Danza | Danza’s Garden, An Album Jam Packed With Goodness
Kansas City rapper Danza is blazing a trail with the release of his sharp, stark & sizzling album “Danza’s Garden”. “Danza’s Garden” is the rhymesmith’s 2nd studio project in 3 years following his 2017 release of his 7-track LP “Danza Special”. With the world in disarray, Danza takes it upon himself to provide guidance & spiritual balance in the form of illustrious melodies & crafty tunes. His records on this project are up close & personal, and his in-your-face approach of bar-spitting will surprisingly absorb well in today’s listening climate. Danza’s unique approach of being unapologetically vocal about complexities in society will surely set the standard for more artists to follow suit.
Right from the get-go, the intro track “We on It” showcases brash 808s & Danza’s ability to rattle off bars like shells from an uzi. His confidence is apparent within his word-play, and the amount of fun he’s having on this record is inspiring. He vocal dances swiftly and infuses lyrics that are sure to ignite pensivity in the listener. On the very next track “Things That I Do”, he continues his use of simplistic production & focuses all of the attention on his rich vocals. He introduces unexpected elements as the record goes on, but he does so tastefully. His aim isn’t to flood the listener with an overwhelming amount of sound, but to achieve the balance of harmoniously building a soundscape that entertains & brings out the positive in you- and with this he succeeds.
Undoubtedly our favorite track off the project, “Sweet Like That- Elton Cheung Remix” is surely a record that will challenge the idea of what conventional Hip-Hop is used to. With pop-infused subtleties, soft-rock inspired choruses, and production that sounds like it was sampled from the oldies- this record is rich in substance. On a similar tip to samples heard on Blood on the Leaves by Kanye West, the samples in the production of this record will spark soulfulness in you. Couple that with a particular female vocalist’s sweet-sounding vocals on the chorus, and Danza’s syllable-full verses & you now have a recipe for one of the best standout tracks on the project.
With the careful creation of an album that addresses so many different aspects of today’s social climate, we wanted to know what inspired Danza to create an album so encompassing. Rap Fiesta gained comment from the artist for which he had this to say,
“Garden is a metaphor for my personal growth. I’ve had to look at myself and come to terms with my own world view in the midst of all the chaos and division I experience in society. So I ask questions like why I’m here? What originality I have to offer. How can I bring people together in these times through music. I’ve grown up with some really harsh experiences like jail and mental health and I’ve come out of them with different perspectives of and motivation to deal with this path I’m trying to maintain.” – Danza
With introspection & conscientiousness providing the foundation for “Danza’s Garden”, it only seems to add to the richness of pleasurable sonics. A major aspect to note is the cohesiveness for which every track meshes, and the transitional sequences that never seem to skip a beat. On this note, Danza provided further insight,
I primarily began working with my dear friend and sound engineer Casey Faircloth and Brother-In-Law Matt Jordan. I write and perform while they work the sound and mix. It’s a 3-part effort to make what you hear. We also got Grammy award-winning Elton Cheung to bless us on the track “Sweet Like That”. You may have heard of him through working with Chance The Rapper, Da Baby, Smino or Doja Cat. – Danza
With a seasoned history in music creation since 2004, that experience has undoubtedly benefited his musical journey. His cadence & control over his delivery is a further indication of how comfortable he is on the mic. With tracks like “Mulberry Drapes” and “Pipe Dreams” displaying soothing & feel-good vibes, you won’t be able to help from grinning ear to ear. Danza has a way of making us all feel vulnerable with this album. His aura will bring your guard down & encourage you to heal tastefully while enjoying some authentic hip-hop.
All in all, “Danza’s Garden” is a great listen from cover to cover, and has enough diversity to please any particular Hip-Hop fan. With more visuals on the way and Danza’s hardened work ethic- it’s safe to say we can expect more music from the Missouri artist in coming future. For now, you’ll have to enjoy the scenes in “Danza’s Garden” on your favorite streaming platform and follow him on Instagram to stay up to date for his next highly-anticipated drops.
Stream “Danza’s Garden” below:
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