Denzel Curry

On stage, rapper Denzel Curry can conjure the energy of a stage-diving punk singer, but as he’s matured as an artist, he’s lept into sonic versatility and an indomitable drive to be as unpredictable as possible. It’s a delicate balancing act, but the artist born in Carol City, Florida, in 1995 has diversified his delivery and style with each subsequent effort since his first mixtape, King Remembered Underground Tape 1991–1995, in 2011. “I found a way to be crazy and stable at the same time,” Curry told Apple Music about those early days, both solo and as a novice member of the seminal South Florida group, Raider Klan. Though the group disbanded in 2013, Curry is still indebted to the role elders like SpaceGhostPurrp played in his development. “Raider Klan had to exist. In that short period of time, we had a huge impact on the next generation. We see it every day,” Curry added. After the breakup, Curry began making noise on the internet with elevated raps and a penchant for inimitable flow patterns. His breakthrough album, 2016’s Imperial, included “Ult”, which introduced a wider audience to Curry’s trademark military-style drumming. He expanded upon his percussive delivery on albums like TA13OO and ZUU, both from 2019, which showcased his versatile songwriting and ability to move from classic-era, head-nodding beats to synth-heavy jams highlighted by his nimble singing voice. Once married to a particular way of approaching rap, Curry has since emerged as the genre’s hardest-working chameleon, telling Apple Music: “I always have to feel like what I’m working on is the best thing I’ve ever made."