Cheat Codes (album)

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Cheat Codes
Studio album by
Danger Mouse and Black Thought
ReleasedAugust 12, 2022 (2022-08-12)
GenreHip hop[1]
Length38:19
LabelBMG
ProducerDanger Mouse
Black Thought chronology
Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able
(2020) 		Cheat Codes
(2022) 		Glorious Game
(2023)
Danger Mouse chronology
Lux Prima
(2019) 		Cheat Codes
(2022) 		Into the Blue
(2022)
Singles from Cheat Codes
  1. "No Gold Teeth"
    Released: May 11, 2022
  2. "Because"
    Released: June 8, 2022
  3. "Aquamarine"
    Released: July 13, 2022
  4. "Strangers"
    Released: August 9, 2022

Cheat Codes is a collaborative studio album by American songwriter/producer Danger Mouse and American emcee Black Thought, released on August 12, 2022, by BMG. It followed three albums of solo work for Black Thought, but was Danger Mouse's first hip-hop album since The Mouse and the Mask in 2005.[1]

Dates for the start of the album's production differ, including 2005 when the pair worked on their first tracks together,[2] 2017 when they first had the idea for an album, and 2018 when the bulk of the work was started.[3] After delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tracklist changes, it was first announced in a 2020 radio interview with Black Thought where he mentioned its draft title Dangerous Thoughts.[4]

Promotional campaign[edit]

The first single from the album, "No Gold Teeth", was issued on May 11, 2022.[5] It was accompanied by a promotional video directed by the creative team UNCANNY, in which Black Thought raps while his head is permanently obscured by changing images.

The second single to be released was "Because" on June 8.[6] This was promoted by another UNCANNY directed video, released nearly a month later on July 7.[7]

A third single and accompanying video, "Aquamarine", followed on July 13.[8] The final pre-LP single, "Strangers", emerged on August 9, three days before the album's release.[9] A promotional video for the song followed on August 12 to coincide with the release of the album.[10]

After the album's release, a video for the MF DOOM collaboration, "Belize", was released on October 18.[11]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Beats Per Minute78%[14]
Clash8/10[15]
The Guardian[16]
HipHopDX4.6/5[17]
NME[18]
Pitchfork7.2/10[19]
Rolling Stone[20]

Upon release, Cheat Codes was met with critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 83, based on 17 reviews.[12]

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Andy Kellman described it as a combination of "'60s and '70s psych, prog, and soul recordings that are moody, trippy, and sometimes eerie. The crisp if soot-coated drums, smeared strings, moaning organs, and gnarled guitars are all very compatible with Thought, who scythes through it all with unparalleled wordplay delivered with surgical precision."[13]

Former US President Barack Obama listed "Belize" as one of his favourite tracks of 2022.[21]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sometimes"
2:10
2."Cheat Codes"
  • B. Burton
  • Lester Johnson
  • Matthew Watson
  • Michael Liggins
  • Robert Townsend
  • Trotter
2:14
3."The Darkest Part" (featuring Raekwon and Kid Sister)
3:44
4."No Gold Teeth"
2:33
5."Because" (featuring Joey Bada$$, Russ, and Dylan Cartlidge)
4:41
6."Belize" (featuring MF Doom)
3:54
7."Aquamarine" (featuring Michael Kiwanuka)
  • Barry Stoller
  • Berrie Wilson
  • B. Burton
  • Cover
  • Jean-Pierre Alarcen
  • Michael Kiwanuka
  • Trotter
3:58
8."Identical Deaths"
  • B. Burton
  • Colin Catt
  • Phil Gunn
  • Trotter
2:41
9."Strangers" (featuring A$AP Rocky and Run the Jewels)
4:08
10."Close to Famous"
  • B. Burton
  • Trotter
2:28
11."Saltwater" (featuring Conway the Machine)
3:22
12."Violas and Lupitas"
  • B. Burton
  • Trotter
  • Tom Joe White
2:21
Total length:38:19

Samples[edit]

  • "Sometimes" contains samples from Gwen McCrae's "Love Without Sex".[22]
  • "The Darkest Part" contains samples from Kiki Dee's "Rest My Head".[23]
  • "No Gold Teeth" contains samples from Hugh Masekela's "Stop".[24]
  • "Because" contains samples from "You Don't Have to Worry" by Doris & Kelly.[25]
  • "Belize" contains samples from Federal Duck's "Peace in My Mind".[22]
  • "Identical Deaths" contains samples from "Future Recollections" by Raw Material.[26]
  • "Strangers" contains samples from Philwit & Pegasus.[23]
  • "Saltwater" contains samples from "L'Amico Suicida" by Biglietto Per L'Inferno.[26]
  • "Violas & Lupitas" contains samples from the film Harlem Nights.[27]

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Cheat Codes
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[28] 14
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[28] 1
Australian Physical Albums (ARIA)[28] 25
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] 76
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] 106
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] 38
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] 8
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[33] 33
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] 8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 12
UK Albums (OCC)[36] 28
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[37] 4
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[38] 1
US Billboard 200[39] 43

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (May 11, 2022). "Danger Mouse and Black Thought Announce New Album Cheat Codes, Share New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Gil (May 11, 2022). "Danger Mouse and Black Thought Team Up For 'Cheat Codes' Album". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2022. Danger Mouse and Black Thought first met up in 2005 and worked on some songs together at the time for a project that was then rumored to be called Dangerous Thoughts.
  3. ^ Eustice, Kyle (August 9, 2022). "Black Thought & Danger Mouse Explain How A$AP Rocky, Russ, Joey Bada$$ + MF DOOM Landed On 'Cheat Codes'". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  4. ^ Mancini, Maggie (May 12, 2022). "Black Thought, Danger Mouse release lead single 'No Gold Teeth' from upcoming collaboration". PhillyVoice. Retrieved August 12, 2022. When Black Thought made the announcement to radio show Ebro in the Morning in 2020, the album name was rumored to be called "Dangerous Thoughts," a spin on both musician's well-known stage names.
  5. ^ Farrell, Margaret. "Danger Mouse and Black Thought Refuse to Stop on "No Gold Teeth," the First Taste of Their Newly Announced Collaborative Album - May 11, 2022". floodmagazine.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  6. ^ Krol, Charlotte (June 8, 2022). "Listen to Danger Mouse and Black Thought's soulful new single 'Because' - June 8 2022". nme.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  7. ^ Brown, Preezy (July 9, 2022). "Black Thought And Danger Mouse Take Over Times Square In "Because" Music Video - July 9, 2022". vibe.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  8. ^ Skinner, Tom (July 13, 2022). "Danger Mouse and Black Thought team up with Michael Kiwanuka on soulful new single - July 13, 2022". nme.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  9. ^ Gallagher, Alex (August 10, 2022). "Danger Mouse and Black Thought recruit A$AP Rocky and Run the Jewels for 'Strangers' - August 10, 2022". nme.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  10. ^ Skinner, Tom (August 12, 2022). "Danger Mouse & Black Thought share dizzying new 'Strangers' video - August 12, 2022". nme.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  11. ^ Paul, Larisha (October 18, 2022). "Black Thought and Danger Mouse Deliver Pensive Ode to MF Doom in 'Belize' Video - October 18, 2022". rollingstone.com. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Reviews and Tracks for Cheat Codes". Metacritic. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Kellman, Andy (August 12, 2022). "Black Thought, Danger Mouse – Cheat Codes Albums Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  14. ^ Sentz, Tim (August 12, 2022). "Album Review: Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  15. ^ Evans, Nathan (August 12, 2022). "Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes: Black Thought's most complete project to date..." Clash. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  16. ^ Amin, Tayyab (August 12, 2022). "Danger Mouse & Black Thought: Cheat Codes review – brimming with sheer love of the craft". The Guardian. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  17. ^ Eustice, Kyle (August 12, 2022). "Black Thought & Danger Mouse 'Cheat Codes' Is a Lession in Supreme Lyricism + Pristine Production". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  18. ^ Clarke, Patrick (August 10, 2022). "Danger Mouse & Black Thought – 'Cheat Codes' review: producer and MC are on killer form". NME. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Green, Dylan (August 11, 2022). "Danger Mouse / Black Thought: Cheat Codes Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  20. ^ Gross, Joe (August 12, 2022). "Black Thought and Danger Mouse's 'Cheat Codes' Will Make Old-School Heads Feel Seen". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  21. ^ Fragassi, Selena (December 24, 2022). ""Barack Obama Shares 2022 Playlist Featuring SZA, Lizzo, Steve Lacy" Dec 24, 2022". spin.com. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Danger Mouse and Black Thought: Cheat Codes". Song Bar. August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  23. ^ a b Empire, Kitty (August 13, 2022). "Danger Mouse and Black Thought: Cheat Codes review – an out-and-out hip-hop masterpiece". The Guardian. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  24. ^ Murphy, Lauren (August 12, 2022). "Danger Mouse & Black Thought: Cheat Codes — Punching below its pedigree". The Irish Times. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  25. ^ Hoffman, Tim (August 8, 2022). "Review: Danger Mouse and Black Thought maintain control with Cheat Codes". Riff. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  26. ^ a b Pattison, Louis (August 12, 2022). "Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes". Uncut. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  27. ^ Cober-Lake, Justin (August 15, 2022). "Danger Mouse & Black Thought: Cheat Codes". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  28. ^ a b c "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 22 August 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1694. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 22, 2022. pp. 6, 10, 24.
  29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  30. ^ "Ultratop.be – Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  31. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  32. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  33. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  36. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  37. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  38. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  39. ^ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2)..." Billboard on Twitter. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
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