Danny Brown just announced on an Australian radio station that he is writing a children’s book. Before you rush to judgement, I can’t think of a better artist to write a children’s book than Danny Brown. Danny makes claim that his book will feature rhyme patterns similar to Dr. Seuss. Just like a Dr. Seuss book, the rapper’s lyrics are also colorful, wacky, humorous, and oddly entertaining. His experience of watching his 13-year-old daughter grow up influenced his children’s book. The book’s objective is to address self-esteem in black girls. Brown says, “You know how black women do so much — process their hair, change their eye color. It’s really about a little girl who does all these things to herself and changes herself and she realizes she’s just better off the way she is”.
Brown is not the first recording artist to write a children’s book. Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and Keith Richards are all children’s book authors. Brown mentions the book will be “real Dr. Seuss-y.” He continues, “I don’t know how Dr. Seuss did it. I don’t know how he wrote The Grinch and Green Eggs And Ham and One Fish, Two Fish – what was going on in that guy’s brain to be able to write those things?” Danny Brown was asked how he believes Seuss’s rhyming style could translate into hip-hop, Brown wisely answered, “I think I am Dr. Seuss! I’m the Grinch. I’m all his characters come to life in rap music.” I won’t argue with Danny; he definitely resembles the character’s mentality. The Detroit rapper is just as wildly entertaining and clever as a Dr. Seuss character.
Along with his children’s book, Brown is also working on new music. He says he’s working with producers Paul White and SKYWLKR again. Brown also stated he went to Los Angeles for a week and worked with Alchemist. Brown understands he has big expectations after the success of his 2013 album, Old. “I don’t know how I am going to beat this one. I’m really, really trying my hardest to just make the best possible music I can make for the people.” My advice to Danny, don’t try to recreate what you have already accomplished. Jay-Z said it best, “Great artists have the ability to adapt and change. Don’t expect me to try and recreate songs. If you want to hear my old music, go and listen to it.”
The one thing Danny Brown will never need advice on is how to be innovative and take chances. I’m sure his children’s book will be a huge success. The one factor most geniuses share is, they have no idea what fear is. They allow their art to be their voice. Before they are praised, geniuses are mocked first. Just as the saying goes, “first they laugh, then they copy.”