On ‘Cheat Codes,’ Danger Mouse & Black Thought Bring Escapade Of Sharp Bars & Big Beats

Photo by Shervin Lainez

Since he exploded into the realm of hip-hop in 1995 as the lead vocalist of the world-famous Roots, Black Thought has been one of the most underrated rappers of all time. His intelligence and wit are delivered with fierce venom and unforgettable charisma. He has provided song-stealing features for some of rap’s most current superstars (see Freddie Gibbs’ “Education” and Your Old Droog’s “Pravda”), but it wasn’t until 2018 when he released his first full release as a solo artist, Streams of Thought Vol. 1. Here in 2022, we have the unsung hero’s latest offering, Cheat Codes, a 12-song escapade of sharp bars and larger-than-life drums provided by the ever-changing producer Danger Mouse. 

The Philadelphia-breed emcee has only gotten sharper after decades in the game and Cheat Codes is more of a victory lap around anyone who hasn’t mentioned him in the conversation of the greatest rapper of all time. On Cheat Codes, Danger Mouse provides a smorgasbord of grimey, dusty loops that range from simplistic, menacing drum patterns to stadium-sized bangers. 

Danger Mouse has been providing backing tracks to some of the greatest vocalists from the past decade. His work with MF DOOM, which has a posthumous feature on Cheat Codes, and Daniele Luppi has made him one of the most diverse and sought-after producers working today. His latest offering only adds to his legacy, the instrumentals he provided Black Thought will have your neck sore from all the head banging. The title track from this album is the perfect example of an undeniable banger, the repetitive keys accent the left-field drumming perfectly to create a harmony of wonky sounds. 

Danger Mouse pulled samples from the depths of music history and re-envisioned them for this album. The feature-heavy “Strangers” has a collage-style hook that draws elements from what feels like a multitude of old vinyl albums that you won’t find in the dollar bin. The intro to Cheat Codes is also a perfect example of Danger Mouse’s one-of-a-kind ear for samples, the haunting hums provide a dark canvas for Black Thought to splatter his wit over in a Jackson Pollock manner. 

Throughout his career, Black Thought has mentioned how his lyrics should be studied in colleges across the country, and after the world hears Cheat Codes, that claim might be undeniable. Black Thought’s highbrow lyrics are delivered in a relaxed fashion and are jam-packed with clever one-liners that will have your jaw on the floor. The song “Saltwater”, which also features an impeccable verse from Griselda’s Conway The Machine, has Thought dropping lines like “You more dickhead I’m more Dick Gregory” and the aforementioned title track drops the bar “Gamble with your life like Pete Rose”. Both of which are just bite-sized chunks of Thought’s meticulous approach to songwriting that helps him stand out from his competition. 

It’s rare when a rapper can stay at such a high level of skill for so many years, Black Thought is at the top of that list. The chemistry shared between The Roots vocalist and Danger Mouse on Cheat Codes is so high caliber that it’s almost impossible to believe the two artists walk amongst the common man. The term “God Level” is thrown around a bit within the hip-hop community, and once people hear Cheat Codes, that saying is going to have a new definition. 

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