Atrocity Exhibition
by Danny Brown
  • Record Label: Warp
  • Release Date: Sep 27, 2016
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 429 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 396 out of 429
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 429
  3. Negative: 24 out of 429
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  1. dudebro
    Sep 27, 2016
    10
    Shock and awe -- the album.
    Hits like a 10 ton truck. The most visceral music experience you can have this year. The Fight Club of Hip Hop records, this record hits fast and hard, the brevity of the record (around 45 minutes long) goes a long ways in keeping the album fresh throughout. As someone who respected Danny Brown before, but never bought into the hype, I have officially been    Shock and awe -- the album.
    Hits like a 10 ton truck. The most visceral music experience you can have this year. The Fight Club of Hip Hop records, this record hits fast and hard, the brevity of the record (around 45 minutes long) goes a long ways in keeping the album fresh throughout. As someone who respected Danny Brown before, but never bought into the hype, I have officially been converted. 100% essential.    … Expand
  2. cnally13
    Sep 28, 2016
    9
    It's pretty tough to stomach at first. Even by Danny's standards his voice is shrill and unhinged. The beats are some of the darkest, occasionally sparse beats you've heard. But by the end you just kind of stare back in awe about how twisted and weird it was.
  3. tokyomanga
    Sep 28, 2016
    10
    A dark and twisted adventure, Atrocity Exhibition is a horror film in music form. Danny takes you down to the lowest points and thrusts vivid imagery at every turn. This album goes so hard it's amazing.
  4. Bennyandthejets
    Sep 28, 2016
    9
    This is Danny's third major album and arguably his best. Danny brown goes more experimental on this than ever. The production on Atrocity Exhibition is outstanding, unique, and weird. These beats are the best I've heard this year. Danny's demeanor on the album is much more serious than old or xxx, but he still has those clever punchlines and wordplay. Danny paints pictures in your head ofThis is Danny's third major album and arguably his best. Danny brown goes more experimental on this than ever. The production on Atrocity Exhibition is outstanding, unique, and weird. These beats are the best I've heard this year. Danny's demeanor on the album is much more serious than old or xxx, but he still has those clever punchlines and wordplay. Danny paints pictures in your head of his struggles with fame, drug use, social commentary, and past stories of his struggles. Only Danny can make an experience like this, and music like this. This album may be my favorite Danny brown album, and it's the best album I've heard this year so far.
    Favorite tracks: Downward spiral, Really doe, Lost, Ain't it funny, Pneumonia, From the ground, When it rain, Today, Hell for it
    Least favorite tracks: Get Hi    … Expand
  5. Paulo_Jorge
    Oct 13, 2016
    9
    Atrocity Exhibition is unstoppable, one of the most beautiful messes that I've ever heard, Brown really did something different here, wilder and more experimental but in the same time he maintained his style, giving us an original work with a big effort in trying to move forward in his career, visiting different sounds.
  6. WEWMAKER
    Oct 6, 2016
    10
    This is undoubtedly Brown's Magnum Opus, and will probably remain his best for a long time. He and his producers came out with what might be the wildest, most insane and off-the-wall hip-hop record of all time, let alone this decade. There are no boundaries, no sound, no topics, no genres, no samples and no styles that are off-limit. From the psychedelic and low-key Downward Spiral to theThis is undoubtedly Brown's Magnum Opus, and will probably remain his best for a long time. He and his producers came out with what might be the wildest, most insane and off-the-wall hip-hop record of all time, let alone this decade. There are no boundaries, no sound, no topics, no genres, no samples and no styles that are off-limit. From the psychedelic and low-key Downward Spiral to the inspiring and triumphant Really Doe to the acid trip that is When It Rain, this album features a wide variety of different emotions and stories, most of them rapped in Danny's trademark shrill flow, but with necessary calmer tracks that chronicle his rough past. With no bad or mediocre tracks in sight, this album is nothing short of a treat to your ears, while simultaneously destroying your ears with whacked-out, out-of-this-world beats courtesy of Paul White, The Alchemist, Black Milk and Danny Himself.… Expand
  7. BlownSpeakers
    Jun 21, 2017
    9
    Slinging dope on the east side streets of Detroit at the age of 18 and doing time by 24, an early death was always a possibility for alternative rapper, Danny Brown. But with his increasing level of fame and success, the uncertainty of death has become maddening for him, as reflected in his latest LP, Atrocity Exhibition.

    The music on Atrocity Exhibition acts a soundtrack to Brown’s    Slinging dope on the east side streets of Detroit at the age of 18 and doing time by 24, an early death was always a possibility for alternative rapper, Danny Brown. But with his increasing level of fame and success, the uncertainty of death has become maddening for him, as reflected in his latest LP, Atrocity Exhibition.

    The music on Atrocity Exhibition acts a soundtrack to Brown’s paranoia- his high-pitched nasal delivery hammers down an abrasive atmosphere that varies jabbing horns with lurking bass and trash can percussion. This jarring instrumentation culminates in a sound that feels like a fusion of 90s gangster rap, experimental jazz, and tribal music.

    Album opener, “Downward Spiral,” immediately sets the stage- Brown is battling a vicious drug habit that has him in a constant state of paranoia. The track burns slow, as Brown stumbles around a clanking beat and screeching feedback. “Rolling Stone” is more soulful in its chorus courtesy of Petite Noir’s vocals, but isn’t any more comforting as he sings, “In my mind I feel so alone. Just release me.”

    “Really Doe” switches things up as a squad banger that’s more conventional in its rap themes- being hard as **** bragging about riches and **** Its creepy bell melody and boom bap drums make for an extremely hard hitting groove that has Danny Brown and guests going off- Brown hammers down the beat with 16th note syllable gunshots, Earl Sweatshirt bobs and weaves through the verse with his offbeat rhyme scheme, and Kendrick Lamar’s stop-go delivery keeps everyone guessing.

    Whereas the first five tracks slowly build an intensity, “Ain’t It Funny” says **** it’ and unleashes all hell. With its stomping four-on-the-floor rhythm and blaring horns, the track plays like a disco song for meth heads. Amidst the chaos, Brown finds a dark humor in how he’s throwing his life away to drugs. On tracks “Today” and “When It Rains” he defends his self-destructive behavior as him “seizing the moment.” A seize the day mentality is great in that it has him consistently hitting the beats hard, but it does him no good when it has him hitting that glass dick even harder.

    Between the madness and paranoia are a handful of tracks that let the listener gather their senses. Brown gets lifted with the appropriately titled, “Get Hi,” and slows things down with the meditative R+B track, “From the Ground.” The most fun to be had is on “Dance In The Water,” a get-up-and-shake-your-ass number whose funky bass and tribal rhythm will be hilariously reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country to any Nintendo fanboys (Checkout Candy’s Love Song).

    Will it last – the fame, the fortune, the women, the drugs – Will it all last? The question endlessly tortures Danny Brown on Atrocity Exhibition. There isn’t a single track that provides definitive answer the question but closer, “Hell For It,” promises he won’t go down without a fight. But what does that mean when the person he’s fighting is himself? Therapy? Maybe. More Drugs? Probably.    … Expand
  8. pete300
    Sep 28, 2016
    10
    Experimental, humorous, daring, challenging and ahead of its time. Danny Brown pushes the boat out to unmarked water in his new album by challenging the listener with experimental beats and his hilarious rhymes. One of the best albums of 2016 and a new bench mark for hip hop; Danny has once again pushed the boundaries of rap, well done Mr Brown.
  9. Brian8781
    Sep 27, 2016
    10
    Atrocity Exhibition is another classic album you would expect from Danny Brown. The instrumentation is incredible and the rapping on it is fantastic. One of the best rap albums of 2016.
  10. TheGreatShredma
    Sep 28, 2016
    10
    By far the best Danny Brown album so far! If you liked XXX, but wanted more out of the beats in general (in a way that matches the mood of the lyrics) than this is for you. If you only like side B of Old and don't like dark, trippy music, then this definitely not for you. This album throws you for a ride like no other.

    Fav Tracks:
    Aint It Funny
    White Lines
    Get Hi
    (Singles
  11. carrsean
    Sep 30, 2016
    9
    Nobody in the rap industry sounds like Danny Brown vocally. ATROCITY EXHIBITION goes out of its way to make sure no one sounds like Brown production wise, as well. Danny's flow is complimented by some of the strangest beasts hip hop has ever seen. With OLD, Brown still had one foot in the mainstream and one foot in the Upside Down. This album is all Upside Down. This is Danny Brown's opus.
  12. Kasani
    Sep 28, 2016
    7
    Gut wrenching sound (very fresh/interesting and well executed), but I can't find myself saving to many songs. I find many songs getting muddle in the track-listing (songs that just get washed out).
  13. nanowerx
    Sep 28, 2016
    4
    I have loved Brown for years, and have been anticipating Atrocity since it was announced earlier this year. Unfortunately, it just doesn't live up to the hype. Most of the album sounds like heroin music with minimal beats with odd time signatures and an almost faded, distant flow from Brown. There is only one song on the entire album that I would consider a 'banger,' When It Rain.

    If    I have loved Brown for years, and have been anticipating Atrocity since it was announced earlier this year. Unfortunately, it just doesn't live up to the hype. Most of the album sounds like heroin music with minimal beats with odd time signatures and an almost faded, distant flow from Brown. There is only one song on the entire album that I would consider a 'banger,' When It Rain.

    If you loved Old and were hoping for an album full of songs like Dip, 25 Bucks, Smokin and Drinkin, Kush Coma, etc, then this is not the LP for you, there is not a single track that matches any of those songs. I feel like Brown lost his way and has too many "YES" men in his life that won't tell him when something sounds pretentious and not like the indie-hip-hop he is known for.    … Expand
  14. DedotatedWham
    Sep 29, 2016
    3
    I'm a huge fan of Old and XXX, but I'm not blinded by fandom, though I'm sure I'll be told I don't "get" it. These beats are terrible and half of them don't sound like they should be rapped over and the other half don't sound like Danny should rap over them. Right off the bat with Downward Spiral it just doesn't seem like Danny has a rhythm to go off of. Golddust sounds like Sun DanceI'm a huge fan of Old and XXX, but I'm not blinded by fandom, though I'm sure I'll be told I don't "get" it. These beats are terrible and half of them don't sound like they should be rapped over and the other half don't sound like Danny should rap over them. Right off the bat with Downward Spiral it just doesn't seem like Danny has a rhythm to go off of. Golddust sounds like Sun Dance by Temples with a skip in the record. When It Rains sounds like a panic attack. This album was incredibly frustrating to get through, and I did it twice just in case it'd grow on me.… Expand
  15. AlexDionisio1
    Sep 28, 2016
    6
    Like before, Danny Brown has chosen to sound more wild and shocking than normal and enlightening, but at least we have some good hip-hop thrown in the mix.
  16. thedaywalker
    Jan 3, 2017
    3
    As the name suggest this is a real atrocity, it's unpleasant to listen to, some songs are just so disjointed that it actually hurts the ears, had to drag myself to listen to more than half of the album
  17. djdenzel777
    Apr 13, 2017
    2
    A very hard album to listen to all the way through. The flows are gimmicky and the only and very minor reason to listen to this album is the half-way decent lyricism. Overall a very poor album. Unless you are a Danny Brown fan you are probably not going to enjoy this project.
  18. KanyeStan
    Apr 2, 2020
    1
    Trash. Danny’s voice is one of the most obnoxious things I’ve ever heard on a piece of music. Practically unlistenable at worst, not even mediocre at best.
  19. Andremax
    Feb 3, 2020
    10
    Atrocity Exhibition is daring, dadaistic, visceral and complex. As rhymes as beats has an impeccable technique and care.
  20. Cypher_ATL
    Oct 31, 2016
    9
    What I expected from Danny is what I ended up getting, and that is a dope and out-of-this-world project. Danny is at his all-time highest when it comes to levels of insanity, and it is continuous from beginning to end. He gives us many examples of nightmares, fears, and signs of depression, while still giving us instances of insanity, and he showcases it perfectly throughout this wholeWhat I expected from Danny is what I ended up getting, and that is a dope and out-of-this-world project. Danny is at his all-time highest when it comes to levels of insanity, and it is continuous from beginning to end. He gives us many examples of nightmares, fears, and signs of depression, while still giving us instances of insanity, and he showcases it perfectly throughout this whole canvas of dark art. What I wasn’t a big fan of from his previous record was the EDM part of the album, and he completely strips that sound in this project. While I didn’t think the EDM sound was terrible, I still thought it was forced due to Danny’s behavior as a whole, but I digress. Danny still pulls through with his lyrics and the stories that he tells, and I’m glad his writing ability is still top-notch. Probably my most enjoyed aspect of this album is the production played throughout the whole project. The samples and different sounds that all of these producers pull together are brilliant, and I want to give a special shoutout to frequent collaborator Paul White for his fine work put into this piece of work. Paul has had a busy year with Open Mike Eagle’s collaborative album earlier in the year, and now with the majority of this record as well. I see a very bright and well-deserved future for Paul White, and it’s safe to say that he’s one of my favorite producers out right now. Also, I would like to give one more shoutout to Earl Sweatshirt for completely murdering that verse, can’t wait for his album. Now, coming back to this project, I believe that Danny will go down as one of the greats in Hip-Hop solely due to what he has accomplished in the game. He is unique, likable, and deserves all the credit in the world for what he has done with is art throughout his career. Although I am head over heels for this album, I believe not everyone will love this project. This is for a pretty niche crowd, but for those that enjoy listening to amazing forms of Hip-Hop will fall in love with this album. I can’t say enough great things about this man, and I would love to see where he takes us next in the future.… Expand
  21. stoneyalex
    Sep 29, 2016
    9
    Danny brown never disappoints it's been 3 years and he's improved since old which is a good thing. I honestly like this project more than XXX now we wait for gangsta gibbs up next
  22. MovieLover123
    Sep 28, 2016
    8
    This probably Danny's most experimental album second only to XXX. This album is not made for everyone, but those of us that understand Danny's experimental side will love it. Exceptional hip hop for those into alternative hip hop.
  23. Cousinskeeter9
    Sep 29, 2016
    6
    As a long time fan of danny brown i felt let down with this album. I thought that he had put out the best tracks as singles before the album release and it made the rest of the album feel like it didn't live up to the hype. being someone who was the never afraid to be the "weird rapper" it seemed like he embraced it more here, but it less sincere and more like he was being different justAs a long time fan of danny brown i felt let down with this album. I thought that he had put out the best tracks as singles before the album release and it made the rest of the album feel like it didn't live up to the hype. being someone who was the never afraid to be the "weird rapper" it seemed like he embraced it more here, but it less sincere and more like he was being different just to be different. Personally i thought that the production could have been much better as well. Songs like "Hell for it" and "Goloddust" are examples of songs that could have actually been great but fall short due to having awful beats and mediocre production.
    Top 3: Really Doe, When It Rain, White Lines
    Bottom 3: Get Hi, From The Ground, Lost    … Expand
  24. meister_
    Sep 29, 2016
    10
    Danny Brown's transition from Fool's Gold to WARP records may have rattled some die-hard fans. For others, it was exciting because it opened up the door for Danny to return to the strange, experimental instrumentation and style that seemed to fade away after the release of Old--and he did in fact open that door. Danny is mercilessly spitting witty lines, wonky wordplay, and varying vocalDanny Brown's transition from Fool's Gold to WARP records may have rattled some die-hard fans. For others, it was exciting because it opened up the door for Danny to return to the strange, experimental instrumentation and style that seemed to fade away after the release of Old--and he did in fact open that door. Danny is mercilessly spitting witty lines, wonky wordplay, and varying vocal deliveries all over these unconventional instrumentals. It needs to be made clear, however, that this is no XXX. XXX was the introduction to Brown's personality, and Atrocity Exhibition is the lens Brown places in front of your eye to see his world and experience his consciousness. This record is a journey riddled with nightmarish imagery, hints of overdose, and covered in cocaine residue. With Atrocity Exhibition, Danny Brown is cementing his name in the ever-changing rap game, and continues to open doors for up and coming hip hop hopefuls.… Expand
  25. bcwilliams
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    This is one of the best experimental hip-hop albums I've heard in the last five years. Danny Brown returned from "Old" with a true masterpiece that is dark and twisted. His ability to rhyme over beats that are uncharacteristically jarring is the most impressive aspect of this project. After most songs, I find myself wishing for one more verse, but I am also happy that this album isThis is one of the best experimental hip-hop albums I've heard in the last five years. Danny Brown returned from "Old" with a true masterpiece that is dark and twisted. His ability to rhyme over beats that are uncharacteristically jarring is the most impressive aspect of this project. After most songs, I find myself wishing for one more verse, but I am also happy that this album is condensed to 45 minutes. This is Brown's best album to date and should not be overlooked or underrated by critics.… Expand
  26. tasbicas
    Sep 28, 2020
    8
    One of the better releases that year.
    Twisted lyrics, dark and chaotic but cohesive beats, features from Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist and Black Milk.
    Arguably the best album from Danny Brown's discography thus far. Definitely worth a listen.
  27. sratomasfer
    Apr 6, 2017
    8
    I'm going to go as far as to say Danny has the most unique voice in modern popular hip hop. His squawky nasally voice pierces through every track and with a star studded lineup of features as well. He definitely belongs on Warp Records if you know what I mean
  28. Nardeen
    Mar 11, 2017
    8
    Danny Brown sounds like a guy who's trying to make fun of a person like Lil Uzi Vert, but after the first few songs I got used to it and eventually enjoyed this album very much, the way Brown raps is wacky af but works somehow, his flow is fire, and his lyrics are impressive. All around great album.
  29. stndstllsntmv
    Apr 18, 2017
    10
    One of the best experimental rap albums of all time. Both lyrically and musically made to think through and really a "what the **** am I listening to and why do I love it" vibe. I don't blame anyone for disliking this. He's about as far from regular hip-hop as you can get. The things he raps over I can barely even begin to allow myself to call them beats. He rapped over a ****ing AfricanOne of the best experimental rap albums of all time. Both lyrically and musically made to think through and really a "what the **** am I listening to and why do I love it" vibe. I don't blame anyone for disliking this. He's about as far from regular hip-hop as you can get. The things he raps over I can barely even begin to allow myself to call them beats. He rapped over a ****ing African tribal chant and it's a ****ing highlight.… Expand
  30. tommy1607
    Apr 16, 2017
    9
    Classic Danny Brown album and some of the most abstract and unique hip-hop you will find. The production is stunning across the album, 'Ain't it Funny' being a highlight. Danny's drug fuelled lyricism is once again outstanding and this album really encapsulates his darkest moments whilst being entertaining throughout.
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Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best Album of 2016
28
#28 Most Discussed Album of 2016
94
#94 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Nov 16, 2016
    90
    On “When It Rain,” Brown shouts, “You ain’t heard it like this before,” like a madman. Atrocity Exhibition proves him right.
    Read full review
  2. The Wire
    Nov 8, 2016
    70
    If Atrocity Exhibition doesn’t connect with quite the same power, it’s not for lack of commitment or craft. [Oct 2016, p.53]
  3. Mixmag
    Nov 4, 2016
    90
    A thematic sequel to 2011 breakout mixtape ‘XXX’, Danny Brown remains rap’s most unique force.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »