Denzel Curry
King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2
LOMA VISTA
ABOVE THE CURRENT
There was a moment there when I thought Denzel Curry would be swallowed up by a combination of hype, reach-for-the-stars album concepts, and that always-tricky balance between pursuing high art and trying to make a mainstream cultural impact. After years of being a rising star in the Raider Klan collective, he went out on his own and dropped Imperial in 2016, a debut album that still impresses almost a decade later. With the success, though, came his only misstep in a career full of wins: 2018’s TA13OO was bloated, confusing, and an album that collapsed under the weight of its own ambition. In hindsight, it was a lot like Tyler, the Creator’s early albums: projects that flashed brilliantly with potential but needed fine-tuning. Like Tyler, Denzel just kept getting better, culminating with the epic Melt My Eyez See Your Future from 2022, which, as a counterpoint to TA13OO, soared thanks to its concept.
Now, Denzel is back with a low-stakes mixtape-like project with King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2, and despite its less grandiose nature, it might be one of the best things Denzel’s ever recorded. It’s very easy to hear when Curry is having fun—or, perhaps more importantly, sounds engaged. On Vol. 2 (a sequel to his breakout 2012 actual mixtape), he’s cruising with his fastball and best 12-6 curve from beginning to end. Whether he’s rapping with OGs like Project Pat, Juicy J, and 2 Chainz (to say nothing of Kingpin Skinny Pimp emceeing the proceedings), reuniting with fellow Raider Klan alumni Key Nyata, or ushering in the next wave of Carol City voices such as PlayThatBoiZay, Zel deftly balances his role as gracious host and a competitive rapper with an insatiable urge to destroy everyone else in the game.
On the Nyata-featuring “ULTRA SHXT,” the duo cue up a beat that could come from Memphis, Florida, Houston, Dallas, or even Atlanta, and proceed to spit hot fire. “Watch the whole industry imitate / ULTRAGROUND shit, what the fuck you got started,” Denzel raps. Folks, he’s not wrong! Even when he ups the stakes, Curry keeps Mischievous firing on all cylinders. “HOT ONE,” which features TiaCorine and A$AP Ferg, scans like the sort of shit an upcoming producer would piece together to get some new followers—but here, the vision coalesces into something genuinely novel.
Denzel serving as the middleman between unsuspecting collaborators culled from various generations of rap isn’t my first wish when asking for a new album from Curry, but all these wacky-ass Mad Libs are a blast (Kenny Mason and Project Pat on “SKED”? Hell yeah. Mike Dimes and 2 Chainz on “G’Z UP”? Let’s do it). Most impressively, perhaps, is that amidst the chaos, Denzel never loses the plot or strays too far from his sound. This is still a Denzel Curry album, even if it features a buttload of friends and some of the biggest names in rap. And what’s more fun than that?
