Welcome to the ZUU.
“Real-ass n***a from the 3-0-5,” raps Denzel, his cadence playful, on ZUU banger “Carolmart.” “I was raised f Trina, Trick, Rick, and Plies.” An unlikely quartet if one were to genealogically trace the DNA his existing repertoire, but a logical one should geography be the sole metric. Given that Denzel has grown into a leader the new school, it’s interesting to hear him wax poetic on his formative days as a Florida youth. In fact, the open love letter to Carol City makes for ZUU’s main thematic anchor. An expat sorts, having left his home city (he’s discussed his reasoning at length) to relocate to California, Denzel’s homesickness has come to manifest itself in a variety unpredictable and exciting ways. Those expecting a retread familiar ground – IE: ad-infinitum “Ultimate” clones – may find themselves lost amidst Denzel’s wade through the tide. Yet mourn not for the bangers lost, but rather celebrate for a refreshing and t-unseen sense creative agency.
Spontaneity, or the death overthought, permeates ZUU in a tangible sense. Though deeply conceptual, there doesn’t appear to be the additional baggage a deeper narrative thread or any overarching lyrical themes. Instead, the concept manifests itself through production, handled primarily by Finatik N Zac, down to the chosen instrumental elements. Miami Bass remains a dominant throughline, particularly on songs like “Shake 88” and “Carolmart,” an aesthetic Denzel has seldom explored. For that reason, ZUU’s selection instrumentals feel like a statement unto itself, an aberration that might have been strange were Denzel’s confidence not so evident. Somehow it feels as if Denzel is navigating familiar territory, despite having never explored such a stylistic direction.
ZUU’s organic nature is mirrored by the spontaneous making- process, which found Denzel freestyling the majority the album, discovering the concept as it developed before his very eyes. Luckily, the absence a blueprint does little to dull Zel’s sharp lyricism, which displays nicely over signature bangers like “Ricky” and “Speedboat”; it’s no coincidence that both tracks were selected as the project’s lead singles. Yet even then, the elements ZUU’s baseline DNA are ever-present. Consider “Ricky’s” blistering bounce, which detes masterfully from the expected formula a paint-by-numbers trap single. Yet day one fans are still rewarded with clever Easter Eggs, such as this nod to “Parents:” “your mama ain’t shit, your daddy ain’t shit, and I been makin’ waves way before Nostalgic.” The worldbuilding continues throughout the Tay Keith produced “Automatic,” where Denzel’s fragmented memories are granted new life through the conviction with which they’re recounted.
Cue the opening chimes “Wish,” where listeners are subjected to the most evocative Floridian vicarious experience since loading up Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002. Even the mixing feels strategically aligned with the sound the eighties, a recognizable aesthetic to visitors who may have developed their own preconceived notions Florida’s cultural vibe. Yet for Denzel, our escapist fantasies are his reality. An approachable introductory sample proceeds to strike a welcoming tone, conjuring musical memories TA13OO’s “Cash Maniac,” as Denzel once again asserts himself as a savvy scribe for melody. Little details like the infectious chorus signify Denzel’s artistic growth, albeit in a subtle fashion; his penchant for crafting bangers is well documented, his restraint less so. Inserting regional slang like “woadie” only enhances the sense conceptual immersion without deting into heavy-handedness.
Between the cavalcade Floridian staples – from Big Rick Rozay to Sam Sneak – to the minimalist yet image-laden album cover, ZUU feels like the wisest sort statement. Unfettered by rhetorical wizardry, given credibility through personal experience well-lived. Those who proudly lay claim to Miami, or even the greater Florida landscape, may feel a sense kinship upon hearing this album, while those unfamiliar can take solace in a priceless comfort: this narrator is light years from unreliable.
Read an exclusive interview with Denzel Curry about creating ZUU right HERE.