It is an absolute travesty that Black Thought’s name is not mentioned more frequently in top-5 MC discussions. Throughout his illustrious career, the Philadelphia institution has been in the vanguard of hip-hop as the frontman for cult band The Roots. Meanwhile, Danger Mouse has rightfully earned the moniker of “super-producer” by delivering gripping releases at every turn, regardless of who his collaborator du jour is.
In many ways, the meeting of these two great musical minds is a match made in heaven. While the seeds for this collaboration, initially dubbed “Dangerous Thoughts”. were first sown in the late 2000s nothing happened due to understandably busy schedules from both members. Fortunately, they eventually reconnected a decade on to record an album.
”Cheat Codes” stands out in today’s rap landscape like a tree in a desert drawing inspiration from old-school hip-hop with its attention to detail while opting for obscure samples and crackling vinyl for its aesthetic. It offers the perfect combination of Black Thought‘s thoughtful and incisive lyrics and razor-sharp delivery and Danger Mouse‘s impeccable production skills and ear for an infectious beat
Given the duo’s status and reputation, It is easy to imagine that there was a long line of people hoping and begging to collaborate. And while plenty of notable names show up, such as A$AP Rocky on “Strangers”, Michael Kiwanuka on “Aquamarine”, Kid Sister & Raekwon on “The Darkest Place” and the gone-to-soon MF Doom on “Belize”, each artist has been selected with the specific goal of augmenting the track they feature on. The track “Because” is also of note acting as a kind of passing of the guard to the next generation. It features Joey Bada$$, Russ and British hook maker Dylan Cartlidge.
Ultimately, “Cheat Codes” is a record that feels enlightening and reinvigorating despite often delving into hard-to-digest lyrical subjects. It oozes the confidence of a legendary sports star fighting for an inevitable title run. While Hip-hop has undoubtedly evolved since the duo made their respective debuts, Danger Mouse and Black Thought have delivered an album that old hip-hop heads will adore and newer fans of the genre will inevitably respect.
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