Stardust is the sixth studio album by American rapper Danny Brown, which was released on November 7, 2025, under Warp Records. It follows Danny's previous albums, Quaranta and Scaring the Hoes (with JPEGMafia). Two singles, "Starburst" and "Copycats" (with Underscores), were released to promote the album, on the 23rd of September and the 16th of October respectively.
Stardust is the first album Brown has recorded entirely sober in his personal life. The album notably features much-more EDM and hyperpop-inspired production, with guest appearances from Quadeca, Jane Remover, Underscores, 8485, Frost Children, Zheani, Nnamdï, Johnnascus, Issbrokie, Femtanyl, Ta Ukraїnka, and Cynthoni, who also helped produce the album. Stardust received critical acclaim following its release.
Background
The album is Brown's first since getting sober after a 2023 stint in rehab for alcoholism. Brown initially planned to retire from music when he boarded his flight to rehab, telling NME, "I didn’t love myself at the time, so it was impossible for me to love anything else."[1] Reflecting on rehab, it was the most isolated he had been since his eight-month stint in jail as a teenager.[1] During rehab, he rekindled his interest in music, listening to the hyperpop duo 100 gecs each day for eight weeks.[1]
In a 2024 interview with Ringtone Mag, Brown elaborated on his admiration for the genre and its performers and confirmed the presence of featured artists on his album.[4] On his podcast The Danny Brown Show, Brown described the sound of his upcoming album as "the most different music he ever did" and said the sound would "shock" people.[5] He additionally expressed his desire for perfectionism on the album as his first release sober, wanting to disprove claims that his music quality would decline as he entered sobriety.[6]
Development
Writing
In a November 2025 interview with NME, Brown detailed his approach to creating Stardust as a concept album to tell about his recovery from addiction and finding joy in art again, through the lens of a semi-autobiographical character named Dusty Star, a 90s-era popstar. Brown further elaborated on the role of Angel Prost's spoken word interludes throughout the album, comparing them to fanmail that inspires Dusty. Brown additionally explained how the music of his collaborators on the album had been a source of inspiration and relief during his time in rehab.[1]
Production
Stardust explores territory in electronic music including hyperpop and digicore, and is Brown's first album recorded entirely sober.[1] When he returned to venture in electronic music, having last done "EDM trap bangers" in his second studio album Old (2013), he struggled to reconcile with its sound with his new sober lifestyle, which usually involves themes of partying and drug use.[1] When Brown left rehab, his phone's algorithm had altered and he discovered artists including Underscores, giving him a new perspective on electronic music.[1]
While he first explored hyperpop with a Dorian Electra collaboration in 2021, he recalls discovering Sophie's 2014 song "Bipp", believing it was "where grime was gonna go next".[1] He reflects that he would have collaborated with Sophie if Vince Staples didn't take initiative.[1] Dealing with the lost opportunity, he wrote the moniker "Make SOPHIE proud" on his notebooks.[1]
Despite Brown initially working with Dylan Brady of 100 gecs and PC Music founder A. G. Cook, he felt like it didn't fit, and he was instead interested in the digicore wave, taking interest in working with deadAir Records founder Jesse Taconelli and signee Jane Remover.[1] Taconelli serves as Brown's "personal A&R" and influenced his process on Stardust, suggesting he create a character. Brown titled it "Dusty Star", likening it to Prince's 1984 album Purple Rain and the film of the same name.[1] Giving perspective, Brown explains that Quaranta serves as a prequel to Stardust, creating the "90s era popstar" as he took a different perspective for the latter album.[1]
On September 23, 2025, Brown officially announced Stardust and released the lead single "Starburst" and its accompanying music video, produced by the Portuguese DJHolly.[17] He released the second single, "Copycats", featuring Underscores on October 16, 2025.[18] Its music video released on October 28, 2025, featuring the duo in an entourage taking selfies and living a flashy lifestyle.[19]
Stardust was released on November 7, 2025 under Warp Records on streaming and digital downloads.[17] A physical LP and CD release is scheduled for February 20, 2026.[20] The same day of the announcement, a concert tour supporting Stardust was announced, involving Underscores and Femtanyl as opening acts and consisting of 21 shows in November and December 2025.[21]
Critical reception
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Stardust received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from 9 critic scores.
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