Danger Mouse, and Jemini

A year ago, L.A.-based producer/DJ Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton probably couldn't have imagined doing a track for Jay-Z, hip-hop's Frank Sinatra. Neither could Jay-Z, as it turns out. Instead, Burton made an irresistible album with Brooklyn MC Jemini (hip-hop's Mel Torm?) and called it Ghetto Pop Life, which was appropriate,...

By Mikael Wood

May 6, 2004

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A year ago, L.A.-based producer/DJ Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton probably couldn't have imagined doing a track for Jay-Z, hip-hop's Frank Sinatra. Neither could Jay-Z, as it turns out. Instead, Burton made an irresistible album with Brooklyn MC Jemini (hip-hop's Mel Torm?) and called it Ghetto Pop Life, which was appropriate, since it mashed up street-rap muscle with pop-chart zest. But still, Hova called. So Burton produced a Jay-Z album in his bedroom without Jay-Z's help, deploying a different kind of mash-up: The Black Album carefully laid over a wild-assed slice-and-dice of the Beatles' "White Album." A media frenzy ensued; if you haven't heard Danger Mouse's The Grey Album by now, you're either deaf or the president of the RIAA.

Now that he's a college-radio hotshot, Burton's reteaming with Jemini and taking their show on the road. They've got a fun new EP out that features guest spots from Cee-Lo and Tha Alkaholiks, and Burton's been very busy, doing another album with Jemini and hooking up with fellow Angeleno Murs for a cut on a forthcoming Free Design tribute disc. What more can he say?

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