- Sometimes a collaboration just seems right from the get-go. While hip hop is notorious for rushed one-off projects with rapper duos that don’t fit at all, it’s easy to see that a JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown project makes absolute sense. The duo’s first joint project entitled Scaring the Hoes even fits the criteria with its title: a nod to both rapper’s more abrasive sounds as well as making fun of a core, terminally online, male fan-base who are so convinced their ‘unique’ taste will be off-putting if given a chance with the aux-cord. While the production style and overall sound is closer to that of a regular Peggy record, Danny Brown still brings his own personal style to each track allowing the duo to play off each other, perfectly.

Steppa Pig knows how to combine the two differing styles of both Peggy and Danny into an energetic hard-hitting cut. Beginning with a brief, sliding electronic beat reminiscent of Danny’s 2011 record XXX, the Detroit rapper follows suit with a flow that hearks back to his younger self. When I say brief, I mean it, as the production explodes into Peggy’s usual forte with abrasive drums and quick-timing samples. The track glitters with its synths, as both rappers hit their usual witty punchlines about women, drugs and random celebrity references to let you know how much harder they are than the rest of the competition.

Scaring the Hoes is Peggy at his most self-referential, the track pokes fun at how his music just won’t fit at parties no matter how much his audience tries. Danny’s verse expands on this idea further as he sarcastically denounces other rappers, with a simple notion: if you an still get women without music, why even try to be a rapper? The production further plays into the joke, sounding like a heroin-laced 1960’s, free-jazzer over glass-shattering drums and punk screams.

I don’t know why Peggy has an obsession with sampling '00’s pop and Kelis’ Milkshake should not work, chopped up over electronic breakdowns but of course Fentanyl Tester is a great track. Reminiscent of the pill-heavy, sweaty club bangers of Danny’s 2013 Old record, he brings forth the heart-pounding and frantic flow that comes with a long night on ecstasy. The production goes a mile a minute with several different sections all incorporating the same sample as Peggy demonstrates how the mind races under the influence.

I see Kingdom Hearts Key reaching the top of my favourite cuts of the year as the track reaches the pinnacle of what is possible in this collaboration. The production incorporates a sample that sounds both like Cocteau Twins and some snatch from an anime as Peggy changes the timing and drums for both himself, Danny and guest rapper Redveil’s verse while still retaining that PS2 soundtrack effect. Danny is easily the standout with a quick-timing, laidback flow over the trap drums, where Redveil’s more straight-forward, modern flow brings a nice, albeit brief, change of pace. The verses aren’t mixed as well as other cuts on the record but it is almost doesn’t matter: the sample's just that good.

God Loves You somehow takes a gospel sample and places it over distorted drums and explicit sex bars and has a great time. Danny is something else on his verse as he equates every sexual act to a biblical reference including comparing that time-of-the-month to ‘parting the red sea'. Peggy goes for the more simple approach of simply repeating bars about women shaking-dat-ass for money but yet again it’s in the delivery and of course, that approach puts a smile on my face.

I could sit here and complain about odd mixing choices or how this collaboration feels more like a JPEGMAFIA record featuring verses from Danny Brown but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. If you’re looking for the most fun you can have in forty minutes of experimental hip-hop, this is it. Scaring The Hoes is constantly eclectic in its stylings, internet memes and great performances from two rappers who can get away with poking fun at themselves and their audience. I hope for more projects from the two together in the future because this one is an easy winner.

- James Chadwick.