Stanisland Magazine

Danger Mouse and Black Thought seek hope on latest track featuring UK based singer Rag’n’Bone Man

Black Thought returns alongside producer Danger Mouse, releasing their new single “Up” featuring British singer Rag’n’Bone Man. It follows the rapper teasing fans on social media with a short video, one that appears to be shot in London’s Barbican.

“Up” Sound Breakdown

“Up” is a track with a classic Danger Mouse sound; it sonically propels Black Thought to the forefront and highlights his destructively forward-thinking mind. His lyrical exploits are once again melded with a blend of precision for a poetic measure against the purism of a timeless hip-hop sound.

The duo have teased a return to the Cheat Codes project following a tremendous, earthquake like demand for a sequel.

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Based on what we hear today, that appears to have always been the plan: the rapper/producer combination haven’t lost one bit of the flow and chemistry from their 2022 debut.

“They killed my homie, I was there when they carried him off, When we buried him, we wrapped him in Nigerian cloth”

Across its three and a half minutes, they fill it with an inviting brace of cowbells, hi-hats, and perfectly timed sessional rhythms. Beyond its moreish melody, the pacing and cadence of all involved feels organic, like a conversation.

Rag’n’Bone man equally shreds the composition with his introspsective vocals — a piercing, palatable performance that fluidly enchants alongside his musical hosts. The entire single is pensively disarming, one that endures a painful message, and poignantly underlines the tragic 2014 killing of Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio. Its a fight for visibility, survival and much more.

The Verdict

“Up” is an anthem for the times. Not only is it a track with purpose, its message lies openly in the title itself. Once again, it’s pure mastery from the producer and rapper, with a talent for curation to match by enlisting the soulful vocals of Rag’n’Bone Man.

The follow up to Cheat Codes is rumoured to be dropping this year, and based on the duo’s frequency of quality releases, you can bet it will be every bit as epic as the first instalment.