Denzel Curry is a 23 year old rapper from Carol City, Florida who has recently emerged as one of the underground’s most vibrant young talents–and one of its best candidates for breakthrough success in the mainstream. Unlike other artists who are fixated on the morbid, Curry’s music isn’t sprawling or indulgent, trite or aphoristic. Instead, his acute sense for the less savory parts of his life has manifested in hip-hop that’s laser-focused, that sounds steeped in the headier approaches of the genre’s greatest technicians yet remains distinctly Southern.

Denzel continues to impress and is only gaining more recognition after the critical and commercial success of 2018’s TA13OO. With the release of TA13OO, Denzel appeared on Billboard’s Emerging Artists Top 10 at #7, debuted on the Rap Chart at #6, and debuted at #28 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. The album includes critically-acclaimed singles “Clout Cobain,” “Black Balloons,” and “Sumo” and has received the highest praise from publications including Billboard, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and Stereogum.

Across TA13OO’s three acts, Denzel explores topics including the presidential election, fame, hatred, paranoia, revenge, love, the current state of music, and personal tales of his own near-death experiences. Sonically, the album ranges just as widely as its subject matter – sounds of paranoia, fear of loss, brooding melancholy and mood swings straight from hell all find their way onto TA13OO, making this Denzel’s most groundbreaking musical performance to date.

Allan Kingdom’s melodic impulses have had as much permanence as his childhood hometown — none. The 20-year-old has drifted from his frigid birthplace of Canada, through dusty winds in Wisconsin, to ultimately touching down in St. Paul, Minnesota. At his disposal are a wealth of influences and cultures intertwined in his music, resulting in a distinctive catalog off which Kingdom has launched an absorbing career to date. The records are ultra-personal while acutely life affirming, both understated and glamorous, all as though crafted in the evergreens but destined for stadiums.

At just 17, the half-Tanzanian, half-South African’s musicianship won him the attention of Plain Pat and Jon Kaslow, two industry veterans that are no strangers to developing young talents into future stars. That dual cosign has shifted the direction of Kingdom’s career; three years later and he’s been stamped by The Weeknd’s producer Doc McKinney, Kanye West’s close associate Virgil Abloh, and is also a member of thestand4rd — an intriguing Minnesota clique outfitted by exceptional outsiders Spooky Black, Psymun and Bobby Raps.

Prior to his fusion with the other misfit super-talents, Kingdom initially surfaced during the summer of 2013, after releasing the dazzling, original, and impossibly vulnerable Talk To Strangers. He produced, wrote, and recorded the entire project in his bedroom, an intimidating factoid that left early adopters gushing over his daunting potential.

In the one-year gap between that tape and his follow-up EP, Future Memoirs, Kingdom has seen local success by capturing the cover of Vita.mn, being named ‘Best Hip Hop Artist of 2014’ by City Pages, emerging in front of a massive crowd at Minneapolis’ Soundset Festival, and frequenting performances at legendary local venue, First Ave. He’s also glimmered on a national spotlight, appearing on Complex’s Top 25 Rappers To Watch In 2014 list, and receiving consistent praise from both Pigeons and Planes and FADER.

In short, Allan Kingdom is an enterprising jolt of energy and gusto, a skilled pioneer for the exhilarating new pack of talented youngsters. He’s cosigned by many, and chosen by a reputable few, but most critically, hell-bent on upgrading not just his own life with the music makes, but yours too.

Fang Life + C9 recording artist