Denzel Curry gets his rage on in “KING OF THE MISCHIEVOUS SOUTH.”
STREAM
TOP 5 SONGS
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. STILL IN THE PAINT (Ft. LAZER DIM 700 & Bktherula)
Is this better than the original?
The first thing that stands out in “Still In The Paint” is its production, featuring a bold beat that flips Waka Flocka Flame’s iconic “Hard in Da Paint.” Over this, Denzel Curry brings an intense verse, switching between slow and fast flows and dropping hard-hitting lines about his readiness for any challenge. As for his energizing chorus, it sets the track’s tone. Meanwhile, LAZER DIM 700 delivers a chill, nonchalant verse, while Bktherula brings high energy, both letting us know what they represent and why they don’t have respect for certain folks. All in all, everyone put up verses better than Waka Flocka’s on “Hard in Da Paint.
4. P.O.P. (Ft. Key Nyata & Sauce Walka)
I don’t like calling grown men twins, but Denzel Curry and Sauce Walka sound just like that in “P.O.P.”
Let me get this out of the way immediately: “P.O.P.” is one of the new departments Trump is creating stands for “paper over p*ssy.” The good news? Denzel Curry backs up the bold title with a smooth, hard-hitting beat that pairs well with his unapologetically toxic lyrics aimed at his critics and women looking for a quick come-up. Key Nyata takes it up a notch with, in my opinion, the best verse on the track; he brings a sly, laid-back delivery that makes it clear he’s unbothered by anything around him. Sauce Walka closes with a rebellious verse where he brags about knowing Donald Trump and makes his disinterest in gold-diggers obvious. The synergy between each of their verses gives the track a distinct, raw edge.
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 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
1. KOTMS II Intro (Ft. Kingpin Skinny Pimp) (N/A)
2. ULTRA SHXT (Ft. Key Nyata (4/5)
3. SET IT (Ft. Maxo Kream) (3.5/5)
4. HOT ONE (Ft. TiaCorine & A$AP Rocky) (4.5/5)
5. ACT A FOOL (Ft. Duke Deuce & Slim Guerilla) (4/5)
6. BLACK FLAG FREESTYLE (Ft. That Mexican OT) (4.5/5)
7. HEADCRACK INTERLUDE (Ft. Kingpin Skinny Pimp) (N/A)
8. G’Z UP (Ft. 2 Chainz & Mike Dimes) (4/5)
9. LUNATIC INTERLUDE (Ft. Kingpin Skinny Purp) (N/A)
10. SKED (Ft. Kenny Mason & Project Pat) (4.5/5)
11. GOT ME GEEKED (Ft. Kenny Mason & Project Pat) (4/5)
12. COLE PIMP (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Juicy J) (4/5)
13. P.O.P (Ft. Key Nyata & Sauce Walka) (4.5/5)
14. ANOTHA LATE NITE (with 454) (4/5)
15. WISHLIST (Ft. Armani White) (4/5)
16. HIT THE FLOOR (Ft. Ski Mask The Slump God) (3.5/5)
17. STILL IN THE PAINT (Ft. LAZER DIM 700 & Bktherula) (4/5)
18. HOODLUMZ (Ft. A$AP Rocky & PlayThatBoiZay) (3.5/5)
19. KOTMS II OUTRO (Ft. Kingpin Skinny Pimp) (N/A)
RGM RATING
(B) (81%)
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 features production meant to rattle speakers, turn clubs upside down, and make you want to fight. They also 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.
