Danny Brown’s Old splits itself down the middle, and the record works best when it lets that split play out rather than paper over it. The 19-track album runs 56 minutes, and it moves between two modes: the raw, anxious rap of its first half and the smooth, almost pop-leaning production of its second. It is a deliberate contrast, and it mostly pays off.
Opening With Side A
“Side A (Old)” opens the album with a statement of intent. It is the shortest track here at 2:23, and it sets the tone for everything that follows: fast, nervous, built for a live room. “The Return” slows things down without losing the tension, while “25 Bucks” and “Wonderbread” push back toward the harder, more aggressive sound of his earlier work.
“Gremlins” and “Dope Fiend Rental” keep that energy going, though neither reaches the heights of the songs around them. “Torture” stands out as the most memorable moment of this side, a track that critics singled out for its sharp, focused writing. “Lonely” and “Clean Up” round out the first half, and “Red 2 Go” closes it with a hook that feels less like a statement and more like a bridge to the other side.
Shifting Into Side B
“Side B (Dope Song)” signals the change. It is a shorter, more playful track, and it points the way toward the smoother, more melodic production that defines the rest of the record. “Dubstep” is a short, sharp cut that critics noted for its brevity and its placement.
“Dip” is the standout of the back half, and it is easy to hear why critics singled it out. It is one of the most cohesive tracks on the record, mixing melody and aggression without ever losing either. “Smokin & Drinkin” follows a similar path, and it is another strong track that critics picked for its balance of sound and sense. “Break It (Go)” and “Handstand” keep the momentum going, though neither quite matches the peaks around them.
“Way Up Here” and “Kush Coma” are the longest tracks on the record at 2:36 and 4:41 respectively, and they stretch the album’s rhythm without breaking it. “Float On” closes the record on a high note, ending the album with a hook that feels earned rather than tacked on.
The Record’s Critical Reception
Critics praised Old as a mature and cohesive follow-up to his previous record, with the album’s split structure serving as a deliberate stylistic contrast between two sides of the artist. That description fits. The record is at its best when it lets those two sides breathe separately rather than forcing them together.
Old finds Danny Brown at a crossroads. The Detroit rapper is torn between two poles, the old and the new, their orbits pulling at both the direction of his music and his lifestyle.
The Tracks Worth Hearing
For listeners who want to hear the best of the record, the path is clear:
- “Side A (Old)”
- “Dip”
- “25 Bucks”
- “Smokin & Drinkin”
Those four songs capture the range of the album without wasting time on the weaker cuts. They are the reason critics pointed to Old as a strong follow-up, and they justify the split structure that gives the record its shape.
Final Word
Old is a confident, well-made record that knows exactly what it wants to be. It is not a great album by every measure, but it is a focused one, and its focus is its strength. The split structure works because Brown commits to both sides of it, rather than letting one side swallow the other.
The album is at its best when it trusts its own instincts, and it does that often enough to earn its place alongside his earlier work.
- Side A (Old)2:23
- The Return3:10
- 25 Bucks3:30
- Wonderbread1:58
- Gremlins2:06
- Dope Fiend Rental2:55
- Torture3:46
- Lonely2:19
- Clean Up3:01
- Red 2 Go3:18
- Side B (Dope Song)2:36
- Dubstep2:16
- Dip3:31
- Smokin & Drinkin2:53
- Break It (Go)3:12
- Handstand2:55
- Way Up Here2:36
- Kush Coma4:41
- Float On3:31
