When the duo of super producer Danger Mouse and versatile songwriter/vocalist Jemini debuted in 2003 with their Ghetto Pop Life LP, the legacy it left in its wake felt inevitable. From the first rhyme delivered over those now iconic dusty drums, it was clear the pair crafted an impactful album that was going to shake the underground scene. This sentiment continues to prove itself as Ghetto Pop Life is still discussed twenty years later and is held in high regard within Danger Mouse’s colorful production discography. Unfortunately, it seemed like that was where the story was going to end.
After all of the praise garnered from their first outing, Danger Mouse and Jemini never revealed any hints of a proper follow-up, until this week. On Friday, we will receive Born Again, the long-lost follow-up from the pair that skyrocketed to the top of the early 2000s scene unfazed. Originally recorded in 2004, hearing the difference between their landmark release and the ten songs presented on this album is staggering. The pair seemed to get a jumpstart to their self-esteem with the praise yet they stayed calm and humble, elevating the quality of their music instead of standing in the shower of compliments. Born Again is everything you could hope for and more with Danger Mouse laying down a varying display of his talents while Jemini’s verses are delivered with pure passion.
The first thing you notice about this 2004 LP is the infectious, fun energy. Despite staring stardom in the face, the pair never took themselves too seriously and allowed their most off-kilter ideas and hardened opinions to drive the LP. Like a firework, these songs explode and linger in the air in a cartoonishly entertaining fashion. Danger Mouse’s collage-style production and hectic drum patterns sound alive as the duo throws conventional hip-hop to the side and opts for their own brand of unique twists on modern tropes. Jemini’s songwriting is at an all-time high, creating conceptual pieces of art that stand strong in their refreshing takes on the industry and all of its trappings. Their chemistry overall hit a fever pitch on Born Again, the duo crafted an onslaught of lively vocals over grandiose arrangements that jump from introspective to vivid storytelling.
Jemini may never receive the proper praise and recognition for his abilities as a pure songwriter. All over Born Again, the emcee puts on a clinic of thought-provoking hip-hop that centers around his life experiences and natural creativity. Nothing feels forced in his lyrics, every thought recorded is drenched in pure charisma and delivered with ease. He kicks things off with the melodic “All I”, a track that has Jemini reliving past experiences and realizing the effect they had on him as an artist. These rhymes are delivered through scratchy vocals, adding a layer of empathy and compassion to these vulnerable lyrics. Therein lies the magic of Jemini, the artist is able to pen songs that pull from his life and make them sound universal, all while delivering these songs in a rainbow of flows. The energy of his hometown, Brooklyn, is embedded in his voice and adds a humanizing layer to his otherworldly vocals. “Dear Poppa” is an emotional love letter to his father while “Walk the Walk” acts as the most cohesive track on the album and shows his grasp on the concept of unforgettable hooks. Jemini’s songwriting prowess drives Born Again but it is Danger Mouse’s beats that put a bow on it all.
Danger Mouse has become one of the most sought-after producers of his time and his work on this album shows how he earned that spot. The beats he created for Born Again form a wall of sound that booms and echos. With every piano chord struck or drum smacked, Danger Mouse is able to piece these elements together for pure East Coast hip-hop bliss. “Me” features stuttering drums that feel like a gut punch with a touch of beauty from a high-energy piano melody, a juxtaposition that glides like a skateboard on fresh pavement. The title track feels like a small opus in the Danger Mouse universe, a relaxed instrumental with frantic tempos that still feel so gentle. The producer’s ability to create and then resolve these minuscule conflicts in his music allows him to play puppet master with the tones and melodies.
Even almost twenty years after it was recorded, Born Again sounds so refreshing. The weight of the world was on the shoulders of Danger Mouse and Jemini and they seemingly brushed it off by recording ten stunning examples of pure hip-hop that twist in the duo’s unfiltered creativity. Their chemistry was never in question but it seems to be elevated on their vaulted sophomore effort, allowing the energy of those recording sessions to be injected into these tracks.
