Black Thought & Danger Mouse - Cheat Codes Album Review
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Danger Mouse and Black Thought have worked together many times over the past few decades, but on August 12th they finally released a full collaborative album together. Danger Mouse has provided exceptional production to the likes of Ceelo Green and MF DOOM while Black Thought has transcended his place within The Roots into being a rapper who is on a lot of people's Top 10 GOAT lists. So the anticipation of a full project from these two artists was astronomically high. But did they live up to it? Did this pan out as a perfect fit? Or did this totally miss the mark? Listen to the fellas discuss it and then leave your thoughts in the comment section!
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This album is the definition of instant classic sounding
This was actually my first impression,too. This is what a classic sounds like. The last time I had this feeling of an instant classic was the Masta Ace&Marco Polo album.
I’m not gonna lie I got nervous that y’all weren’t gonna review this one. I should’ve never doubted. Thanks for the quality content for all these years.
Beezy wouldn't let this go when he preaches Black Thought as GOAT MC contender.
i was losing hope too, so glad they got to it too!!
Same here! Especially when they reviewed Roc Marciano’s project with The Alchemist, which came after
there’s no way…beezy would’ve gone on strike if they didn’t lol
yo ugly squid nice to see you here
I feel like I need Black Thought to finally do a song with Nas on the next solo project.
Yes please! How it hasnt happened yet is crazy. Maybe Nas got Black Thought for KD3, we can only hope lol
Thun on KD3 to me feels like it would suit Thought so well.
Bro this what im thinking, i wanna hear nas rap over some danger mouse too
Definitely need that more then any possible collab
This album will be remembered as a classic. And with this, Black Thought is the only rapper in history to have at least one classic album across 4 different decades. This one as a solo mc, the other 3 with the Roots. Talk about longevity. Tariq f'n Trotter 🐐🐐
Great point!
el p....
@@sunflowersamurai10 You might have a point. Not sure if I'd consider RTJ4 a classic but I know a lot of people love it
@@fernandoreyes680 rtj 4 is an easy classic imo, especially given the context it was released in, for walkin in the snow alone tbh.
Would you say that nas also qualifies?
@@sunflowersamurai10 Nas is in my top 3 rappers ever. But honestly, I don't think he released a classic in the 10s. His 20s run is already far better imo and we're only 3 years into the decade. El-P definitely qualifies more
This album is an exceptional listen. Black Thought also killed his verse on Saba’s album. I can listen to that verse on repeat.
we don't know how much work DOOM has in the tuck since he died, and he does (did) very few features. it's perfectly reasonable to not have expected him to pop up on here...
Yup, just another example of Myke being snobby.
DOOM did a lot of features.
@@YusefOtesh8880 as a guest - not collaborator - and compared to other artists of his longevity & stature, no way. that's why he got his rep as an elusive recluse.
Danger Mouse is one of the most eclectic, smooth, intriguing producers I've listened to this decade. One of them ones that sit on the same mountain as Madlib. Him and Black Thought are SUCH an incredible duo.
phenomenal album, every song is amazing, every feature brought it
Highlights:Belieze, because, aquamarine, The darkest part
the run of because, belize, and aquamarine is easily the best 3 track run of any album this year.
@@kevinhirschowitz8550 Agreed
@@kevinhirschowitz8550 If you add No Gold Teeth, its the best 4 track run this year to me
Absolutely fucking amazing album. Black Thought keeps keepin on the quest to show everyone he's one of the most talented and consistent rappers ever, if not the absolute greatest. Two fifteen represent!!
Everytime i play it, Aquamarine feels like the theme to a fucking intergalactic space mission like he outta interstellar or some shit😭 its so good. Violas n Lupitas, No gold teeth, aquamarine, the darkest part, close to famous, saltwater… this albums an instant classic in my eyes
Personally, one of the best hip hop albums of the last decade, might become an all time for me it’s that fucking good.
I'd agree, if it weren't for the mixing... I can't even hear the lyrics on some tracks!
So far my favorite album of the year. Black Thought is a legend anyway and Danger Mouse really killed it with the production here.
I heard a lot of people complaining about the mixing and that Thoughts voice isn't lood enough sometimes. For me I have different results on different devices. On my loudspeakers everything sounds pretty correct.
As always, thanks for the content and I wish y'all more success. It's still crazy and not understandable that you don't have more followers yet. Y'all also already legends on here.😉
Fr, I feel his vocal is a lil too low for me on some tracks... but it's amazing. I'll have to listen to it on other devices to see how it sounds.
This album evoked many visuals and emotions for me personally, the album is packed full of substance and clever lyricism, I was expecting this album to be Experimental and a little out there giving Danger Mouse's knack for doing abstract and complicated but interesting productions but he just kept it skillful, pretty traditional and well suited to Black Thought with the beats, I love the distorted production from Danger Mouse, mixed in with that dusty basement style of production with a Vinyl type sound on the ears, also mixed in with charming and warm soul samples to balance, Black Thought just rapping ferociously and displaying a real spiritual and deep minded style of lyricism, the way the album opens up is perfect, it has a sort of triumphant and turned all the way up Soul sample on the track "Sometimes" , just under 40 minutes of great music, Black Thought recently dismissed a tour for the album in an interview, It just feels like he's also simply leaving it to speak for itself, as great art, I think "Aquamarine" is one of the best songs of 2022 for sure,
The tracks are all placed perfectly for me. some of the hooks on here are incredible, outside of the show stealer Michael Kiwanuka, you also get hooks from Dylan Cartlidge & Kid Sister, which are really nice on the ear, engaging and executed with finesse, all three of those hooks evoke that emotion and self-reflection in me I was speaking on, "Aquamarine" "Sometimes" & "The Darkest Part" the 3 entitled tracks with the guest hooks, "No Gold Teeth" "Saltwater" & "Strangers" all have dark and filthy production with plucky baselines, "No Gold Teeth" is similar in style production wise to "Cheat Codes" with its dark and gritty sound but its smoothed out much more with what sounds like Piano, Saltwater" is a dark and eerie beat, it introduces itself with an almost airy and tense anticipation, before the beat drops into a hellishly bleak and eerie sound, which sounds tailor made for the guest Conway The Machine, "Strangers" is a little less gloomy production wise than the 2 afore mentioned but it has a similar urgency and tense feel with the production, Killer Mike gives this beat the nasty flow to close the song out, the most emotional beats and moments on the album have to go to "Violas and Lupitas" which is the closing song, the beat just hit me right in the feels the way it was done, it comes off cinematic, so for me it was the perfect choice of song to end this album, "Belize" is also one of the more emotional beats and most definitely the most emotional spot on the album, giving you get a guest verse from the late MF DOOM, the beat is dreamy and the verses are trippy but soothing on the soul from Black Thought & DOOM, possibly the more Spiritual and resilient tracks as a listener on the feel they give me personally are "The Darkest Part" on the whole & "Because" for the most part, the guests do their thing for sure but the hook in particular really was top notch.
Song ratings : Aquamarine 10/10, The Darkest Part 10/10. Belize 10/10, Because 9/10, Violas and Lupitas 9/10, Sometimes 9/10, Strangers 8.5/10, No Gold Teeth 8.5/10, Saltwater 8.5/10, Cheat Codes 8/10, Close To Famous 8/10, Identical Deaths 7/10.
Definitely on my top 10 albums for this year along with Billy Woods, Roc, and Benny. I can’t even think of a single bad verse Black Thought has ever put out. At 50, he raps like he’s still hungry!
A.O.T.Y for me so far. This is definitely the album I've been waiting for from Thought. Like Beezy said, the S.O.T volumes were good. But, this is another level entirely! These two went perfectly together. Dangermouse crafted the perfect selection for Tariq to go over. I hope they come with a part 2. Cause I don't think there's a Hip Hop head out there that wouldn't want that after this.
When it dropped I had it tied at my #1 spot but since them it has fallen to my third maybe 4th.
@@poopymcpoop9945 There are far too many great projects this year to even limit it to a Top 10... it's crazy! AOTY will be almost impossible to choose.
@@Jimmy1982Playlists agreed, it's a really solid year and it's not over.
They definitely should make more albums together - I hope they’re aware of the love this is getting in general.
It’s great that Cheat Codes turned out as good as it did, but it’d be kinda sad if it’s all we got from them.
B is a real one for mentioning Aquamarine - that track is fucking incredible.
The Raekwon verse they are referencing to was Yelawolf's "Rhyme Room" also featuring Killer Mike on "Trunk Muzik Returns". I'm a hardcore Wu-Tang fan, but the chef didn't compliment the Southern style cuisine on that joint.
5:58 I ain't mean to have Myke second guessing himself out here 😂😭💀. But yeah I'm looking for that now 👀.
Danger Mouse was on his A+++++ game with the beats on this album
I've been playing this and Nas Magic back to back lately like crazy.
So happy y'all reviewed this. I was just thinking if you would have to review it and I'm happy you did. This is definitely one of my favorites albums this year.
Fav tracks are Belize and Violas and Lupitas
incredible album, aquamarine sounds like magic, black thought is the best rapper of the year so far no doubt.
Ever thought about having a favorite bar(s) portion of the review? Favorite lines often come out organically during the review but it might be cool to have a section dedicated to it. The favorite tracks and if you're watching sections are great already!
This and JID, top albums in my rotation right now.
Masterpiece album. Top 3. Album hip hop. So far. So dope
Man what if Andre 3000 had the last verse on because
“I don’t tune him out I just don’t listen.” Damn Myke
Reporting live from SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg. Keep rock bafethu
Feefo up to a B-cup now. Keep goin bro!
💀
Half of the Roots Feefo? I mean I know most people only know Quest and Black Thought but there are a bunch of members, it is a band.
Quest and Black Thought are the only 2 members of the Roots. Everyone else is temporary.
Let's not forget that Kamal Gray has been holding down keys in the Roots for 26 years!
@@smiley77060 original yes, but there are members that have been there for 20+ years like Kamal and James Poysner. Who have been around 25+ years.
Questlove, out of his own mouth on Questlove Supreme, said The Roots only consists of him and Black Thought.
@@smiley77060 What did Black Thought say? Because they have more then one collaboration albums where Black Thought was on 2 tracks or less. The Roots play for Jimmy Fallon. Not just Question and Thought. Question says a lot of bull shit that makes no sense. How can you have a band with only 2 members in it?
yesss, I've been waiting for this one for a while, can't wait to hear Beezy's thoughts
Damn I'm really surprised y'all haven't reviewed Meechy Darko's new album yet. Last time I checked y'all was really fucking with Flatbush Zombies. It seems like nobody is really talking about it which is crazy because it's really good. Oh well. Y'all still killing with the reviews so shout out to y'all.
So many great projects came out on that day alone, let alone the last few weeks... it seems like it's being overlooked. I wanna hear more about Meyhem Lauren's project w Daringer, too.
@@Jimmy1982Playlists That's so true and that's why I'm not tripping. Just surprised is all and I know J.I.D was the most anticipated. Especially after 5 years or how ever long it's been since his last project. It's crazy how fire meech's album was and this being his solo debut album on top of that. I'm starting to like it more than J.I.D's album and that shit was pure flames. I just wanted to hear their thoughts. It is what it is lol.
From 14:55 to 15:30 feefo was on statue mode LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
MAAAAAAN WTF
Next to Lupe this is my favorite album of the year so far
The review I been waiting for. This album is definitely an AOTY contender, next to Billy Woods and Lupe Fiasco for me
That billy woods is _ridiculous!_
3 best albums of 2022 without question and there were a lot of them
I didn’t know Feefo was nursing.
I LOVE this project. My only gripe is the audio quality, especially the first 3 songs.. As a music/sound engineer it might be a little worse to my ears, but Black Thought is such a great rapper and Danger Mouse is such a great producer I can overlook the poor audio quality of the tracks. This shit would have been an INSTANT classic with better quality. Now, most people might not play it through unless they are super hip hop heads or fans of BT or DM because of the horrible EQing.
I’m with you bro the mixing in this album is horrible to me which is a travesty because Thought has one The best voices and cleanest deliveries in the history of rap
@@supaman432 100% agree. So for him not to be crystal clear on certain tracks is truly a setback to the overall listening experience.
For real. Only thing holding this back from a 10 for me. Streams or Thought 1-3 show his beast of a voice. So not really sure why this seems mixed vocally like a Roots album. Kind of a bummer became as he has one of the best voices in hip hop.
@@supaman432 Replied to the OG comment just to come back and agree with you. I can’t believe they didn’t talk about that.
Do you mix and master?
Black Thought and Raekwon has to be two of the most unappreciate Hip Hop Artists ever. Both Brothers spit bars and their tones are unmatched. Black Thought & The Roots are very underappreciated. Love their Northeast Philly Hip Hop Vibes.
They are appreciated by all true hip hop fans and people who know whats up. Just yeah, sadly music like this will never be mainstream (anymore). In the past stuff like OB4CL was at least still able to do some numbers.
If Black Thought was so unappreciated... All his freestyles wouldn't go viral.... These dudes aren't starving out here like you want it to look
@@SPACECOWBOY705 the freestyles go viral yeah. He's on one of the most watched late night shows. But average people don't really know *Black Thought*. They tend to just know the freestyles and shit. But he's a legendary MC, irrespective of how well known he is by your average listener.
Nah, they're appreciated. Nobody dissing Black Thought during MC convos and Raekwon's influence on mafioso rap subgenre.
one thing Feefo gon do is review the whole album before anyone else gets a turn
Can’t wait for you guys to review the two new Ka projects. Languish arts and woeful studies.
Finallt its mousin time
I thought someone wouldve touched on “Belize” more. My favorite track next to “Aquamarine”
I love the album. Black and Mouse dropped a classic but we'll see in 10 years...Great review DEHH!!!
Heavy.
Ps Cheats Codes is a massive classic like Contra.
Pps I read about this album 19 years it was going to be called Dangerous Thoughts. I'm glad I was able to buy a copy from Amoeba a few weeks ago.
Bout time!!!
DEHH always coem through with the reviews we want to hear.
some of the features I didn't expect like asap rocky and run the jewels...this was a tight solid effort!! but do you all remember Black mentioning a solo album years ago titled "MasterPiece Theater" it was in a source mag
Been a while since I seen Granddad Willy!
That Russ feature made me wish instead of him it was Ab-soul because Russ sounded like him. That would of been both a surprise and better.
I want another Roots album with more Black Thought and Him going in like He did on this album.
Only complaint is that Black Thought’s vocal mixing was low. I had to battle the (absolutely dope) production to be heard. Outside of that. A perfect album.
🎯🎯🎯💯🙏🏼 For real!
Yeah. That's my only issue. Listening to Thought rhyme for decades, his vocal projection jumps out of the speakers. It's such an amazing album, i can't wrap my brain around it.
@@DrVRhodes7541 I think it's purposely danger is a grimey sound kinda dude tooo for years
Thanks for getting to this lol I got very nervous for a bit
Been waiting for this one.
Danger Mouse is amazing to me. If you look at his credits over the last 6-7 years, I feel like dude's set for life and now he's just goin around the world making music he's passionate about with people he respects.
DANGER MOUSE🔥
BLACK THOUGHT🔥
TY
Heard this yesterday. WOW.
and we surely did not forget the collabo with Jemini the Gifted One. Probably the best Album that came out in 2003!
Black thought & Raekwon are One in the same so it shouldnt be surprising with them collaborating.
I love Thought but Danger Mouse blew me away! "Aquamarine" is one of the most beautifully produced songs this year... The whole album just sounds incredible and Thought bars are always top tier but it seems even better somehow! Insane project!
Griselda, always got people changing their sound for the feature. Conway best out the group. When it comes to the bars, you could say the silliest. I agree with Myke I wanna hear Conway get experimental.
LULU was experimental...and great
@@toussaintloverture7275 nah, them beats where crafted for Conway.
@@toussaintloverture7275 but it is a great album.
Feefo's dread looking fly dawg. Keep up retwists brody.
Feefo gained some weight Dayum. Crazy to think these guys been creating content for over a decade.
I think Russ' verse is a reciprocation of Black Thought's verse on Russ' song Momentum.
The grey album was dope. All sounds. Taken from The Beatles White Album
Damn you guys questioned everything Feefo said 😂
Been waiting for this review. This album 🔥🔥.. No Skip material
I rlly wish y'all talked more about Belize
Streams of Thought Vol...3 was his debut album
Album of the year for me
Damm, I forgot this album came out since it was so long ago and yall behind on a bunch a shit. Lol, jus playing ,but seriously finally been wanting to hear yall input.
Amazing album just pure hiphop no sub genre
Russ's verse on "Because" was not that bad or really bad at all.
I think it was actually the 2nd or 3rd best feature on the album. I think people are way too biased against him
To be fair. In "La Maquina" Conway did rap in different type of beats thatn the usual griselda type. I honestly thing that Danger Mouse was excited to do a griselda type beat and it was a good opportunity
Then he followed with the grenade guns and ammo. Perfection
Danger Mouse is my favorite producer, not just in hiphop. He can merge into any genre and excel in it. He's done full albums for Norah Jones, Electric Guest, Portugal The Man, Gorrilaz, CeeLo Green, MF DOOM just to name a few. DOOM to Norah Jones is such a huge range.
I was beginning to think you guys were gonna pass this one up. I'm super glad you didn't!
Granddad Wooly where is this guy?? I loved his channel and his reviews..
we do a podcast together called Dead End Gamig
@@beezy430 and album reviews??
@@nikk796 naw only if hes on with us
He joined Dead end
9:29, dangerdoom. Its danger mouse, lol.
Album of the YEAR, yes it edges Kendrick!
Black Thought & Nas for Me far as rappers getting better & better with age and still being able to put out quality work.
You think Nas is better than Stillmatic era? I don't think so
@@Chris-lp8mz Younthink Nas peaked at Stillmatic? Cause I totally agree to disagree.
@@jaywilkinson525 It was Written and Stillmatic are better albums than Illmatic. I feel Stillmatic and that album he did with Bob Marley may have been his best moments. I like his last 2 albums, but they don't hit me like them other projects
KRS and Method Man doing their thing too.
@@tnitty7456 KRS One and Kool G Rap. Method Man is just now starting to come back again.
Favorite album of the year so far
Love this video. Loved this album ❤️❤️❤️💎❤️
Belize is god tier
I think it would benefit a multitude of elder statesmen in hip-hop to follow Pusha and Kanye's, Nas and Hit-Boy's, Royce & Premier's, RTJ's example. An MC + a singular producer lock in with each other and keep dropping until the well drys up. I think these projects would sound more focused and have more replay value. Plus it would help the veteran rappers who want more relevance. Like imagine if someone the likes of a Cam'ron, Lil Wayne, Game, 2 Chainz, Yasiin Bey worked with (1) dope producer it could possibly be some of their best work.
The review he talking about is the wutang saga continues review. About 5 years ago myke didn’t like how ghostface voice was altered on a hook. The dehh crew agreed that most of the verses on that project didn’t actually feel like a wutang project, from a production and energy standpoint. “Dirty water feel”
“Raekwon the line cook” 😂😂
finally yall reviewed this since i wanted to see if beezy wasn't gonna like it like with atcq, day 1 of asking dehh to react to yuno miles
DEHH is important 💪💪
Russ verse on Because was fire and I'm not even a Russ fan. It wasn't even one of those kind of songs lol it was a very enjoyable verse smh
Album is crazy
Something about this album is holding me back from liking it. Maybe is the compression on the mix or BT vocals sounding like he recorded it on a IPhone speaker or some of the features that didn't stick the landing... Either way decent album and i wish it could of been better and hopefully they make something better next time around.
mike said danger doom so many times dawg lmfao
Came down into the comments to see if anyone was thinking the same thing. Myke said it many times.
Black Thought is the GOAT.
Y’all didn’t talk about the MF DOOM verse unless I missed it :(
They did
@@LouieV6 where at
Bars on Bars on Bars. I wish his song structure was better. But he’s a back pack rapper through and through
Aquamarine is the dopest song on here 🤞🏾
how is Black Thought half of The Roots? he is one of twelve members, if I remember correctly :)
The Roots are actually only 2 official members (?uestlove and Black Thought). All the other members in the band can shift out (Hub, Rahzel, Scott Storch, etc) even those who have been there forever (ie Kamal, Captain Kirk, etc) so it can seem weird. I wasn’t aware of that fact for like the first 10 years of the group lol
@@AdanBean I figured James Poyser was made an official member atleast, but i might be mistaken.
@@AdanBean Thought and Question founded the Roots. But their are way more official members. Show me your proof of this.
I feel like this album is going to be very underappreciated for hip hop fans this year. I personally don't live it as much as y'all do as I have some issues with it but I definitely see why people think it's the BEST album of 2022. Great review y'all
Raekwon the Line Cook 🤣🤣🤣
My biggest problem with black thoughts solo work is that they do not hold my attention. Dope songs but I'm never in the mood to listen. The mixing was off on this album too. Overall dope shit
The mixing, bruh... kills me!
Especially those first few songs.
I agree. He had way better Roots albums.
The mix is bad and Thought’s song writing skills aren’t the strongest IMO. He’s the king of the freestyle but name a memorable hook or consistent theme. They’re a bunch of dope bars but that’s it.
@@georgethompsonjr6082 right. Compared the his Roots material, this project was seriously lacking.
@@tnitty7456 Thought is the feature/freestyle king because that’s his wheelhouse. Hard bars and ride the beat. Beyond that it starts getting shaky. The other members of the group help with the song writing and production so the projects are more fleshed out, but that’s not the case here.
Black Thought wasn't the only Mc in the Roots. Their best albums Malik B was part of. Dice Raw, Greg Porn and Truck North definitely were part of the Roots Crew. He did hold 2 Roots albums down dolo. But that 2 out of 11. Like the album. Was expecting a little more from both Thought and Mouse. Some of the mixing on certain songs could have been better. But love the love Thought is getting.
Mouse and Thought came with their AAA game
@@mamba4817 no Nas and Hit Boy came with their AAA game.