Denzel Curry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Denzel Curry
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Curry on the set of his Walkin video in 2022
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| Birth name | Denzel Rae Don Curry |
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| Born | February 16, 1995 Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2011–present |
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Denzel Rae Don Curry (born February 16, 1995) is an American rapper. He grew up in Miami Gardens, Florida. Denzel started rapping when he was in sixth grade. In 2011, he began working on his first mixtape, King Remembered Underground Tape 1991–1995. This mixtape was inspired by another Florida rapper, SpaceGhostPurrp.
SpaceGhostPurrp shared Denzel's mixtape on social media. This helped Denzel get noticed in the local music scene. He then joined SpaceGhostPurrp's hip-hop group, Raider Klan. Denzel left Raider Klan in 2013. That same year, while still in high school, he released his first studio album, Nostalgic 64.
Since then, Denzel has released several music projects. These include three extended plays (EPs): 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms (2015), 13 (2017), and Unlocked (2020), which was a team-up with Kenny Beats. He has also released five studio albums: Imperial (2016), Ta13oo (2018), Zuu (2019), Melt My Eyez See Your Future (2022), and King of the Mischievous South, Vol. 2 (2024). His albums Ta13oo, Zuu, and Melt My Eyez have all appeared on the Billboard 200 chart.
Denzel Curry's music has received great reviews. People often praise his strong rapping style, high-energy performances, clever lyrics, and ability to try different sounds. He is also known as one of the first artists in the SoundCloud rap style.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Where Did Denzel Curry Grow Up?
Denzel Rae Don Curry was born on February 16, 1995. He grew up in the Carol City area of Miami Gardens, Florida. From a young age, Denzel was interested in being an artist. He started writing poetry in elementary school.
How Did Denzel Curry Start Rapping?
Denzel began rapping when he was in sixth grade. He spent time at a local Boys & Girls Clubs of America center. There, he would challenge other kids to rap battles. He attended Miami's Design and Architecture High School for two years. Later, he went to Miami Carol City Senior High School. While still in school, he started working on his first album, Nostalgic 64.
Denzel Curry's Music Journey
2011–2012: Starting His Career
On September 24, 2011, Denzel Curry released his first mixtape. It was called King Remembered Underground Tape 1991–1995. Another rapper, SpaceGhostPurrp, shared Denzel's project. This helped Denzel's music career take off. After this, Denzel joined SpaceGhostPurrp's hip-hop group, Raider Klan.
In 2012, Denzel released his second mixtape. It was titled King of the Mischievous South Vol. 1 Underground Tape 1996. This mixtape caught the attention of other famous rappers, like Earl Sweatshirt. Denzel's third mixtape was called Strictly for My R.V.I.D.X.R.Z.. It was released after the death of Trayvon Martin, who lived in the same area as Denzel. The style of this mixtape was inspired by Tupac Shakur.
In late 2012, Denzel met his manager, Mark Maturah. With Mark's help, Denzel released his first single, "Dark & Violent," on SoundCloud.
2013–2014: Nostalgic 64 Album
The group Raider Klan eventually broke up. Denzel then decided to focus on his solo rap career. On September 3, 2013, he released his first full album, Nostalgic 64. This album featured other artists like JK the Reaper and Lil Ugly Mane. Denzel has said that the album's cover was inspired by Outkast's album, Aquemini. He also found inspiration from Goodie Mob and CeeLo Green.
2015–2016: 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms and Imperial
On June 9, 2015, Denzel released his first double EP, 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms. This project included his very popular song "Ultimate". The song became a huge hit online. It has been streamed over 200 million times on Spotify. Its music video has over 65 million views on YouTube.
His second full album, Imperial, came out on March 9, 2016. It was later re-released on Spotify with extra tracks. In June 2016, Denzel was featured in XXL magazine. He was part of their "2016 Freshmen Class," which highlights new artists. He performed a rap alongside other rising stars like Lil Uzi Vert and Kodak Black. This performance has been viewed over 221 million times on YouTube.
2017–2018: 13 and Ta13oo Albums
In 2017, Denzel released an EP called 13 on June 25. This EP included demo versions of songs. It also had two new tracks. Later that year, a new version of 32 Zel was released. It featured a remix of "Ultimate" with Juicy J.
Denzel often mentioned his third studio album, Ta13oo. The 13 EP was like a preview for Ta13oo. On April 2, 2018, Denzel released the first song from Ta13oo, called "Sumo". He then released "Percs" on May 24, 2018. The third single, "Clout Cobain", came out on July 13, 2018. Denzel announced that Ta13oo would be released in three parts: Light (July 25), Gray (July 26), and Dark (July 27). These parts came together to form the full Ta13oo album.
2019–2021: Zuu, 13... In + 13... Out, and Unlocked
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On February 14, 2019, Denzel performed a cover of "Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against the Machine. He did this on an Australian radio station called Triple J. His performance was very popular.
On May 8, 2019, Denzel released "Ricky". This was his first single since Ta13oo. The song is named after his father and is inspired by him. On May 22, 2019, he released another single, "Speedboat". He also announced his next album, Zuu, which came out on May 31, 2019.
On July 15, 2019, Denzel appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He performed songs from his album Zuu. He also showed that he had cut his famous dreadlocks. In January 2020, Denzel released a project called 13... In + 13... Out. It featured other rappers like Ghostemane and ZillaKami.
On February 7, 2020, Denzel released Unlocked. This was an EP he made with Kenny Beats. An animated short film was released with the music. In August 2020, Denzel's song "Lemonade" was featured in the Madden NFL 21 video game. In March 2021, he released Unlocked 1.5. This was a remix album of his previous collaboration with Kenny Beats. It featured new music and artists.
Denzel also worked on the song "Dynasties and Dystopia". This song was part of the Netflix series Arcane.
2022–2023: Melt My Eyez See Your Future
On January 5, 2022, Denzel released a trailer for his fifth studio album. It was called Melt My Eyez See Your Future. The album featured artists like T-Pain, 6lack, and J.I.D. Denzel said this album would have a new, more grown-up sound. He explained that it included feelings he couldn't express in earlier albums. He said it was inspired by traditional hip-hop, drum and bass, trap, poetry, and jazz.
On January 24, a single called "Walkin" was released. It came with a music video inspired by Western movies. A tour for the album was also announced. On February 24, Denzel released another single, "Zatoichi," featuring Slowthai. The album Melt My Eyez See Your Future was released on March 25, 2022. It appeared on the Billboard 200 chart.
Denzel recorded a song called "1st Quarter" with rapper Reason. This song was for Apple Music's "Juneteenth 2022: Freedom Songs" collection. Denzel's song "Let It All Hang Out" was included in the movie Elvis. On June 24, 2022, a song called "Talk About Me" was released. It was a collaboration with Dot da Genius, JID, and Kid Cudi.
On June 29, 2022, Denzel performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. On September 30, 2022, he released Melt My Eyez See Your Future (The Extended Edition). This version had new takes on the songs with live instruments. On May 5, 2023, Denzel released Live At Electric Lady. This project featured new versions of his songs and a cover of Erykah Badu's "Didn't Cha Know".
2024–Present: King of the Mischievous South, Vol. 2
In May 2024, Denzel announced a new project. In June, he revealed it was called King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2. He also released the first song, "Hot One," featuring TiaCorine and ASAP Ferg. This album is a follow-up to his 2012 mixtape. It was released on July 19, 2024. Another song, "Black Flag Freestyle," was released on June 21, 2024.
On October 30, Denzel announced that the mixtape would be re-released as an album. It would be simply titled King of the Mischievous South. This new version would have five extra songs. He also released new singles, "Still in the Paint" and "Got Me Geeked". He plans to go on the Mischievous South Tour from February 2025 to July 2025.
Denzel Curry's Music Style
Denzel Curry's music is inspired by many things. These include anime, video games, and martial arts. Some musicians who have inspired him are MF Doom, André 3000, DMX, Kanye West, and Nirvana. He is also influenced by Southern hip hop music.
Denzel is known for his strong, powerful sound and honest lyrics. He is also praised for being able to try different music styles. He is seen as an artist who pushes the limits of hip hop music.
Personal Life
On February 27, 2014, Denzel's brother, Treon "Tree" Johnson, passed away. Denzel has spoken about his brother's death in interviews and in his music. He has also used his music to talk about important social issues.
In January 2021, Denzel found out he is related to rapper Smino. They share an uncle. In 2022, Denzel joined the Musicians For Palestine pledge. This meant he would not perform in certain areas. In November 2023, Denzel signed a letter asking for peace in the Middle East.
Discography
Studio albums
- Nostalgic 64 (2013)
- Imperial (2016)
- Ta13oo (2018)
- Zuu (2019)
- Melt My Eyez See Your Future (2022)
- King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 (2024)
Tours
Headlining Tours
- Bow Down Tour with Deniro Farrar (2014)
- 2055: The U.L.T Experience (2015)
- Black Metal Terrorist Tour with Boogie (2016)
- Ta13oo Tour (2018)
- Melt My Eyez Tour (2022)
- GreyDay (2024)
- Mischievous South Tour (2025)
Supporting Tours (selected)
- Joey Bada$$ – World Domination Tour (2015)
- Illegal Civilization – Illegal Civ Cinema Tour (2017)
- Run the Jewels – Run the World Tour (2017)
- A$AP Ferg – Mad Man Tour (2018)
- Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep Tour (2019)
- Kid Cudi – To The Moon Tour (2022)
- Deftones – EU/UK Tour 2026 (2026)
See also
In Spanish: Denzel Curry para niños
