After “Scaring The Hoes” with JPEGMafia in Philadelphia last year, Danny Brown says he’s looking forward to headlining a solo show Wednesday.
The tour stop at Theatre of Living Arts will showcase his latest release, Quaranta, an album in which the Detroit-based rapper reflects on his journey and newfound sobriety.
“I feel blessed,” Brown told WHYY’s Billy Penn. “I feel like before, I was too focused on the negative aspects of everything, but that comes with addiction. Being sober, it’s more of a clean mindset, and I’m just happy that I’m still here. Happy that people are still interested in what I’m doing.”
Many fans were introduced to Brown in 2011 via the release of XXX. The critically acclaimed album was named one of the best of the 2010s by Pitchfork, but it wasn’t until the following year that he made an appearance in Philly at the Roots Picnic in 2012. Brown remembered the experience fondly, saying performing the same gig as the famed Philadelphia group was an honor.
Brown said Philly rappers’ flow has always stood out to him, adding he loves the way the artists from the city have separated themselves from the rest of the East Coast.
He pointed to State Property, another Philly group, calling Beanie Sigel “one of the top rappers ever” and giving a special shoutout to member Peedi Crakk, describing him as “one of my favorite rappers.”
“He [Crakk] had a mixtape with Indy 500,” Brown said. “I was a huge fan… I think I listen to it at least once a year.”
“If you look at something like a Black Thought, or State Property and even right now with Uzi, it’s really all about the flow with them,” he said. “They are all like melodic emcees. When I think of Philly rap, I think of that the most… Some people can just be lyrical, but they have no flow. Philly really understood that it’s more of a musical thing.”
Brown said Philly fans always show love when he’s in town — a passion he says matches his love of Philly cuisine.
“I got to calm down on eating too many cheesesteaks this time,” Brown joked. “I always eat too much when I’m in Philly.”
And the spot Brown hits up the most when he’s in town is Ishkabibble’s, which, for him, is conveniently across the road from the venue.
“They sell those f*** drinks called the Gremlins, which are like grape Kool-Aid mixed with lemonade,” Brown said. “I drank like four of those… then they got those huge pizza slices … almost half the size of a pizza.”
Ahead of chowing down on South Street, Brown will be in the studio with Penn State graduates Joey Valence & Brae, where he hopes they will “make some cool shit.”
Tickets to Brown’s show at TLA start at $45. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
