Written by Israel Lerma
Born and raised in Detroit, Danny Brown is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and podcaster. Brown was heavily influenced by his parents and the Detroit community, which led him to experimental hip-hop music, for which he is now known. Performing downstairs at Houston's gorgeous White Oak Music Hall on November 22nd, Danny Brown and his two openers, Femtanyl and Underscores, provided a memorable night filled with alternative experimental hip-hop you need to experience.
Femtanyl, the first opener, came on at 8 pm, experiencing technical difficulties at first, but still played their 30-minute set, which was slightly over, which was neat. While waiting for the first 5 minutes, they started with a very, very long joke to keep the crowd entertained. The joke told was about three men (who turned out to be them) who live very distinct lives, as each life was described in great detail for a long time. After the description, the punchline hit with a sex innuendo, including the three men. That complicated joke made no sense, but it still made everyone laugh, and as the second joke was being made, the punchline had no time to shine, but it was promised it would come later. They began their set with the song "P3T," a classic synth track that utilizes repetition to its advantage. Its heavy bass got everyone moving like crazy, as the sound was so loud and heavy that everyone felt it in their bones. The live guitar solos throughout the set were quite impressive, as the high notes resonated well with the audience. The stage presence was exciting, as the constant movement had people reciprocating in kind, and their fashion sense (see picture) is some of the best I have personally seen among artists. They ended their set with the song Fast-paced WORLDWID3 masking in the audience crowd. As they left their set, the crowd was waiting for the promised punchline at the end; however, it did not come.
Ten minutes later, Underscores came out to play her unique hyperpop sound, inspired by 100 gecs (whom she had opened for years ago). She started her set with "Point A," a hyperpop song that utilizes the xylophone to propel the song forward. With the bass coming again, these constant sounds get everyone moving. The song "Poplife" was quite nice, as the underscored vocals sang every word, no matter what. The lighting really made her stand out, enhancing her performance, while the heavy use of bass makes you want to keep moving. It was a fun time; even the fans next to me knew all the words and were passionately singing along with her. The most interesting thing I've ever seen happen at a show occurred duringher last three songs. When playing What A Girl Gotta Do, she hides behind a curtain while a light emits. Come to find out, Underscores is wearing a light source as a backpack, drawing all the attention to her. The crowd started cheering, then appreciated the creative aspect of this, as the light signals a metaphor that just that. While singing her most emotional song, she moves the light closer to her face to emphasize how she truly feels. Singing "What A Girl Gotta Do," I interpret this as her asking the world what she has to do to be the best. She turns off the light and ends her set playing "Music," her recent single. While leaving, she sings "thank you so much," a nice touch for both the audience and performer to come together and enjoy.
Now, for the headliner, Danny Brown came with his famous fur coat piece, white pants, and green-dye hair. He started with his self-titled song, "Stardust," and in these four minutes, he set the tone for the rest of the night. Performing in his shining box, the constant back and forth, along with the varying lights, makes Danny's passionate performance really stand out. Additionally, the instrument that sounds like it adds so much to the song, as well as the silliness Danny loves to portray. Continuing the Stardust, Flowers, and Lift You Up is a nice representation of this hyperpop song that Danny is starting to embrace. The song "Green Light" is my favorite off the new album, and hearing Lulu Prost perform live was a treat. The following few songs were all throwbacks to previous works like XXX and Atrocity Exhibition, one of the best albums of all time. Hearing his classic "Lie4" and "I Will," these are the songs that gave him a sense of direction when he recorded them at the age of 30, paving the way for where he is today. I Will has the best samples ever, and hearing them live with Danny spitting on it like crazy was incredible. Even crazier was when he played When It Rain and Ain't It Funny. This album genuinely inspired me to explore the alternative and experimental genre of hip-hop, as 'Ain't it Funny' is a hip-hop classic that pushes boundaries of the genre. It is such an important, well-produced song that deserves all its flowers. The music video itself is also one of the best, so hearing this live with other Danny's fans was so cool.
Then, the next song off his collaboration album with JPEGMAFIA, playing the self-titled track SCARING THE HOES. This 
track live is an experience I cannot even describe. The raunchiness, randomness, and all are perfectly crafted into a unique piece of work that is mastered really well (in which Peggy does!). To end his set, Danny played a couple more hit songs off Stardust, bringing out both openers to play their songs off the album. Seeing all the artists on stage, it's a beautiful sight to see the veteran Danny Brown blending into a new genre that the up-and-comers are paving the way for. Ending his set, Danny played "All4u," which is a perfect love letter to all his fans. As he says, this music saved Danny's life, and thanking us, the fans, by making him into the man he is today is a powerful lyric Danny ends with. In this case, the "U" isn't a female or a partner; the "U" is us, the fans who support Danny in whatever he does. He is grateful, and we, the fans, are grateful as well, for witnessing a living legend in the modern hip-hop world.