{{Short description|American musician (born 1983)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Danny! | image = Danny Drake Atlanta Concert.jpg | caption = Danny! opening for Drake in Atlanta, 2009<ref name="Creative Loafing">{{cite news |first=Jacinta |last=Howard |title=Don't Sleep On Danny! |url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-156745-danny-is-something-like-a-phenomenon |publisher=Creative Loafing |date=April 28, 2009 |access-date=May 1, 2009}}</ref> | alias = {{flatlist| * D. Swain * The College Kicked-Out }} | birth_name = Daniel Swain<ref name="Jeffries" /> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|08|18}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/daniel-swain-mn0001399055 |title=Daniel Swain |website=AllMusic |access-date=October 18, 2018}}</ref> | occupation = {{flatlist| * Rapper<ref name="Jeffries" /> * record producer<ref name="Jeffries" /> * singer * composer * voice actor }} | years_active = 2004–present | genre = {{flatlist| * Alternative hip-hop<ref name="Jeffries" /> * underground hip-hop<ref name="Jeffries" /> }} | label = Interscope, Definitive Jux | website = {{URL|dannyswain.com}} }} '''Daniel Swain''' (born August 18, 1983), known mononymously as '''Danny!''', is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and composer.<ref name="Jeffries">{{cite web | first = David | last = Jeffries | title = Danny!: Biography | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p766332/biography|pure_url=yes}} | website = AllMusic | date = March 11, 2013 | access-date = February 11, 2014}}</ref>
Swain rose to prominence after his debut performance on ''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'',<ref>{{cite news|first=Emmy |last=Blotnick |title=Danny! Performs 'Evil' |url=http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2012/09/danny-performs-evil/ |publisher=NBC |date=September 21, 2012 |accessdate=September 21, 2012|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127194748/http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2012/09/danny-performs-evil/ |archivedate=November 27, 2012 }}</ref> where he premiered his song "Evil". After joining Okayplayer Records, Swain released his album ''Payback'',<ref name="Jeffries" /><ref name="Billboard">{{cite news |last=Ramirez |first=Erika |date=January 13, 2011 |title=Exclusive: ?uestlove Announces Okayplayer Records Re-Launch, New Albums By Danny!, Young Guru |publisher=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/exclusive-uestlove-announces-okayplayer-1007822952.story |accessdate=January 17, 2011 |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816211821/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/exclusive-uestlove-announces-okayplayer-1007822952.story |url-status=dead }}</ref> cited by AllMusic as one of the best hip-hop releases of the year.<ref>{{cite news | first = AMG | last = Staff | title = AllMusic's Favorite Hip-Hop/Rap Albums of 2012 | url = http://blog.allmusic.com/2012/12/20/allmusics-favorite-hip-hoprap-albums-of-2012/ | publisher = AllMusic | date = December 20, 2012 | accessdate = December 22, 2012}}</ref> In 2013, ''Ebony'' magazine listed Swain among other rising artists in its "Leaders of the New School" piece, calling Swain one of a handful of "innovators".<ref name="Ebony2">{{cite magazine |last=Carter |first=Kelley |date=January 2, 2013 |title=Leaders Of The New School |url=http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/leaders-of-the-new-school-752 |magazine=Ebony Magazine |access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref>
Swain has composed background music that has since been placed in numerous motion pictures and television programs, most notably FOX's animated series ''Bob's Burgers'' for which Swain was awarded an Emmy plaque for his contributions to an episode that won in the Outstanding Animated Program category at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2017.<ref name="Emmys">{{cite news | title = Bob's Burgers: Awards & Nominations | url = https://www.emmys.com/shows/bobs-burgers | publisher = Emmys.com | date = January 12, 2018 | access-date = January 12, 2018}}</ref> In the year preceding this milestone, Swain also began working as a voiceover artist—debuting as the narrator of ''Hey Rookie, Welcome To The NFL''{{'}}s fifteenth season<ref name="NFL">{{cite news | title = Carson Wentz, Jared Goff & Rookies Journey from Combine Prep to the NFL Draft | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl8nsu1XIF4 | publisher = NFL YouTube | date = May 6, 2020 | access-date = March 29, 2026}}</ref><ref name="DannyVO">{{cite news | title = Danny! Voiceovers | url = https://dannyswain.com/voiceover/ | publisher = DannySwain.com | date = May 30, 2017 | access-date = March 29, 2026}}</ref>—and appeared in a digital short for ''Sesame Street'' featuring a "Wheels On The Bus" remix produced and performed by Swain<ref name="Open">{{cite news | title = Party Bus: Wheels on the Bus Remix | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5iG7-GMkRU | publisher = Sesame Studios YouTube | date = September 30, 2016 | access-date = March 29, 2026}}</ref><ref name="Sesame">{{cite news | title = Danny! Joins The Sesame Street Party Bus | url = https://www.dannyswain.com/video/danny-swain-sesame-street-party-bus/ | publisher = DannySwain.com | date = October 1, 2016 | access-date = March 29, 2026}}</ref>.
== Early life == Swain, the only son of military parents,<ref name="Jackson">{{cite news | first = Deborah | last = Jackson | title = Military People: Danny Swain | url = http://www.militaryhub.com/military-people.cfm?id=29 | publisher = Military Hub | date = March 11, 2009 | access-date = March 21, 2009 | archive-date = July 14, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714094906/http://www.militaryhub.com/military-people.cfm?id=29 | url-status = dead }}</ref> was born in Killeen, Texas and moved to Columbia, South Carolina, as a teenager. He attended Richland Northeast High School and began pursuing music as a hobby during his second year.<ref name="Jeffries" /> Swain started penning his own lyrics and recorded songs as a showcase for his production.<ref name="Prefix">{{cite news | first = Julio | last = Anto | title = Danny! Discusses New Album ''Payback'', Co-signs From Jay-Z And Blank, And The Evolution Of DIY In Hip-Hop | url = http://www.prefixmag.com/features/danny/danny-discusses-new-album-payback-co-signs-from-ja/72229/ | publisher = Prefix Magazine | date = December 4, 2012 | access-date = December 11, 2012}}</ref>
== Career == === 2004–2006: Early beginnings, ''Charm'' and instrumental albums === {{Main|The College Kicked-Out|F.O.O.D. (album)|Charm (Danny! album)}}
After spending nearly a year networking with local artists, Swain released his debut mixtape ''The College Kicked-Out''.<ref name="Jeffries" /><ref name="Discography">{{cite news | first = Daniel | last = Swain | title = Danny!: Discography | url = http://www.dannyswain.com/music/discography/ | publisher = DannySwain.com | date = January 2, 2018 | access-date = January 4, 2018}}</ref> The record received mixed to unfavorable reviews—an up-and-coming Charlamagne tha God was among ''Kicked-Out''{{'}}s critics, panning the mixtape on air while working as a local radio station personality—which Swain would allude to in much of his later work.
Shortly after ''Kicked-Out''{{'}}s release Swain was accepted to the Savannah College of Art & Design and accordingly relocated to Savannah, Georgia.<ref name="Jeffries" /> It was here that he began to work on his second project, ''F.O.O.D.''<ref name="Discography" /> The following year Swain officially released his third mixtape ''Charm'',<ref name="Discography" /> which was notable for featuring an underlying theme of escapism in its narrative of a musician who wants success in music to take him away from his day-to-day routine.
During this time Swain compiled an instrumental album, ''Dream, Interrupted'', in an effort to promote his production; within two years the sequels ''Dream, Fulfilled'' and ''Dream, Extinguished'' would also be released.<ref name="Discography" /> {{Quote box | quote = It's all people telling you to do this and that…[but] when you do what they say and it still doesn't work in your favor, it's like, 'well, I was fine the way I was'. You just got to keep moving. There's no guarantee for anything. | source = <br />Swain, on instinct and perseverance<br />(''GQ'', 2014)<ref name="GQ" /> |align=left |width=280px |bgcolor=#c2dce8 |quoted=true |salign=center }}
=== 2007–2011: MTV, ''And I Love H.E.R.'' and Interscope era === {{See also|Danny Is Dead|And I Love H.E.R.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|Where Is Danny?}} After ''Charm'', Swain received his first big break when MTV played a role in securing him a recording contract with Definitive Jux, an independent music label, at the time helmed by El-P of Run the Jewels fame.<ref>{{cite news | first = Tim | last = Welte | title = Danny Swain Wins mtvU Contest | url = http://www.tv.com/news/danny-swain-wins-mtvu-def-jux-contest-8375/ | publisher = TV.com | date = January 27, 2007 | access-date = February 2, 2007 | archive-date = January 18, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160118023708/http://www.tv.com/news/danny-swain-wins-mtvu-def-jux-contest-8375/ | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Stoehr">{{cite news | first = John | last = Stoehr | title = Local Student Wins MTV Award | url = http://savannahnow.com/accent/2007-01-24/local-student-wins-mtv-award | newspaper = Savannah Morning News | date = January 28, 2007 | access-date = September 11, 2007}}</ref> The record deal allowed Swain to release an album through the label, promoting it with a 12" single and accompanying music video slated for an exclusive premiere on mtvU. Though the label's involvement would not amount to a released album—only the single "Just Friends", which charted on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="Creative Loafing" />—the deal did establish an ongoing relationship between Swain and MTV, which began using his music extensively in various programs.
Swain self-released his debut album, the faux-soundtrack ''And I Love H.E.R.''<ref name="Discography" /> The album was cited at the time by publications such as Pitchfork,<ref>{{cite news | first = Joshua | last = Love | title = Danny!: And I Love H.E.R. (Album Review) | url = https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12082-and-i-love-her-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/ | publisher = Pitchfork | date = October 18, 2008 | access-date = November 11, 2008}}</ref> ''LA Weekly''<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Jeff |last=Weiss |title=The 10 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of The Half-Year |url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/the-10-best-hip-hop-albums-of-the-half-year-2404431 |magazine=LA Weekly |date=August 1, 2008 |access-date=August 17, 2008}}</ref> and ABC News<ref>{{cite news | first = Allan | last = Raible | title = The 50 Best Albums of 2008: Nos. 25 to 1 | url = https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Music/story?id=6556115 | publisher = ABC News | date = January 2, 2009 | access-date = January 11, 2009}}</ref> as one of the best releases of the year. ''And I Love H.E.R.'' was also notable for introducing another musical direction for Swain, who was experimenting with hip house, downtempo and lounge/electronica to produce a sort of "lounge-hop" hybrid.
Following ''And I Love H.E.R.''{{'}}s success, Swain completed the ''Where Is Danny?'' album.<ref name="Discography" /> Interscope Records, through its short-lived digital distribution program,<ref>{{cite news | first = Nicholas | last = Loss-Eaton | title = Discovering New Music Artists in the Digital Age: Interscope Digital Distribution Reaches Beyond DIY | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/discovering-new-music-artists-in-the-digital-age-interscope-digital-distribution-reaches-beyond-diy-69756242.html | publisher = PR Newswire | date = November 12, 2010 | access-date = February 7, 2012}}</ref> distributed a revamped version of the album on iTunes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Danny! – 'Where Is Danny' |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/where-is-danny/id440244598 |publisher=iTunes |date=May 17, 2011 |access-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528194152/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/where-is-danny/id440244598 |archive-date=May 28, 2011 }}</ref>
=== 2012–present: Breakthrough, music licensing and ''The Book of Daniel'' === {{See also|Payback (album)|The Book of Daniel (album)}} After the release of his third studio LP ''Payback'',<ref name="Discography" /> the title track of Swain's previous album was featured in a commercial for Sonos wireless speakers. Swain signed on as a composer for MTV's internal Hype Music label<ref>{{cite news | first = Jeffrey | last = Jones | title = Hype Music: Roster | url = http://www.mtv.com/artists/collections/hype-music/896380/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205012941/http://www.mtv.com/artists/collections/hype-music/896380/ |archive-date=December 5, 2013 | publisher = MTV | date = September 10, 2013 | access-date = April 10, 2013}}</ref> (later absorbed into Sony/ATV's Extreme Music production music library) and slowly transitioned into a producer role, landing instrumental placements with various Viacom television programming as well as commercials for Nordstrom, McDonald's, and incidental music for ''Bob's Burgers'' and its soundtrack, ''The Bob's Burgers Music Album''.
In 2014, Swain started working on a new album, initially titled ''Deliverance'', but later changed to ''The Book Of Daniel'' after the book in the Bible.<ref name="GQ">{{cite magazine | first = Phili | last = Stelios | url = https://www.gq.com/story/the-gqa-danny-swain |title =The GQ+A: Danny Swain On Getting Shown Questlove Love, Major Label Breakups, and His Plan for 2014 | magazine = GQ | date = March 5, 2014 | access-date = March 5, 2014}}</ref> During the album's development Swain appeared in ''Sesame Street''{{'}}s "Party Bus" video, which featured an original remix of "The Wheels on the Bus" composed by Swain<ref name="Open" /><ref name="Sesame" />. He also began working as a voiceover artist, narrating a season of ''Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL'' in 2016 for ESPN<ref name="NFL" /><ref name="DannyVO" />. The following year Swain was awarded an Emmy plaque from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his musical contributions to the ''Bob's Burgers'' episode "Bob Actually" (Outstanding Animated Program, 2017<ref name="Emmys" />), composing music for three scenes.<ref>{{cite web | title = Internet Movie Database: Danny Swain | website = IMDb | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8780492/ | date = December 6, 2017 | access-date = December 11, 2017}}</ref>
In 2015, a tracklist for ''The Book of Daniel'' was revealed at Swain's website. The album debut was announced for February 29, 2016,<ref name="Independent">{{cite news | first = Heather | last = Saul | title = Kanye West Says Bill Cosby Is Innocent | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/kanye-publicist-responds-about-twitter-rant-with-release-dates-for-the-life-of-pablo-and-danny-the-book-of-daniel-a6864651.html | newspaper = The Independent | date = February 10, 2016 | access-date = December 1, 2017}}</ref> but it was not released. Another scheduled date, October 31, 2018,<ref name=Halloween2018>{{cite web|author=Swain, Daniel |url=http://www.dannyswain.com/music/discography/danny-the-book-of-daniel/ |title=Danny! – The Book Of Daniel |website=DannySwain.com |date=January 15, 2019 |access-date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> passed without the album release.
Despite a halt in studio releases, Swain continues to contribute to ''Bob's Burgers'' while composing library music and incidental cues under various aliases for Extreme Music.
== Discography == {{Main|Danny! discography}}
=== Studio albums === * ''And I Love H.E.R.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' * ''Where Is Danny?'' * ''Payback'' * ''The Book Of Daniel''
=== Instrumental albums === * ''Dream, Interrupted'' * ''Dream, Fulfilled'' * ''Dream, Extinguished''
=== Production credits === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Artist ! Song(s) ! Album ! Year |- | Danny Brown || "Exotic", "The Nana Song" || ''The Hybrid'' || 2010 |- | Danny Brown || "Counterfeit", "Hey!"* || ''Detroit State of Mind 4'' || 2010 |- | Lil B || "The Game On Lock", "Illusions of G" || ''Illusions of Grandeur 2'' || 2012 |- | Wale || "Never Never Freestyle" || ''Folarin'' || 2012 |- | Cody ChesnuTT || "Scroll Call (Danny Swain Remix)" || ''Landing on a Hundred: B-Sides & Remixes'' || 2014 |}
=== Film and television placements/credits === {| class="wikitable" |- !align="left"|Song(s) !align="left"|Where Featured !align="left"|Network !align="left"|Year |- |"Intermission (interlude)" |''Jersey Shore After Hours'' |MTV |2008 |- |"Cafe Surreal" |''aMTV'' promotional bumper |MTV |2009 |- |"Ebony Flower" |''Wainy Days'' |My Damn Channel |2009 |- |"Check It Out" |''Disaster Date'' |MTV |2011 |- |"The Groove" |''Dina's Party'' |HGTV |2011 |- |"The Groove" |''Love Lust'' |SundanceTV |2011 |- |"The Groove" |''2011 Comedy Awards'' |Comedy Central |2011 |- |"Cafe Surreal", "The Groove" |''Red Bull Signature Series: Supernatural'' |NBC |2012 |- |"Cafe Surreal" |''The Association'' |ESPN |2012 |- |"Crasy Sound" |''Elbow Room'' |HGTV |2012 |- |"Evil" |live performance on ''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'' |NBC |2012 |- |"God Bless The Child" |''Breaking Amish'' |TLC |2012 |- |"Loser" |''Breaking Amish: Extended Episodes'' |TLC |2012 |- |"Misery" |''Rockstar Presents: XDurance Series'' (with Rob Adelberg) |YouTube |2012 |- |"Pineapple Gumdrop" |''LXTV 1st Look'' |NBC |2012 |- |"Still Standing" |''Life After: Karyn White'' |TV One |2012 |- |"Where Is Danny", "I Ain't The Walrus" |Sonos television advert |cable |2012 |- |"Cafe Surreal" |''Crown Royal: Best Of'' promotional clip during 2013 NBA Playoffs |TNT |2013 |- |"Malice In Blunderland" |''The Challenge: Rivals II'' |MTV |2013 |- |"Man On The Moon" |''Snooki & Jwoww'' |MTV |2013 |- |"One Day It'll All Make Cents" |''The Show with Vinny'' |MTV |2013 |- |"Torture" |''World of Jenks'' |MTV |2013 |- |"Gibraltar (Danny!'s Pride And Vanity Remix)" |Just Blaze interview<ref>{{cite news | title = Just Blaze Interview | url = http://www.okayplayer.com/news/just-blaze-the-questions-video-interview.html | date = October 6, 2014 | access-date = July 11, 2014}}</ref> |Okayplayer |2014 |- |"Check It Out" |Nordstrom anniversary sale summer promo |cable and radio |2014 |- |"Take Me To The Muddy Grass" |"Work Hard or Die Trying, Girl" episode of ''Bob's Burgers'' |FOX |2014 |- |"The Wheels On The Bus" |"Party Bus" segment on ''Sesame Street'' |PBS, HBO, YouTube |2016 |- |"Gangsta's Pair o' Dice", "Breakdance Bugaloo", "Walk Like This, No No Like This" |"Bob Actually" episode of ''Bob's Burgers'' |FOX |2017 |}
== See also == * Alternative hip-hop * List of former Interscope Records artists * List of Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} {{Wikiquote|Danny!}} * {{Official website|http://www.dannyswain.com}} * {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p766332|label=Danny!}} * {{IMDb name|8780492}} * {{MusicBrainz artist}}
{{Danny!}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Danny}} Category:1983 births Category:Actors from Columbia, South Carolina Category:African-American record producers Category:21st-century African-American male rappers Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:21st-century American male rappers Category:American bloggers Category:Record producers from Texas Category:American television composers Category:Interscope Records artists Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Atlanta Category:Musicians from Atlanta Category:Musicians from Columbia, South Carolina Category:People from Richland County, South Carolina Category:Musicians from Savannah, Georgia Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners Category:Savannah College of Art and Design alumni Category:Sony Music Publishing artists Category:People from Killeen, Texas Category:21st-century American rappers Category:21st-century American male singers Category:Rappers from South Carolina Category:Rappers from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Rappers from Texas Category:Definitive Jux artists