Punk band IDLES have released a remix of their track ‘POP POP POP’, featuring Detroit rapper Danny Brown. The remix reworks the original version from the band’s February 2024 album TANGK into a darker, more atmospheric sound, with Brown replacing the first verse and chorus.
The collaboration came about following a surprise performance at Glastonbury earlier this year. Brown joined IDLES on the Other Stage to perform the track, having earlier played his own set on the West Holts stage. The moment gained traction online, with fans praising the unexpected pairing.
‘Fuck the king’
Should be Main Stage…. That’s how you rouse an audience.
— 3 minute hero (@hammerman1111) June 28, 2024
Where the album version gives no-nonsense advice about being reliable but not taken advantage of, the remix lowers the pitch and tempo, bringing the track into gloomier territory. Brown’s frantic rap delivery contrasts starkly with Joe Talbot’s slower, more deliberate vocals, creating an unsettling juxtaposition that has caused a stir online.
Reactions to the remix have been mixed. While some fans welcomed the creative shift, others questioned its direction. One Reddit user wrote: “Nice way to increase their reach, but it’s a personal ‘meh’ from me. I heard five seconds of it and prefer the original.”
Comment byu/Gooby1992 from discussion inIdles
IDLES are no strangers to collaboration, with Talbot previously working with acts like METZ, and LCD Soundsystem on their track ‘Dancer’. The band’s willingness to experiment was also highlighted in their appearance on CBeebies’ Hey Duggee!’s ‘Stick Song’, where they gave the children’s track a punk spin.
The remix reflects a growing crossover between punk and rap, two genres with shared roots in anti-establishment energy. The origins of this blend go all the way back to the origins of rap, and became mainstream with Run-DMC’s cover of ‘Walk This Way’. It has since been built up by acts like Beastie Boys and Limp Bizkit, and more recently, Death Grips.
TANGK itself received praise for its more personal approach, with Mojo’s Andrew Perry describing IDLES as “tuneful, approachable geezers capable of love, and sharing it with the world.” The album went straight to number one in the UK Album Charts. The remix, however, sees the band embracing the raw energy of both punk and rap, with more emphasis on the experimental side of the record, than keeping Brown’s lyrics tied to the themes present in the original song.
Danny Brown’s recent collaborations have included electronic duo Frost Children and country character Wheeler Walker Jr., contributing to a larger back catalogue of eclectic crossovers. Neither Brown nor IDLES have commented on the remix, though both shared a joint Instagram post featuring their Glastonbury performance and the remix cover art.
The remix is available now on all major streaming platforms.
