If You Like Danger Mouse & Black Thought’s Cheat Codes, Listen to These Albums
This powerhouse collaboration between two big names should be paired with more modern classics and hidden hip-hop gems.
Cheat Codes
by Danger Mouse & Black Thought
With the immense talent of both Danger Mouse and Black Thought, it’s no wonder that Cheat Codes has been making waves throughout the hip hop community. Danger Mouse’s inventive production and Black Thought’s complex rhyme schemes and lyricism have established Cheat Codes as an instant classic. With elements of conscious and jazzy hip hop, the album harkens back to the classics while still moving the hip hop genre forward. The prolific output of each artist and their long lists of collaborators can lead you towards the intricate wordplay of MF Doom, the boom bap sounds of People Under The Stairs, or landmark albums like The Roots’ Phrenology.
To Pimp A Butterfly
by Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is one of the biggest names in modern hip hop. If you can’t get enough of Cheat Codes and haven’t spent time with Lamar’s records yet, now is the perfect time to start. To Pimp A Butterfly is a fan favorite that has attracted the attention of everyone from hip hop fanatics to those who hardly ever listen to any type of rap. If you’ve spun Cheat Codes countless times and would like to head into more provocative territory, seek out a copy of To Pimp A Butterfly.
MM..Food
by MF Doom
MF Doom posthumously appears on the track “Belize,” one of the standout tracks on Cheat Codes. The song was unfinished at the time of MF Doom’s passing and Danger Mouse decided that a fully realized version would be an excellent addition to the album he was making with Black Thought. If “Belize” leaves you wanting more, blast MM..Food as soon as Cheat Codes comes to an end. You’ll experience the power found in the conversational yet technical flow of one of hip hop’s most celebrated rappers.
Phrenology
by The Roots
Listening to an album featuring Black Thought will inevitably lead you to his work as a member of The Roots. Phrenology contains some of The Roots’ hardest-hitting and most daring compositions. Since these sonic experiments are all incredibly effective, the album has been regarded as one of The Roots’ finest works. If you are looking for companion pieces for Cheat Codes, you can’t go wrong with Phrenology.
O.S.T.
by People Under The Stairs
When you hear Cheat Codes, certain hip hop acts of the ’90s and 2000s may come to mind. If that’s the case, you may want to spend some time with People Under The Stairs’ O.S.T. A classic to some and an under the radar album for others, O.S.T. has been praised for its infectious soul, jazz, and funk samples. If you are looking for a sonically rich hip hop record to listen to after Cheat Codes, you may want to pick this album up.
The Mouse And The Mask
by Danger Doom
The Mouse And The Mask is an artfully crafted and delightfully playful offering from Danger Mouse and MF Doom. Black Thought contributed to a bonus track for this album and this is where he first connected creatively with Danger Mouse. The album prominently features samples from beloved Adult Swim cartoons, giving the album a demented feel all its own. With Danger Mouse’s mind-boggling production and MF Doom’s trademark flow, this is an album you’ve got to hear if you love Cheat Codes.
Book Of Ryan
by Royce Da 5’9″
Royce Da 5’9” is best known for his collaborations with artists like Eminem and his work with hip hop group Slaughterhouse, but he has also worked with Black Thought on multiple occasions. Rumor has it that they have so many unreleased songs that an album’s worth of material may come out at some point. Until then, you can listen to Book Of Ryan and Cheat Codes as two complementary albums.
Few Good Things
by Saba
“If you like Cheat Codes, you might like Few Good Things by Saba. The blend of top-notch lyricism with timeless beats makes Few Good Things a solid fit for anyone who likes Cheat Codes. Each contains a multitude of layers that makes repeat listens a no-brainer.”
— Madison McFerrin (Neo-soul artist based in New York)
About These Recommendations
The Discogs community is always searching for new music, especially songs that are similar to your favorite artists and albums – which is why Discogs is recommending albums to fans of 2022’s most purchased, most coveted, and most talked-about records.
These recommendations were selected through a unique combination of Discogs data, music charts, streaming numbers, algorithm proposals, and human curation to provide listeners like you with something new to explore.
Popular picks were determined by Discogs Wantlist and Collection additions, as well as commonly connected styles and artists in the Database. Eccentric picks were based on sonic similarity, artistic influences, and other music discovery tools. Select albums also include a personal recommendation from another related artist.
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