History
Denzel Curry: A Profile
Denzel Rae Don Curry, born February 16, 1995, is an American rapper hailing from Carol City, Florida. His musical journey began in sixth grade, and by September 24, 2011, at the age of 16, he released his debut mixtape, King Remembered Underground Tape 1991–1995. Following this release, Curry became associated with SpaceGhostPurrp's hip-hop collective, Raider Klan, and frequently collaborated with the Miami-based group Metro Zu.
Early Career and Evolution
Curry departed from Raider Klan in 2013, coinciding with the release of his first studio album, Nostalgic 64, which he completed while still in high school. His prolific output continued with several extended plays, including 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms (2015), 13 (2017), and the 2020 collaboration with Kenny Beats, UNLOCKED. He has also released a string of successful studio albums: Imperial (2016), Ta13oo (2018), Zuu (2019), and Melt My Eyez See Your Future (2022). Chart success followed, with TA13OO, ZUU, and Melt My Eyez all charting on the Billboard 200. An extended edition of Melt My Eyez See Your Future saw the album re-enter the charts at number 17. All of Curry's projects have been met with considerable critical acclaim.
In 2012, Curry released his second mixtape, King of the Mischievous South Vol. 1 Underground Tape 1996. This project garnered the attention of fellow rapper Earl Sweatshirt and other members of the Odd Future label. His third mixtape, Strictly for My R.V.I.D.X.R.S., was released in the wake of Trayvon Martin's death, a fellow Carol City resident and high school alumnus. The mixtape showcased a rap style inspired by 2Pac. On June 9, 2015, Curry released his first double EP, 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms. His 2016 output included the single "Flying Nimbus" and his second full-length album, Imperial, which was later re-released as a deluxe version on Spotify.
Artistic Development and Major Releases
In June 2016, Curry was recognized as part of XXL's 2016 Freshman Class. The following year, he began releasing demo tracks on SoundCloud, including "Hate Government [demo]," "Equalizer [demo]," and "ZELTRON 6 BILLION ft. Lil Ugly Mane." These releases, coupled with cryptic social media posts hinting at an alter ego named Zeltron, preceded the release of the EP 13 on June 25, 2017. The EP featured the demo tracks alongside new material. Later that year, on August 18, he released the song "Skywalker," and on September 22, a remastered version of 32 Zel arrived, featuring a remix of "Ultimate" with Juicy J.
April 2, 2018, saw the release of "Sumo," the lead single from his album Ta13oo. This was followed by "Percs" on May 24 and "Clout Cobain" on July 13. Curry announced that TA13OO would be presented in three acts: "Light" (July 25), "Gray" (July 26), and "Dark" (July 27). The singles "Sumo," "Clout Cobain," and "Percs" represented these respective acts. TA13OO featured notable guest artists such as GoldLink, JID, and JPEGMAFIA.
Recent Works and Future Direction
January 5, 2022, marked the release of the official trailer for Curry's fifth studio album, Melt My Eyez See Your Future. The album was announced to feature collaborations with T-Pain, 6lack, Slowthai, Rico Nasty, J.I.D, and Thundercat. Curry indicated a shift towards a more mature sound, stating, "Y'all are not going to hear the same type of Denzel anymore." The first single, "Walkin," accompanied by a Western-themed music video, was released on January 24. Curry described the album as drawing from his personal struggles with depression and anger, incorporating influences from traditional hip-hop, drum and bass, trap, poetry, and jazz. A supporting North American and European tour was also announced. Further singles from the album included "Zatoichi" featuring Slowthai (released February 24 with a music video) and "Troubles" featuring T-Pain (released March 21 with a music video). Melt My Eyez See Your Future was released on March 25, 2022, debuting at number 51 on the Billboard 200.
Curry contributed the song "1st Quarter" to Apple Music's "Juneteenth 2022: Freedom Songs" collection. His song "Let It All Hang Out," a collaboration with PlayThatBoiZay, was featured in the 2022 biographical film Elvis and its soundtrack. On June 24, 2022, the collaborative track "Talk About Me" by Dot da Genius, JID, Curry, and Kid Cudi was released with a music video. Curry performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert on June 29 and "Walkin" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 21.
September 30, 2022, saw the release of Melt My Eyez See Your Future (The Extended Edition). This version featured reimagined songs with live instrumentation from the Cold Blooded Soul Band, who had previously performed with Curry on his NPR Tiny Desk Concert and The Tonight Show appearances.
