Not to fixate on age, but it is impossible to articulate the magnitude of Danny Brown’s luminosity without emphasizing that he’s 44 years old. Keep in mind he was a late bloomer, so his contemporaries in the commercial sector were about a decade younger than him on average. Yet, even in 2025, he sounds like the future of music, while most of his peers have retreated into safe territories to fortify their longevity.

Nearly two years on the dot since the somber musings of ‘Quaranta’, he has reemerged from the studio in technicolor. It turns out sobriety doesn’t mean adventure is off the table; in fact, his imagination got even weirder (adj., complimentary) after cleaning up his act. Although heavy drug use did shape much of his image until quite recently, it’s now evident that the ingenuity behind it all has always been genetically sourced.

The worst of it is over for Brown, and his sixth solo album confirms that. Well past the sighs of relief and exhaustion that defined his last project, ‘Stardust’ makes room for clear-headed character development while actively resisting the tedium often associated with abstinence. The inward-looking themes of ‘Quaranta’ do show up this time around as well, albeit in smaller doses and with greater emphasis on ownership, endurance and sustainability. Despite its lyrical density, the new record contains only a handful of songs with words worth paying close attention to.

‘Book of Daniel’, for instance, recapitulates how far he has come since overhauling his ruinous patterns. Guided by shimmering guitar strums, the symphonic progression of this delicately crafted piece makes it the natural choice for the opener. Likewise, ‘What You See’ goes deeper into his personal growth as he recalls the milestones of his life that brought him to where he is today — through heartbreak, self-loathing and emotionally numbing habits, he reveals that love is what ultimately liberated him. Although details of his romantic life remain unclear, he attributes his renewed sense of purpose to someone special: “I gotta stay disciplined, can’t fuck this up / Resisting temptation ’cause it’s all bout us / Through the ups and downs, stayed by my side / Now I got something to live for, I was dying inside.” He then lets his guard down again back-to-back on ‘RIGHT FROM WRONG’ and ‘The End’, with the latter featuring some of his most vulnerable bars to date as he raps, “I’m my own worst enemy / The biggest problem was me.”

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Tuned to the same wavelength as the introductory track, ‘All4U’ offers a cathartic finale to an otherwise overstimulating journey. A thoughtful parting gift that centers on hope and perseverance, its fantastical terrain makes it one of the catchiest joints from the entire batch. Jane Remover’s input actually makes this one strikingly reminiscent of Charli XCX’s more emotive numbers like ‘Track 10’ and ‘forever’, not to mention the Bratty kitsch that permeates every corner of the album. Of course, it’s vital to note that Brown hosted the English popstar on ‘Float On’ more than a decade before she became the titan we know today. Along that thread, he has always had a finger on the pulse of younger generations, so these parallels in no way call his originality into question.

Now, here’s the unusual part: the remaining nine items on the list are of a different breed altogether — topically, that is, since there is pretty much always some sonic overlap. Similar to how ‘Quaranta’ was built up as the “spiritual bookend” to the deeply concerning panache of ‘XXX’, ‘Stardust’ reads more like a continuation of ‘Old’.

From drum ‘n’ bass to hyperpop to sprightly video-game mayhem, a punky digital verve pulsates across the record’s many facets. While ‘Lift You Up’ is a straightforward dance tune, ‘Flowers’ boasts a dazzling vibrancy that compels reflexive movement even when Brown barges head first into the instrumental. At 70 mph, ‘Copycats’ is comparatively easier to digest than the abrasive screams from JOHNNASCUS on ‘1999’ or the machine-gun rhythm steering ‘Baby’. While there is indeed something for everyone on this LP, a select few numbers cater specifically to misfits by deliberately eschewing mass appeal.

Regardless, an endeavor this bold is matched only by the bravery of a seasoned MC spotlighting junior artists with only a fraction of his reach. The lineup comprises 11 cameos in total, and he connects with nearly all of them with astonishing ease — funnily enough, the one exception is Frost Children. Arguably the most recognizable feature on the tracklist, the eccentric pop duo worked with him on a knockout single just last year, so compatibility isn’t really the issue. Regrettably, ‘Green Light’ ends up being the lowest point of this collection as both teams fail to click like they previously did.

On the flipside, lead single ‘Starburst’ is a Tier-A showstopper alongside the first and last cuts. A fitting reintroduction to Brown, the screeching beat and its violent transition into another dimension showcases a side of him that remains untouchable even all these years later. 

‘Stardust’ is not a particularly memorable bundle, but the stamina it demands makes the experience worthwhile. Much of it feels like an inexorable force of energy rather than a traditional audio package. Accordingly, the tinny quality of ‘Whatever the Case’ and frenzied crescendo from ‘1L0v3myL1f3!’ will surely do a whole lot better in concert than on headphones.

‘Stardust’ is more fun than it is masterful. Through its diverse talent pool, these 14 songs demonstrate how opulence, distortion and dynamism create moments that are just as valuable as tasteful chord progression or animated arrangements. Brown’s perspectives on the human condition, creativity and design continually intersect throughout this project, and so it never gets dull — that said, it can be tiring at times. Whereas it’s guaranteed to attract a messy crowd, you don’t have to be inebriated to enjoy the product; at the same time, getting through the entire album does require a certain level of zest. 

Danny Brown looks and sounds better today than ever before, and his latest offering is a testament to his restored health and balance. Don’t forget he’s been in the game for over two decades at this point, yet you’d never guess it from listening to his music. 

7/10

Words: Karan Singh

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