Carol City rapper Denzel Curry has dropped his new album Melt My Eyez See Your Future. HipHopDX breaks down Denzel Curry Melt My Eyez See Your Future.
Like all of history’s great art, Denzel Curry’s latest album, Melt My Eyez See Your Future, was inspired by the second season finale of The Mandalorian. Its originator, Curry, the 27-year-old anti-commercialist, stated the appearance of Luke Skywalker (sorry to anyone still working their way through it) inspired him to become the one rapper “with a green lightsaber.” For those unfamiliar with Star Wars canon, green lightsabers are traditionally wielded by Jedi with friendly, helpful and cooperative attitudes.
But Curry strays far from these heroic values, opting instead to play the gritty anti hero that rap deserves. He took on this role beginning in 2018 with TA13OO, a dark and introspective record where Curry opted for ambition over mastery.
Review: Denzel Curry Embraces Miami To The Fullest On "ZUU"
His blow-up came from tying anime and pop culture references to mosh pit ready anthems such as “Ultimate,” a track that gets crowds going without sacrificing a catchy hook. Since then, every album of his has been a different theme and sound, becoming a sonic chameleon.
Melt My Eyez follows this pattern by featuring Curry on jazz rap and boom bap production, a move he dabbled with on his last project Unlocked. He dials down the metal and screamo influence to a cold whisper, similar to Vince Staples self-titled but not as dead eyed and nihilistic. It’s an interesting step for Curry that shows his versatility but also mutes some of his greatest gifts. But the other tools in Curry’s kit, like pop culture references, concise introspection, social commentary, elaborate boasts and imaginative one liners, are strong enough to support the album.
This album features dozens of memorable verses, choruses and beats. But unfortunately, they don’t often coexist. One example of Curry firing on all three cylinders at the same time is the fantastic “X-Wing.” The stream of consciousness lyrics and precise delivery on the verses showcase melodic brilliance, the beat sounds like Gunna’s best instrumental got a PhD and the chorus is entrancing, leading to another technically sound and intellectually stimulating verse from Curry. “We was out dodgin’ bullets and cameras/When you broke, n-ggas won’t throw slander/Get money, now your ass can’t stand us.”
“Worst Comes To Worst” has a beat that would make the Reverend from Footloose pistol whip a senator and dance over his unconscious body. Curry’s verses are exceptional as he opens up about his paranoia from seeing his friends die young: “But to stay at home, examine yourself, there’s low voices/Gettin’ higher as the fire ignites the end of the blunt/Wonderin’ am I gon’ make it to see the end of the month?” “Troubles” features one of T-Pain’s best features of the last decade, and a sunny, warbling beat listeners could get lost in. Rico Nasty, JID and Curry unleash lyrical cataclysms on “Ain’t No Way,” tactically laying down their verses like a Hip Hop Cerberus.
But some songs have more copper than others. “John Wayne,” with its monotone, aggravating chorus and headache-inducing beat, is one of the worst tracks on the project. “Zatoichi” has more energy than substance, and is overall disappointing for a Denzel Curry/slowthai collab. The intro, “Melt Session #1” is sonically uninteresting, despite setting the tone for the inner self reflection of the album.
Melt My Eyez feels like Curry being true to himself, making an album for him and no one else. It’s not an ambitious but heavy-handed declaration of truth (TA13OO), nor is it an all-encompassing love letter to his home state (ZUU). It’s just a rap album, albeit a very good one, and it shows just how dynamic and forceful Denzel Curry can be when he releases himself from the poisonous burden of perfection.
I read somewhere that the final ratings here are always a consent decision. Everybody has a different taste and in the end numbers are just numbers. Sometimes I still feel like if albums like this one can’t even pass the 4 point mark, there should be a lot more albums with only 1 or 2 points. Not everything is for everybody but there is a lot of plain and uninspired stuff that gets the same amount of points. Iam not really mad, but I feel like that is often the problem with 5 point systems. People are kinda scared to give 1 and 2s cause it seems disrespectful from bigger platforms like this.
Anyway, it could also be that my taste is just totally different. Iam kinda happy that there are still younger cats like Denzel that I still can enjoy. Most of that mainstream stuff today isn’t my cup of tea.
This is a really good point and thoughtful critique of the rating system. So 1s would just never happen because that’s struggle rapper territory. 2s we’ve been giving out more. The key was we noticed too many albums were getting the 3.6-3.8 range last year, so we wanted to be a little harsher. We also want the 4 threshold to mean more. a 5 is so rare, we barely get to pass the 4.5 bar either, so making the 4.0 harder to hit gives it more meaning. Some of the stuff that gets those points crosses because it’s innovating in a sub genre or has some significant importance that pushes it further. the rating scale is always tricky, but i understand the importance. Anyway, definitely check out some of our 4.0s. Highest grade this year so far is Fly Anakin’s Frank, a really great album. Thanks for this! Got me thinking
Well there you go Fly Anakin was a nice album and deserves the credit. But its definitely not better than this Denzel Curry album. A 5 point rating system works, but u will have to create equal criteria per point. If not it all the different ratings will become confusing and will lose value if u ask me
People need to realise that the album rating belongs to the reviewer. A reviewer should never back down from a score he gave – he has a ton of text in the essay to back it up and unless it does not fall apart it is all good. If someone wants to rate Anakin higher than Denzel album it is his opinion and I love it. Only thing that is ducked up is paid reviews and do not think this sh does happen here… as for the ratings they always spark controversy – but a good traffic as well so it is all good for the site. Denzel album dope btw
I can say this with 100% honesty. We are NEVER paid to review albums or give albums desired scores.
Too many albums were getting 3.6-3.8 because you guys aren’t harsh enough on the trash nor generous enough with your praise. Plus the music doesn’t get judged as much as the politics behind it sometimes. When wanting more female features (which was a comment that was actually made last year) is a critique of an album then I can’t take you guys seriously. I read many glowing reviews that ended in like 3.8, I read many scathing reviews that also got a similar score.
Don’t agree with the politics thing but to each their own. If you can find the review that mentioned the lack of female features I would be interested in seeing the context around it. Thanks
meh
dope album
I still believe UNLOCKED is denzels best work but i like this album. Zuu was better than this one though
Album of the year
Album of the year very good