Black Thought and Danger Mouse - "Cheat Codes" (Album Review)

From the dungeons of hip hop, two legends emerge to deliver a mind meld of hip hop brilliance called “Cheat Codes” by Black Thought and Danger Mouse. When you say the those artists’ names together out loud, you’re probably thinking “What took so long?” Here is the combination of Black Thought’s legendary lyrical ability and the ever so creative brain of Danger Mouse. Black Thought has always coursed through the veins of music history for being an emcee of the most supreme skill, and for many musicologists, he’s top two… and not two. This particular pairing gives the listener some nostalgia as they listen to something that seems vintage, but in actuality is a fresh take on a classic style.

The style of this record is very much New York Hip Hop to the core. Bringing it back to the Mecca, the dawn of it all, the birthplace of the 5 elements of Hip Hop. Danger Mouse brings out some choice soulful samples to set the vibe. However there’s never a hook or chorus throughout this entire album that feels big or chant-worthy, which is quite a interesting way to approach something as grandiose as this. They’re demanding your attention with its flow of beats, lyrics, and most of all feeling. Although there’s a lot of the 90’s vibe happening here, there’s a flavor in it that feels a little uncharted. Take for instance the track “Aquamarine”, a song that starts off sounding like a lost track from the band Air. Then Black Thought starts his verse and you realize how unusually well it all fits together. This song always gives me a strong emotional response, which has always been the primary skill of Danger Mouse as a producer.

To understand just how amazing this pairing is, one must understand the importance of Danger Mouse. The year is 2004, I’m a young delinquent downloading music from Limewire when I first hear of this mysterious mixtape floating around the internet called “The Grey Album”. Come to find, it was not a mixtape after all, but rather a mash up tape. At the time, full length mash up albums weren’t even a thing that people did. But when Danger Mouse mixed Jay-Z’s Black Album with The Beatle’s White Album… it was special. He went on to be an ancillary part in the making of Demon Days by The Gorillaz. I saw some studio footage of the Demon Days recordings and there’s a particular part that’s burned in my brain. Damon Albarn is discussing one of the tracks with Danger Mouse that’s been particularly troublesome to make work, and he says “Man, if you pull this one off, you’re a legend”. Not only did he do it, Danger Mouse has continued to pull off daunting producer challenges throughout his entire career.

Jump to the track “Saltwater”, which hits you over the head like hammer with the bang of it. Your brow will furrow, your fists will clench, and your head will bob back in forth. It’s like a lost gem of a vinyl that has been left with dust for far too long. You pick it up and wipe away the age with your fingers, and you can feel the frequencies. And it never fails to disappoint with how different each track is approached. If you’ve heard this record and you feel something, then musically… your heart is in the right place.