Danny Brown On Big Sean Reppin’ Detroit And Miley Backlash

Danny Brown is coming off a huge press run for his new album Old. The Detroit rapper recently sat down with XXL to school us on his life lessons and made our list of recent career defining albums in hip-hop. However, Brown seemed open to talk about everything going on in his life during a recent interview with Rolling Stone.

Posted on the rooftop of Spotify’s NYC offices during his listening party, Brown spoke about his collaborations on Old, Big Sean representing Detroit and the fascination with hip-hop co-signing Miley. We’ve pulled a few excerpts of the interview below. You can check out the full interview here.

How did you decide on collaborations on Old?
The only features I picked were Purity Ring and Charli XCX. The rest of them were just my friends. Like, being on tour with ScHoolboy Q. I'm playing my album, he's playing his album. I was on [A$AP] Rocky's bus. I played "Kush Coma" and he's like "Shit. Let me get on that." Ab-Soul originally wanted to be on "Dip," but I just felt like "Dip" was already done so I'm like, "Nah. I'll do a record for you" ["Way Up Here"]. I always used to listen to grime music and [A$AP Mob] would always joke about it. They liked it, but they used to crack jokes about it. I'm just too into it.

Being from Detroit, you're quick to defend your turf. You had some choice words for Big Sean recently on why he doesn’t authentically represent your hometown.
My point with Big Sean is that every time you hear him in an interview and every time he do anything, he's like "Cause I’m from Detroit! I’m from Detroit!" There’s ho-ass n****s from Detroit and there's gangstas in Detroit. Just being from a place doesn't dictate, doesn't mean anything. My whole point is about inspiring people to do things to get out of Detroit. Somebody like him hasn't been in Detroit forever, in years. He repping it like it's a cool place to be.

What about the men in hip-hop cosigning Miley?
I think anybody doing that just trying to eat. Ain't no n***a worried about their own music worried about her. Kendrick Lamar is not trying to do no song with Miley Cyrus. It's just like this, man. It's like the little white girl in the hood that might get you a plug on some pills or some shit. You gonna be nice to her to get your plug or whatever you need to get. They trying to eat.

Previously: Danny Brown Battles His Demons On The Powerful And Haunting ‘Old’
Previously: Danny Brown’s Life Lessons Are Paying Off