Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Language available : english
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 -- Imperial 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 Imperial to life, bleeding into the popping "Gook." The complicated title is, according to Curry, 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, Curry'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, Curry also pays respect to his forefathers and hip-hop history, dropping a trio of stylistic throwbacks to close Imperial. Going toe to toe with Joey Bada$$ on "Zenith," Curry 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, Imperial is a promising and early triumph for Curry, whose versatility and talent have produced one of the best rap albums of 2017.
© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 13,50€/month
Michael Mule, ComposerLyricist - Isaac DeBoni, ComposerLyricist - FNZ, Producer, Recording Producer - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Nick Leon, Producer, Recording Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ronny J, Producer, Recording Producer - Ronald Spence Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Michael Mule, ComposerLyricist - Isaac DeBoni, ComposerLyricist - FNZ, Producer, Recording Producer - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ronny J, Producer, Recording Producer - Ronald Spence Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lino Martinez, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Michael Mule, ComposerLyricist - Isaac DeBoni, ComposerLyricist - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ronny J, Producer, Recording Producer - Ronald Spence Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Rick Ross, FeaturedArtist - William Leonard Roberts II, ComposerLyricist - Michael Mule, ComposerLyricist - Isaac DeBoni, ComposerLyricist - FNZ, Producer, Recording Producer - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ronny J, Producer, Recording Producer - Ronald Spence Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Frank Dukes, Producer, Recording Producer - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Adam Feeney, ComposerLyricist - BloodPop®, Producer, Recording Producer - Dahi, Producer, Recording Producer
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Promnite, Producer, Recording Producer - Paul Sledge, ComposerLyricist - Lino Martinez, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Michael Mule, ComposerLyricist - Isaac DeBoni, ComposerLyricist - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ronny J, Producer, Recording Producer - Ronald Spence Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Freebase, Producer, Recording Producer - Michael Mule, ComposerLyricist - Isaac DeBoni, ComposerLyricist - Joey Bada$$, Producer, Recording Producer, FeaturedArtist - FNZ, Producer, Recording Producer - Jo-Vaughn Virginie, ComposerLyricist - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ronny J, Producer, Recording Producer - Ronald Spence Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Nell, FeaturedArtist - Isaac DeBoni, ComposerLyricist - FNZ, Producer, Recording Producer - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Twelve'len, FeaturedArtist - Lavares Joseph, ComposerLyricist - Darnell Butler, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Steve Lacy, Producer, Recording Producer, ComposerLyricist - Denzel Curry, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Twelve'len, FeaturedArtist - Lavares Joseph, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Albumbeschreibung
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 -- Imperial 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 Imperial to life, bleeding into the popping "Gook." The complicated title is, according to Curry, 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, Curry'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, Curry also pays respect to his forefathers and hip-hop history, dropping a trio of stylistic throwbacks to close Imperial. Going toe to toe with Joey Bada$$ on "Zenith," Curry 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, Imperial is a promising and early triumph for Curry, whose versatility and talent have produced one of the best rap albums of 2017.
© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:48
- Main artists: Denzel Curry
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Loma Vista
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2016 PH Recordings, LLC. ℗ 2016 PH Recordings, LLC.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.