Denzel Curry gets his rage on in “King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2.”
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Honorable Mention. HOODLUMZ (Ft. A$AP Rocky & PlayThatBoiZay)
Drake ain’t seeing the version of A$AP Rocky this track features.
“HOODLUMZ” is ass-kicking music. First and foremost, the hard-hitting, eerie beat will f**k around and make anyone who is under the influence of mushrooms paranoid. PlayThatBoiZay starts things off with a frantic verse, sounding like a grittier Ski Mask The Slump God. Denzel Curry follows with a punchy, intense verse, discussing spinning blocks and knocking heads off. A$AP Rocky rounds it out with a fantastic verse, showcasing a tongue-twisting flow and gritty lyrics that harken back to his earlier work. All in all, “HOODLUMZ” is an explosive posse cut that packs a serious punch.
5. G’z Up (Ft. 2 Chainz & Mike Dimes)
Denzel Curry and 2 Chainz are trying to fistfight.
If you aren’t ready to elbow a guy in the club when you hear “G’z Up,” what are you doing? The track boasts a haunting southern beat that will make you want to shadow box, a catchy hook by Denzel Curry that should hype you up, and a confrontational verse by Denzel in which he channels both Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and the side of himself that is tired of s**t-talkers. Even the usually chill 2 Chainz drops an explosive verse, talking about mosh pits and pizza toppings that can kill you. I admit, though: I thought Mike Dimes sounded too chill (I like his fast-paced flows, though).
4. COLE PIMP (Ft. Juicy J & Ty Dolla $ign)
I’m so glad Denzel Curry decided to slow things down with “COLE PIMP.” After listening to the high-energy tracks on the album, it was a relief to cool down and let my blood pressure take a breather.
I usually gravitate towards the smooth, R&B-influenced tracks on rap albums, so it’s no surprise that I think “COLE PIMP” is one of the best on this project. The elegant trap production, Ty Dolla $ign’s smooth yet slightly demonic hook, Juicy J’s bouncy, sly pimp-inspired verse, and Denzel Curry’s energetic bars—where he takes shots at hoes and boasts about money—come together to make a standout track.
Damn, the hoes got Denzel Curry to rap with his most energy.
3. Black Flag Freestyle (Ft. That Mexican OT)
Denzel Curry and That Mexican OT prove that black and brown folks are very similar (We’re both very angry people).
To get you excited for this track, all you need to know is that Denzel Curry and That Mexican OT rap over a tough-ass, vintage-sounding southern hip-hop beat. While Denzel definitely steals the show with his dope punchlines, punchy rap style, and catchy hook, OT’s unique flow adds a fresh twist to the track. As for lyrically, I really f**k with their anti-emo, street-inspired, and occasionally violent words.
2. HOT ONE (Ft. TiaCorine & A$AP Rocky)
Denzel Curry’s best chance of ending up in clubs lies in this song’s hands.
In “HOT ONE,” Denzel Curry, TiaCorine, and FERG mention all the money they are making and the luxurious lifestyles they are living. They also talk about their competitiveness, ensuring us that they are down to whoop ass despite their lofty statuses now.
Interestingly, the most dynamic verse on this track comes from FERG. I love how he recklessly switches gears with his flow over the uptempo Three Six Mafia-like production (the production definitely fits him the most). Don’t sleep on TiaCorine’s extra competitive verse and Denzel Curry’s catchy hook, though.
1. SKED (Ft. Kenny Mason & Project Pat)
Did these negroes just kill a gassy-ass beat? (I’m impressed)
I can see folks doing the “you can’t see me” dance to “SKED.” The song is powered by a bass-heavy beat designed to knock things off shelves and put weak-ass car speakers to shame. Over the beat, we get bold versions of Denzel Curry and Kenny Mason. In their respective verses, the two rappers use aggressive tones and action-packed flows to assert their dominance and readiness for all kinds of smoke, including the one from Mortal Kombat 3. Project Pat, who I thought was a pleasant surprise guest, delivers a verse featuring his signature sly deliveries and braggadocios lyrics (Yes, he finishes a lot of his bars with “AHH”). If you’re down to rage, press play on this.
SONG-BY-SONG RATING
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(B)
I’m convinced that Denzel Curry is too explosive to be a commercial rapper (I can tell he wants to tone down a little, but he literally can’t).
Before I dive deep into Denzel Curry’s crazy verses, let’s give kudos to all the producers who hooked him up with the explosive beats on this album. King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2 features production meant to rattle speakers, turn clubs upside down, and make you want to fight. They manage to stay true to a southern sound (Mainly a Memphis sound) while incorporating trippy elements, creating an electrifying listening experience (This is one of those rare times when I’m actually glad someone fed the wild animals).
Denzel Curry’s earlier work often showcased his insightful and wise lyrics, but this album flips the script with a focus on ass-kicking, braggadocious raps. Whether he’s talking about making money and needing chauffeurs in “HOT ONE” or sliding on folks like he did in “HOODLUMZ,” Denzel sounds gassed up in an entertainingly ignorant way. I always knew he had this in him, but is this the best version of the rapper? I don’t know, and I don’t care. As for his rap mechanics, they are excellent, as usual. Effortlessly, Denzel crafts dynamic flows that deconstruct beats, while delivering precise lines that ensure his adversaries hear every threat. In other words, he fully excels in his craft.
I thought the guest appearances on this album were really good—possibly the best part of it. A$AP Rocky sounded juiced up in “HOODLUMZ,” FERG delivered an outstanding verse in “HOT ONE,” Kenny Mason was excellent in “SKED,” and 2 Chainz really showed out in “G’Z UP.” Each guest’s appearance was a pleasant surprise, almost overshadowing Denzel’s contributions (Keyword: “almost”).
They don’t make ’em like Denzel Curry anymore… Sheesh.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
