Today, producer Danger Mouse and rapper Black Thought announced a collaborative album titled Cheat Codes, which is due out August 12, with the lead single "No Gold Teeth." The project follows Black Thought's Stream of Thoughts trilogy—the last volume was released in 2020—and Danger Mouse's work with Karen O on their 2019 joint album Lux Prima (not to mention a 2020 Lou Reed cover). This is Danger Mouse's first straight hip-hop project since working with MF DOOM as DANGERDOOM on 2005's The Mouse & the Mask, which he followed by working with Cee-Lo Green, The Shins' James Mercer, and The Black Keys.
"No Gold Teeth" is built off a funky blues sample of "Stop," a song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Mort Shuman and first performed and released by Howard Tate in 1967 (the sample Danger Mouse uses here is from Hugh Masekela's 1968 version). Throughout the track, Black Thought ends or begins his verses with a firm "Stop." The irony is that Black Thought can't stop and he won't stop. The veteran emcee raps, "Philly ain't known for cheesesteak sandwiches only, stop / I'm at the top where it's lonely / I got everybody mean mugging like Nick Nolte." Then the drums and organ emphasize his next line: "But nah, I won't stop, won't drop, won't retire / I am my own supplier, selling goods to the buyer."
Aside from Black Thought's skillful flow, Cheat Codes also has a nice roster of features, including Raekwon & Kid Sister, Joey Bada$$ with Russ & Dylan Cartlidge, Conway the Machine, A$AP Rocky with Run the Jewels, Michael Kiwanuka, and the late MF DOOM.
Check out the video by UNCANNY for "No Gold Teeth" below.
