Daniel Swain, better known by his stage name Danny! (born August 18, 1983), is an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina.
Danny! was born in Killeen, Texas[1] and is a former student of the Savannah College of Art & Design[2][3]. Danny! released six self-produced studio albums, three instrumental albums and a greatest hits[4] compilation prior to, and during, his brief affiliation with Definitive Jux Records. He often wears an oxford shirt and pinstriped necktie, and has gained notoriety for prank-calling celebrities.[5]
Danny! is most notable for his self-released albums Charm and And I Love H.E.R., the latter named by ABC News as one of the best 50 albums of 2008.[6] 2011's Where Is Danny?, despite internet leakage that hindered sales, has received acclaim for its cartoonish lyrical content and "lo-fi" production; in press coverage prior to its release SPIN revealed that the record would be less of a departure from Danny!'s musical direction but more of a return to original form, sounding "[as] over-the-top as The Slim Shady LP a decade ago[7]".
Shortly following the proclamation by The Roots drummer Questlove that there was strong interest from Jay-Z,[8][9][10] Danny! was subsequently signed as the flagship artist to Questlove's re-launched Okayplayer Records after years of being loosely affiliated with the company[11]. In support of the new venture Danny! made his television debut on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon in September 2012[12], premiering his song "Evil" alongside The Roots.