Denzel Curry is far from just another 2016 XXL Freshman, in all actuality, he is the equivalent to a prodigy childhood actor, slowly ascending into mass-celebretism and critic acclaim. Starting off with a handful of PKAs in SpaceGhostPurrp's, Rvdxr Klvn, featuring on songs as Aquarius'Killa, Raven Miyagi, or the known Denzel Curry, he got his second big jump off a song called Twistin produced by Lil Ugly Mane -- His first and initial introduction into the rap scene being SpaceGhostPurrp's reposting of 16 y/o Denzel's first mixtape, King Remembered Underground Tape 1991–1995 which got him into Rvdxr Klvn to begin with -- see the circles?

          During his time in Purrp's underground army, he got his first taste of what it was to be a "rapper." He recorded, collaborated, toured, and became a growing icon ALL while remaining independent and in his early teens -- something the majority of rappers cannot claim, yet alone The 2016 XXL Freshman.

          He released his second mixtape, King of the Mischievous South Vol. 1 Underground Tape 1996 , which, once more, featured Curry's signature ballistic clipping of words and syllables to orchestrate an onslaught of verbal carnage. He is a vivid storyteller, and a gifted lyricist, to the degree that he has released 6 projects of at least 10 tracks over the past 6 years and still have valuable content to contribute. Compare that to Lil Wayne's music career, starting around the same age, under a handful of different aliases in rap groups. while keeping in mind the vastly different spectrums of thought they both have (Denzel has more substance per track).

          So come the disbandment of The Klvn late 2012, Curry was coasting off of his third mixtape, Strictly for My R.V.I.D.X.R.S., and prepping to release his debut album, Nostalgic 64 . A 15 track drop of etherial-space-trip instrumentals that features a good number of past Rvdxr members, who assist Curry in achieving his goal of mashing multiple genres of sound and thought into a coherent expression of art.

          Unlike a fair bit of his fellow XXL Freshman, Denzel's content can't be summarized so easily. While he does make a point to incorporate common slang and ego-centric references that other artists may rely on more heavily, they are far from a crutch to him. Curry is a well spoken, well rounded, well informed, and rather well experienced, 21 y/o who is right on the cusp of transcending to a new level of artistry and competency that I for one am truly excited to witness. 

          Denzel Curry has released 3 albums consisting of Nostalgic 64 , which was near perfect, hosting tracks like; Zone 3 , Parents , Dark & Violent , Threatz , N64 , Talk That Shit , Danny Cascade , and A Day in the Life of Denzel Curry Pt 2 . His second album, 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms. which sounded like Curry's interpretation of drill music, containing tracks: Chief Forever , Ultimate , Lord Vader Kush II , and Ice Age . And his most recent release, Imperial, which was a more condensed expression of Curry's signature flow, and allowed his beats grow out of his teen angst, bringing us tracks like: ULT , Gook , Knotty Head , Story: No title , Zenith , and If tomorrow's Not Here -- the last of which is more melodic than anything else of Curry's. 

          I am a huge fan of the type of person and rapper Denzel Curry passionately claims himself as, of the works he has released, and the performances he gives. There is so much quality in the mad amounts of quantity that Curry has managed to release to date, and I am eagerly awaiting where his next album will take us. 

          Denzel Curry is a young O.G. He has done too much already and proved himself too competent to not be recognized for the lengthy extent of talent he has and continues to weild effortlessly.

 

(I got a chance to see him with Boogie this past year ('16) at a venue called, The Middle East Club, and you can read about that FUCKING AMAZING performance here).