An Overanalysis by T-Rod
Hometown bias is a real thing. I’ll swear up and down to any rap purist that Rick Ross’s catalogue is elite, even when there’s a lot of filler in there. I’ll promise that the Miami Heat are the team to beat, even when I curse half the organization on a road loss. We’re all shaped by what we knew growing up, and that bias infects a lot of our favorite musicians, including Florida MC Denzel Curry. While the Southern hip-hop bias Curry has is blatant on King of the Mischievous South Vol 2., and while I am biased about Curry because of him coming from my home, I can say that without bias Curry is doing this rap stuff better than damn near everyone.
Once again, Curry shows he’s a King of the South and a King of Consistency.
Looking at KotMS Vol. 2’s tracklist, its pretty clear that Curry is toning down the conceptuality and headiness displayed by 2022’s brilliant Melt My Eyez, See Your Future. He’s going much more blunt, back to his roots…maybe even further back. The album features interludes hosted by Memphis legend Kingpin Skinnypimp, there are 808s on songs like “Black Flag Freestyle” that would fit in on a Three 6 Mafia tape, there’s features from Southern veterans and torchbearers like Juicy J, Project Pat, 2 Chains, Maxo Kream, even Ski Mask the Slump God. It’s clear that even on back-to-basic projects Curry will go the extra mile to make that project stick to its mission statement.
That mission statement here? Give nothing but raw, concise bangers with great beats, great verses, and enough energy to power a block.
Right out the gate, Curry begins delivering highlights. “Ultra Shxt” feels like a mix of the psychedelic stuff he did on his last LP, but dirtied up for a trunk knocking Southern banger. That blend of dirty South and modern production tone peaks on the insane “Sked,” a song that blends the fuzzy bass of Florida rap with verses that seem to pay homage to the legendary Project Pat, who kills it on the backend. The aforementioned rap veterans on this record are in peak form, with Juicy J in particular shining on the shimmering womanizer’s anthem “Cole Pimp.” Curry holds his own on this, as well as other melodic tracks here, delivering variety amidst the ragers for a nice tracklist flow.
But how does Curry keep things interesting himself? I think Curry’s core appeal for hip-hop heads is his ability to give quality that clicks. By this, I mean he’s extremely clever and potent as a songwriter without having to let the rhymes simmer for a while. His hooks are always popping, making songs like “G’z Up” and “Set It” quickly infect your brain; his punchlines are just as memorable, with his “Last Supper” and “cockatoo” lines in particular on the project making me wince and/or laugh on first impact. There’s value in lyrics that you have to peel back, but there’s just as much value in blunt greatness.
Combine his writing with great flows, complimentary verses that are usually decent to great, and a robust tracklist…and you have both an effective homage to Southern rap classics as well as a simply great rap project.
I got nothing else to say other than this: Curry is a national treasure that needs to be protected at all costs!
Best Tracks: “Ultra Shxt,” “Set It,” “Hot One,” “Black Flag Freestyle,” “G’z Up,” “Sked,” “Cole Pimp,” “Hit the Floor,” “Hoodlumz”
Bonus Thoughts:
- I guess I almost listed almost every song as a Best Track, but like I said this album (mixtape?) is very very consistent
- I think a lot of people downplay the projects Curry puts out in between his “major” studio albums but he records like this and Zuu have as much value as an Imperial, Taboo or Melt My Eyez
- I wish I could have gone more into how old Memphis acts have a clear influence on some of Curry’s earlier music and especially Taboo, but that’s a whole other rabbithole. Please listen to Mystic Stylez if you want to be a true blue hip-hop head
- Other great features here: 2 Chainz, That Mexican OT, Kenny Mason, ASAP Ferg, even ASAP Rocky!
- More to come writing wise lol, see y’all
