In the years between his 2013 debut LP,
Nostalgic 64
, and his sophomore set,
Imperial
,
Denzel Curry
evolved from a shadowy cult presence into a full-blown, game-ready voice. While hints of this direction were already present on
Nostalgic
-- a few subtly catchy hooks and a lyrical dexterity ahead of his peers --
presents
Curry
as a figure set to dominate his contemporaries with sheer skill and personality. Like
Vince Staples
and
Kendrick Lamar
, the Miami-based wordsmith is introspective and can be shockingly dark, with wordy bars compressed with lyrics that easily swerve from violent street-level snapshots to pop culture references aplenty. Take the autobiographical whirlwind "Story: No Title" for example: the mid-album highlight contains shout-outs to
Fugazi
, Kill Bill, Star Wars, Bebe's Kids, and Spongebob, woven through grim ruminations on gun violence and desperation. With his breathless delivery, it can be exhausting, but in an exciting, thrilling way. Some of the best hooks appear out of thin air, bubbling up unexpectedly between aggressive verses and latching onto listeners long after the song has ended (like "Sick & Tired" and the
Rick Ross
joint "Knotty Head"). "ULT" -- a reworking of his 2013 track "Ultimate" -- contains a hypnotic, anthemic chorus that kicks
to life, bleeding into the popping "Gook." The complicated title is, according to
, Miami slang for "odd" or "not with in crowd," establishing his self-proclaimed position as an outlier and misfit. Considering the state of popular rap at the time of the album's release,
's focus on storytelling and clever lyrical wordplay indeed sets him apart from a pack more concerned with onomatopoeia and exclamations. Further distinguishing himself from peers,
also pays respect to his forefathers and hip-hop history, dropping a trio of stylistic throwbacks to close
. Going toe to toe with
Joey Bada$$
on "Zenith,"
channels the spirit of the golden era with dense verbal volleys and some old-fashioned turntable scratching. "Good Night," featuring frequent collaborator
Twelve'len
on the bridge and a star turn from rapper
Nell
, invokes early-era
Kanye
production with the uplifting spirit of
Kendrick
's "Alright." On an album that lurks mostly in the shadows, it's a clear standout. Taut and perfectly paced at ten snapshots,
is a promising and early triumph for
, whose versatility and talent have produced one of the best rap albums of 2017. ~ Neil Z. Yeung