Denzel Curry’s “Imperial” reveals new levels to top young rapper

Denzel Currys sophomore album, Imperial, has to be one of the top hip hop albums of the young year.

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Denzel Curry’s sophomore album, “Imperial”, has to be one of the top hip hop albums of the young year.

Conner Press, staff writer/photographer

Hailing from Carol City, Florida, rapper Denzel Curry dropped his second solo effort,  Imperial on Mar. 9.  Former member of SpaceGhostPurp’s Raider Klan, Curry put out songs such as “ULT” and “Pure Enough” to separate himself from his old foes.  The knotty headed rapper has found himself as a human and rapper, and his self-discovery breeds a confidence which permeates all aspects of his latest project.

Starting the album with a savage tone via the God-like essence of “ULT” brings out the psycho we all love to see in Curry.  The build up from here on out reveals deeper levels of the mind of this intelligent rap genius.  The lyrics on songs such as “Pure Enough” focus on the struggles that Curry has to confront with his so called friends while he is on the rise to stardom.  Then, he has songs showing how frustrated he had grown with life in his hometown, Carol City.  

On the track, “Sick and Tired”, Curry gets explicit with his enemies and protects his kin.  The progression of Curry’s art and music is on full display here.  Additionally, Curry’s Caribbean dreads suggests he is making a political statement and is expressing pride in his roots.  But not only is he proud of his upbringing, he also talks about the glory and goals he will undoubtedly accomplish.  Lastly, the album ends on a strong note with tracks such as “If Tomorrow’s Not Here.”  Overall, Curry is on the rise and isn’t planning on stopping anytime soon.

Imperial is one of Curry’s first projecst as a somewhat mainstream musician. Compared to his first album and many previous mixtapes, there is a distinctive savage tone that Curry is using to break from his ex-mentor, SpaceGhostPurp.  In general, it feels as if the up and coming hip-hop artists never break out of the underground Florida scene.  Rick Ross and Dj Khaled are two of the most popular Floridians to break out of the Sunshine State and gain worldwide acclaim. Curry is undoubtedly going to join the ranks of Ross and Khaled sooner than later.  Also, Curry was voted onto the board of XXL magazine’s freshman class (The best up and coming artists out now).  Anyway,  if you are looking for something very lyrical but also has great party beats, Imperial by Denzel Curry is the album for you.