JACQUES: Denzel Curry is back with his fourth studio album, 'ZUU.'
Coming in at barely 30 minutes, the entire project was freestyled because quote:
JACQUES: We reached out to the Genius community to help compile the best lyrics off of the
project beginning with the title track, “ZUU."
JACQUES: Here, Curry references Majin Buu from 'Dragon Ball Z,' one of his favorite shows.
DENZEL: I like 'Dragon Ball Z,' but who hasn’t grew up on 'Dragon Ball Z?'
JACQUES: Denzel is from Carol City, a neighborhood in Miami Florida, also home to rappers like
Rick Ross, Gunplay and Flo-Rida.
JACQUES: Curry also shouts out Dade County legend Trick Daddy and his song
"I'm A Thug,” while also referencing the THUG acronym popularized by 2Pac.
TUPAC: When I say, I live the thug life baby I’m hopeless.
One person might hear that and just like the way it sounds.
You know what I’m saying?
But I’m doing it for the kid that really lives a thug life and feels like it’s hopeless.
JACQUES: On “RICKY,” Denzel speaks on advice he’s received from his parents -
chief amongst not to fight with his brothers.
DENZEL: My dad and my mom they had a thing where like if we fighting people outside the
house cool as long as we win.
But once me or any of my brothers fight in the house it's already messing up the whole energy.
JACQUES: On the second verse of “RICKY,” Curry takes it back.
DENZEL: That’s a nod to parents.
‘Nolstagic64’ was the first tape and I had a song called “Parents” which your mom
ain't shit and your daddy ain't shit.
DENZEL: Back before ‘Nostalgia 64’ and what you get is three mixtapes back when I was
in Raider Klan.
Which was “King Remembered,” “King of the Mischievous South” and then “Strictly
For My Raiders” and then “Nostalgic” came.
It was a nod to the lo-fi era.
JACQUES: On the third track, “WISH,” Curry shouts out the late XXXTENTACION as well as
his brother Treon “Tree” Johnson, who was killed by police in 2014.
JACQUES: On t“BIRDZ,” Rick Ross chimes in with a nod to the late Nipsey Hussle.
JACQUES: On ‘AUTOMATIC,’ Denzel uses New York’s P. Diddy as a metaphor for his come
up while alluding to the feeling of knowing what it’s like to be on the outside looking in.
JACQUES: He shouts out his late brother Treon again, as well as Soulja Mook.
JACQUES: On “SPEEDBOAT,” Denzel slows it down for a more serious track, where he
once again discusses the death of his friend X, who was killed in June 2018 at only 20
years old.
DENZEL: X used to live with me.
I would always try to keep X out of trouble, that was my whole thing.
JACQUES: On “Bushy B Interlude,” Denzel takes some time to reflect on his come up
and those who doubted him.
JACQUES: “Carolmart” featuring Ice Billion Berg takes its title from a flea market in
Carol City - which is seen in the video for Rick Ross’ 2006 breakthrough track, “Hustlin.”
JACQUES: He begins his verse namedropping a number of Miami rap legends like the aforementioned
Trick Daddy, Trina, Plies, and Rick Ross.
JACQUES: He shouts out Miami Dade County, which he listed as a major influence on ‘ZUU,’
as well as his place in the South Florida rap scene, and completes the bar with a clever
reference to Mortal Kombat’s “Finish him.”
JACQUES: “BLACKLAND 66.6” is a radio interlude that pays homage to Raider Klan’s SpaceGhostPurrp.
DENZEL: Majority of the people that are big now used to listen to Raider Klan.
And were influenced by Raider Klan.
You can see it, it’s dominant in the rap game.
I get respect from a lot of rappers because I used to be in Raider Klan.
JACQUES: On ‘ZUU’s’ final track, “P.A.T.,” Denzel brings it back to how growing up in
Miami has affected him.
JACQUES: Denzel stated that while ‘ZUU’ is nothing like his previous albums, it still
exists in the same universe as his earlier work which makes this latest effort another
chapter in the story of Denzel Curry.
DENZEL: I had to work twice as hard for people to hear me.
So that’s when 'TABOO' came out and "CLOUT COBAIN" and people were like oh, he’s really
good!
Like no I been good y’all just thought I was trash.
JACQUES: What’s your favorite bar from ‘ZUU?’
Let us know in the comments below.
JACQUES: I’m Jacques Morel with Genius News bringing you the meaning and the knowledge
behind the music.
Peace!