Danny Brown Admits Drug Habit, Failed G-Unit Deal

Jay-Z once rapped that 30 is the new 20, but Danny Brown is at ease with his age — so much so that the Detroit MC dedicated his latest mixtape, XXX, to the big 3-0.

At this point, Brown is comfortable as an individual, and that in itself is a double-edged sword. It is DB's individuality that has earned him a cult following of fans, which he dubs the Bruisers, and it is that same sense of self that cost the rapper a deal with 50 Cent's G-Unit Records.

"I just turned 30. I been writing raps all my life, but I remember the time when I was, like, 14, 15; I was like, 'Imagine what I'm gonna be like when I'm 20. Yo, imagine what I'm gonna be like when I'm 30,' " Brown told Mixtape Daily. "Now I'm finally 30."

The mixtape, which many have dubbed "Triple X," isn't a nod to pornography, but rather a play on the Roman numeral for 30. It's an important time for the rapper, who recently signed to indie label Fool's Gold. He is finally seeing his rap dreams come true, but with that realization also came drug addiction.

"Most of the stuff that I talk about is stuff that I've done in the past. But where is my life at right now, at 30?" Brown rhetorically asked. "At 30, my life is: I've been trying to get in this industry for over 10 years, and through me trying to get into that industry, I can say I developed a drug habit."

Brown admits to smoking marijuana, but then again, so do most rappers. Adderall, however, is not a hip-hop drug of choice. The stimulant is used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, and for Brown, it helps him record and live his rock-star lifestyle. He even raps about the drug on "Adderall Admiral," a track from XXX. "Eatin' on an Adderall, wash it down with alcohol/ Writin' holy mackerel actual or factual," he raps before embarking on his patented free-associative rhyme patterns over a herky-jerky beat.

"I got to the point that I was just taking Adderall to work on music, then it got to the point where I wanted to take Adderall to stay up late and party," Brown said. "So now, from me trying Adderall, I've tried other drugs too."

On XXX, DB remains an open book. He contemplates his fate on "Die Like a Rockstar," shouting the names of deceased celebrities like River Phoenix, Brittany Murphy and Heath Ledger. "Pac Blood" finds Brown rapping over a sample of Bob James' classic "Nautilus," and on "Lie4," he bucks standard rap fare by freely admitting his financial woes.

Dexter Daily Statesman: Blog: Families share memories on Facebook

Remembering the Dexter years

My sister has recently started the impressive project of scanning all our mother's old photos and posting them in an album on Facebook, that amazing online social network which has hooked so many of us (for better or worse).

Each of us use this new method of communication for our own purposes. There's no doubt of its addictiveness. We hear of the abuses every day in the news, however, the remarkable website has revolutionized the way we communicate.

My sister has always used Facebook sparingly--until recently. About a month ago, she dragged out one of my mother's scrapbooks and started scanning old photos and posting them online.

Oh, please--let Facebook never die!! The photos are priceless! Several members of the family have joined Kathy's list of "friends," so they can download copies of old photos that they've never seen.

The old farm house in the above photo is no longer standing on the Pyletown Road, but it was a happy place in the fifties, when my family lived there.

My younger brothers, sister and I roamed the huge yard and the big old barn, which is still there. The boys went to school right across the street at Boyd Elementary, and my sister remembers riding the bus to Pyletown to a one-room school. I was in high school by that time, so I never experienced the one-room school house. I'm sorry for that, as I've heard many good things about country schools.

I recently met one of the family members, and he told stories of how cold his upstairs bedroom was. Funny, but I don't remember that! In my mind, the old house was idyllic! I had the bedroom on the top floor, southeast corner. My two rowdy brothers had the top floor across the big upstairs hall. My grandmother lived for a time in the little bedroom with the Murphy bed, and my little sister slept with her. Mom and Dad slept in a downstairs room that had a fireplace we never used. We functioned with a bath and a half, which was relatively luxurious in that day and age, though the downstairs bathroom was an add-on and wasn't insulated.

By modern standards, I'm sure the house left a lot to be desired, but we thought it was wonderful. Of course, it wasn't air-conditioned, but I don't remember being hot in the summer. There always seemed to be a breeze up on the hill.

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New Orleans in the Fifties

Remembering Mother, Finding Myself, A Journey of Love and Self-Acceptance

Babes Remember, Unforgettable People, Places, and Things from the 50s and 60s

Remembering the '50s, a Reader's digest songbook