Black Thought & Danger Mouse share “Because” featuring Joey Bada$$, Russ, and Dylan Cartlidge

Cheat Codes, arriving on August 12, is a collaborative project from Danger Mouse (the multiple Grammy Award-winning producer and Gnarls Barkley co-founder) and Black Thought, who raps with The Roots and has recently begun to receive his flowers as one of the best rappers ever. Today, the duo have shared the project's second single "Because," a posse cut with Joey Bada$$, Russ, and Dylan Cartlidge.

Mouse flips a soulful sample from Cartlidge into a vintage-yet-polished groove (think perfectly shiny brass) for each rapper to dive into. Black Thought is obviously the highlight, and while Russ doesn't bomb, Joey Bada$$ is the hungriest of the two featured rappers, and it shows. Listen below.

"I’ve always been a big fan of Black Thought and Danger Mouse," Bada$$ said in a press statement. "I think Black Thought is one of the greatest rappers ever, so when they asked me to get on this record, it was a no-brainer, plus the record is fire! I still remember the first time I heard 'You Got Me' the video was shot on my great-grandmother’s block and I was actually there that day when I was a child. It changed the way I looked at music. I’m very honored to be a part of this track. We’re making history!"

"Because" follows "No Gold Teeth," the first single from Cheat Codes. The project will feature the late MF Doom, A$AP Rocky, Raekwon, Conway The Machine, Run The Jewels, and more.