Q&A with Danny Brown: “I could possibly die from music”

In less than a year Detroit native Danny Brown has rocketed from an obscure corner in the world of mix-tape rappers to a level of fame that far exceeds anything an MC with several missing front teeth, a hairstyle fit for a B-list new-wave bassist, and a nasally, Tourette’s-like vocal style ought to be able to expect. Recently Brown showed up on XXL magazine’s annual “Freshman Class” cover, inspiring an uptick in the already considerable amount of Brown-related chatter on Twitter. Last week I talked to him on the phone about what it feels like to earn the Freshman Class title, what makes Detroit rappers so special, and why he’s not so different from Bon Iver.