Producer Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley fame has formed a new group of renowned beatmakers called The Underground Animals and is currently putting together a compilation album set for release next year via Downtown/Atlantic Records.

According to Downtown co-founder Josh Deutsch, who recently spoke to Billboard, The Underground Animals will be an animated collective in the same vein of the rock group Gorillaz, but their true identities will be kept under wraps.

The participating producers will be brought to life courtesy of animation from Adult Swim.

"We have some very celebrated producers and some up-and-comers, all of whom are arranged around Danger," Deutsch explained to Billboard. "Everybody is producing under a pseudonym. For the introductory album, the idea is that each song will feature a different producer working with a different artist, but 'there won't be a reveal as to which producer is doing a given track.

"There will be an element of mystery about it -- certain producers will be retired," Deutsch continued. "And many of these people are some of the most famous producers out there. It will allow them to produce the kinds of records they wouldn't necessarily want to do without the benefit of a pseudonym. We've already had a really A-list rock guy wanting to do a hip-hop record."

As SOHH previously reported, Danger Mouse is also putting together Gnarls Barkley's sophomore album with his group mate Cee-Lo. The duo's debut album, St Elsewhere, is up for multiple Grammy Awards, including album of the year.


Source: SOHH
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Albums to check out in 2007

1. Eve - Here I Am
After taking a recording break to be a sit com star, Eve returns to hip hop with Here I Am, which promises collaborations with The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and Dr. Dre.


2. Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III
Tha Carter III The album is slated for release next spring, just enough time for fans to put the Baby-kissing incident behind them.


3. Timbaland - Shock Value
Timbaland takes a break from bringing sexy back to create tunes with Elton John, She Wants Revenge, The Hives, Fall Out Boy and Bjork. Let's just hope he saved all the good beats for himself.


4. UGK - Underground Kingz
After numerous cameo appearances and a solo album, possibly the busiest man in hip hop, Bun B, finally re-unites with his ex-con partner, Pimp C, who has been pretty busy himself with several guest appearance and a solo joint of his own since being release from prison late last year.



5. Papoose - The Nacirema Dream
With appearance of remixes with Busta Rhymes, TI, & Chamillionaire and probably over 10 mixtapes under his belt, Papoose is possibly one of the best new school rappers whose name your average hip hop fan probably doesn't know. The Nacirema Dream (Nacirema spells American backwards) drops in March 2007.


6. Devin the Dude - Waitin' to Inhale
Despite having collaborated with heavyweights like Snoop, Scarface, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Nas, Devin the Dude is still one hit away from commercial success. Waitin' to Inhale, which drops on March 13th, features Lil' Wayne, Bun B, and the Odd Squad.


7. LL Cool J - Todd Smith 2: Back to Cool
Back to Cool is the follow-up to the self-titled Todd Smith. This time, LL hooks up with fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent, who will oversee production on Back to Cool.


8. Ghostface & MF Doom - Swift & Changeable
After release Fish Scales & More Fish, The most consistent Wu member plans to release his 3rd album in 2 years with an entire collabo project with MF Doom.


9. Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told
After his own series of mixtapes and an appearance on HBO's Entourage, Saigon's debut album has been in the works for about four years, but he swears it'll be in stores before the millennium runs out.


10. Chamillionaire - Ultimate Victory
Chamillionaire intends to strike while the iron's hot and follows up a pretty successful year with The Ultimate Victory. Rumor has it that Dr. Dre, Kanye West, and The Runners produced some tracks on Ultimate Victory. To tide you over check out his latest mixtape, The Mixtape Messiah 2 currently available for free at www.chamillionaire.com.


11. Little Brother - The Getback
Despite rumors of 9th Wonder leaving (or being kicked out the group), Little Brother plans on returning fully intact in '07, but with production contributions from Illmind, Nottz, and Alchemist, (and hopefully 9th Wonder).


12. Talib Kweli & Madlib - The Liberation
I'm not sure what to anticipate from this project. But I understand there are plans to hand the album to fans for free.


13. Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
After an event year with the success of Kick Push and early boot-legging of his Food & Liquor project, Lupe plans to release his sophomore album in '07.


14. 50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct
50 allegedly plans on stepping out of the box and leave behind his formulaic braggadocio and present a more well-rounded album for this project.


15. Pharoahe Monch - Desire
Pharoahe finally releases his debut sophomore solo album eight years after the first.


16. Eminem - TBA


17. Redman - Red Gone Wild
Red Gone Wild is slated for a March 2007, but last I checked Redman is still signed to Def Jam and Def Jam has a history of not releasing Redman projects on time. I'll believe it when I see it.


18. Rakim - The Seventh Seal
The Seventh Seal is allegedly scheduled for a first quarter of 2007 release. This is another case of I'll believe it when I see it.