Danny B the AirHead Made Cheeky Boom Bap Nostalgia Infectious in the Afro-Tinged Track, ‘Good Noise’ –

Danny B the AirHead always swerves the rattle of soulless 808s, opting for organic percussion that kicks under the weight of his own percussive ingenuity. His Afro-fusion hip-hop bleeds with a kind of vibrancy visceral enough to make the laziest hip-hop beats sound lobotomised. It might feel a bit cringe to call a track a vibe, yet with Good Noise, the Air Jordan fits, as the infectiously cheeky charisma pulls you into the current of a production that kneels at the altar of old-school boom bap while rewriting the sub-genre’s script with exotic flourishes, cleverly juxtaposed against tongue-in-cheek bars.

Gen Z and Gen Alpha may not catch the Earthworm Jim reference, but for a millenial like me, it made me feel right at home. The track proves that hip-hop singles have just as much earworm potential as formulaic pop polished by a committee of twenty. It’s bold, playful, and proof that Danny B knows how to twist nostalgia into something entirely his own.

As a rap artist and producer from Essex, Danny B has spent years refining his versatility, pulling from drums, keys, vocals, and even steelpan. Since his 2015 debut EP ‘BARs are WICKed’, he’s built a steady presence across London and Essex venues, with multiple spins on BBC Introducing, including this track. His refusal to bow to trend-driven templates is exactly what makes his music stick.

Good Noise is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast