Danger Mouse

USA, 2003–now

American producer Brian Burton, one of the most acclaimed of his generation. He broke through with The Grey Album (mashing the Beatles' White Album with Jay-Z), then shaped a run of eclectic, cinematic records — Gnarls Barkley, Broken Bells, Gorillaz, The Black Keys — fusing hip-hop craft with psychedelic and vintage-soul textures.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Danger Mouse and 1 artist Danger Mouse influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Danger Mouse?

• The Beatles — The Beatles are woven through Danger Mouse's work — The Grey Album mashed their White Album with Jay-Z — and their late-'60s psychedelic studio craft is a touchstone for his production.
• Wu-Tang Clan — The cinematic, sample-driven hip-hop production of the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA is part of the lineage behind Danger Mouse's atmospheric, beat-based craft.

Which artists did Danger Mouse influence?

• Gnarls Barkley — Gnarls Barkley is the duo of producer Danger Mouse, whose psychedelic, soul-infused production is one half of its sound.