Florida Rapper Denzel Curry Ditches ’90s Nostalgia and Embraces a Forward-Thinking Aesthetic

In Music Stories by Nathan Smithleave a COMMENT

When Denzel Curry reflects on meeting Andre 3000, one of his personal idols, he remembers a piece of advice from the sage Atlanta rapper: “Don’t get bored.” After a wild year in his already lengthy career, it’s a guideline the young Florida rapper has distilled into a philosophy.

The 21-year-old Curry was part of this year’s XXL Freshman Class, an important but often controversial roundup of who’s next in hip-hop. But for those who have spent a lot of time on SoundCloud, Curry was already a familiar name.

Curry was born and raised in Carol City, Fla.—he describes it on his 2015 song “Chief Forever” as “the place where all the palm trees and the AKs dwell.” He started rapping in his early teens but got serious  after his parents separated and he was expelled from an exclusive arts high school.

“When something bad happens, it makes me go in,” he says.

Curry soon fell in with Raider Klan, a loose and sprawling collective of young rappers united by their Internet connections. Headed by fellow Carol City native SpaceGhostPurrp, Raider Klan included the likes of Memphis rappers Xavier Wulf and Chris Travis, Houston’s Amber London, and Seattle’s Key Nyata. SpaceGhostPurrp pioneered the group’s signature sound, a lo-fi and reverb-heavy blend of Adult Swim and early ’90s Southern rap.

Raider Klan soon developed a loyal following on the underground rap Internet. Purrp released his first mixtapes in 2010; by 2011, he was producing for, and rapping alongside, heavyweights like Juicy J, A$AP Rocky, and Wiz Khalifa. In 2012, his lone studio album, Mysterious Phonk: Chronicles of SpaceGhostPurrp, was released on 4AD, the British label associated with indie-rock acts like the Cocteau Twins, the Pixies, and St. Vincent. But just as soon as Raider Klan emerged, it fell apart; intergroup squabbles and Purrp’s own mental-health troubles led to the collective’s dissolution, though many of its former members remain friends.

Curry’s earliest mixtapes, with names like King of the Mischievous South, Vol. 1, are pure Raider Klan house style. Though Carol City is also home to rap royalty like Rick Ross (who appears on Curry’s recent song “Knotty Head”) and pop stars like Pitbull and Flo Rida, Curry’s tapes don’t sound like anything else from the Sunshine State.

The artwork, sound, and content of his earliest releases recall the work of Texas hip-hop legend DJ Screw and Tennessee’s own Three 6 Mafia. It’s historical revisionism, an imagined version of the early 1990s. But since Raider Klan disbanded, Curry’s sound has become increasingly forward-thinking.

Nostalgic 64, his debut album from 2013, was the first time Curry felt like he sounded like himself. Despite the title, he says that album marked the end of his nostalgic period.

“From 2011 to 2013, everyone was doing the ’90s thing,” he says. “But I wanted to make a bigger impact. Not every kid grew up with a Nintendo 64.”

With his next two projects, the 2015 double EP 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms and the new full-length album Imperial, Curry continue his search for futuristic sounds. His new music is as emotional as it is abrasive, as rooted in punk as it is in rap. On Imperial, Curry grasps for shreds of enlightenment and peace. He’s never been shy to discuss social issues, and his raps offer crucial insight in today’s tense racial climate.

What sets Curry apart from many of his peers is a desire to create a musical mythology. His work is peppered with references to the Star Wars saga, a series he loves for its rich mythology. He designs his own artwork and has created a detailed universe within his songs. This universe is filled with mysterious characters and alter egos like Aquarius Killa and Raven Miyagi.

“It’s all about the aesthetic,” he says.

Imperial might be Curry’s first release without any new characters, but it does offer a new persona: ULT Denzel Curry. Since the release of his now viral single “Ultimate,” Curry has begun to espouse a mentality, influenced by the advice he received from Andre 3000, called ULT. “ULT stands for Ultimately Liberating Together, Unity Love Trust, Utilizing Limitless Talent.” This outlook is all about being the ultimate version of yourself, and it’s pushed Denzel to places he’s never been before.

“My gift is writing,” he says, and his dream extends far beyond music. He wants to make at least two more “legendary albums” and then shift his focus to other projects: comics, cartoons, movies, and more.

Though his early music might sound like another time and place, what Curry is doing now is unlike anything else from today or yesterday. He’s much more than just the sum of his influences; as an artist, he’s about new sounds, styles, and perspectives.

No matter where Curry’s mythology takes him next, one thing is clear: He won’t get bored anytime soon.

Denzel Curry performs at the Concourse on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15/$18 the day of the show. All ages. 

Born in Texas but raised on the Internet, Nathan Smith is a freelance writer, film & media studies scholar, semi-professional DJ, professional wrestling fan, and video artist.

Share this Post