made drastic improvement in the art of spitting. This progression is most evident on songs like “Manic! At The Disco” and “Tattered Fedora Flow”, where he takes rapid fire shots, filled with endless wit and jest. Although Danny is by no means a microphone mangler, he holds his own and makes it work.

But not without a little help from his friends. Well, only three to be exact, but all worth mentioning nonetheless. Starting with “Hoedown Showdown”, Von Pea (Tanya Morgan) and Danny go back and forth with the wackiest of lyrical banter, over a grim backdrop. Moving on, the Lessondary’s Che Grand comes through on “Off The Hook” to pull some antics regarding phone etiquette. And last but certainly not least, “Theme Music To A Killing Spree” gives us a double dose of Danny. He and Danny Brown kick it old school, tossing relentless raps to one another for two minutes straight.

And we can’t go a minute longer without mentioning the production that allows Danny to spit such whimsical words. Alex Goose (Blueprint 3 Outtakes fame), handles the entirety of the beats on Where Is Danny?, flaunting brilliant sample flips and crisp drum patterns. We can start with “This Is Your Life (In West Watch-A-Ka-Tella)”, 5 minutes of instrumental bliss, followed by 45 seconds of applause. Or maybe “Turn Me Up”, allowing Alex to exemplify his prowess on the breaks as Danny chants, well, “turn me up.”  I could go on and on about these beats, but to make it easy for you, Goose does no wrong.

So checks in both the lyrical and production department, but what about cohesion? Check. Both the sequencing and transitions of this project were spot on. I am usually a tad wary of skits on hip-hop albums, they tend to go overboard and take away from the project. Fortunately, Danny has become a skit wizard, gracing us with unprecedented comedy.

So Where Is Danny? Turns out he has been here all along, delivering by far his best work to date.

4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5 out of 5

Note – We realize this album leaked to the web nearly a year ago. But we have been informed that it just recently hit iTunes. Seeing how we never ran this review, we felt it was fitting to finally post it now.

UPDATE: The album is being released for free since IMEEM and other writers decided to leak the album without permission. There will be a reworked retail version available on Definitive Jux shortly. Be SURE to support that when it comes around, these guys deserve it.

Download: Danny! – Where Is Danny?

Download: Danny! – “Get Down” prod. Alex Goose [Right Click Save-As]