Denzel Curry

ZUU

BY Joey ChiniPublished May 29, 2019

8
Denzel Curry showed up, just in time for summer, with his fourth full-length, ZUU. Less than a year after TA13OO, Curry is shaking off the dark themes that permeated his past work, and is now cooking with warm, upbeat sounds.
 
The angry and sometimes sombre outlook that Curry favoured in the past has taken a back seat to a fun, carefree record accented by exhilarating beats and wonderful flows. The bouncy, hard-hitting instrumentals on ZUU beg to be played loud, with the windows down, on a hot summer day. ZUU also contains one of the most genuinely funny skits since Earl Sweatshirt and ScHoolboy Q's appearances on the late Mac Miller's GO:OD AM.
 
Curry shows his range on this project, seamlessly transitioning from aggressive, in-your-face bangers to funky dance tracks, and it's paced like a John Wick movie — non-stop action. If TA13OO was an introspective look into Denzel's own ambivalent feelings toward the rap game and the darkness in the world, ZUU is an outward exploration of rap anthems, self-recognition and braggadocios excess.
 
Lyrically — despite sometimes perpetuating hip-hop clichés — Curry maintains his truthfulness and willingness to address the problems of the culture, all while playing with clever bars and meaningful sentiments. This is an album you're going to want to nod your head and dance to. Curry has come a long way since he blew up and has fully solidified his place in the game. If ZUU isn't in your rotation, you're sleeping.
(Loma Vista)

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