Denzel Curry Talks 'ZUU' & The Influence Of Odd Future | For The Record

Rob Markman: What's up, geniuses? Welcome back to For the Record. I'm your host, Rob Markman. Now, today's guest represents Carol City, Miami. He has one of the best albums released right now. His name is Zuu. It's an amazing body of work. Especially if you're a hip hop historian. Especially if you love southern music. Especially if you love Miami. He's also on tour with Billie Eilish right now and is currently coming to a city near you. Denzel Curry, man, welcome to For the Record, man. Denzel Curry: Yeah. Let's do this shit. Getting back to the real conversation, let's talk about these grills.

Rob Markman: Let's talk about these barbecues, so you asked me before the cameras started who I thought had the best barbecues in hip hop. And I said I was just a kid from New York City, RZA. Because RZA's joint had fangs when he was with Gravediggaz, that was super creative to me. Denzel Curry: Well, ODB had some tough grills. Denzel Curry: He had some tough grills. Paul Wall, of course. Rob Markman: Paul Wall, yes. Denzel Curry: Bun, I mean, not Bun B...fucking Big Pun had tough barbecue. Rob Markman: Absolutely. Denzel Curry: Who else, man? There were a lot of people having barbecues.

Rob Markman: You know, it's fun to see his resurgence. And we talked about this because you actually just pulled out your grills to do the interview. I say, "Fuck it." Denzel Curry: I just wanted to do it with my normal teeth. Rob Markman: Right. Rob Markman: No, man. That is drug. I was saying, man. He could be the next show host, the first show host to get some barbecue. Denzel Curry: Who, you? Rob Markman: Yes. Why not? Denzel Curry: You should. Why not? Rob Markman: Next episode. Denzel Curry: You should get diamond cuts and stuff. That shit would seem crazy.

Rob Markman: Hey, Rahel, can we spend that? Alright. Cool. We'll put it in the Genius budget, man. What's wrong with you, brother? Denzel Curry: Shit, I'm just on tour. It's like... just a normal job, like doing press and stuff. I'll keep that funk with you and, you know, just run regularly. Rob Markman: I'm just working. Rob Markman: Man, the last time I saw you I was in Miami, it was real... for a brief second, you were doing the show with the Flatbush Zombies. Denzel Curry: Yeah. Rob Markman: Redbull, I think, put it on. And you were all performing in wrestling... it was a loud clash in the wrestling ring.

Rob Markman: And I stopped you to drink... that was the most creative thing... I've been to a million shows in my life. That was one of the most creative things I've ever seen in my life. Rob Markman: I'm not even a wrestling fan. And the energy that was there was incomparable. Where did you get that idea, man? Denzel Curry: Originally, I came up with this idea because in South Florida and shit, we all have animosity toward each other or whatever the case may be. And it could be for something insignificant or whatever. Do you feel Me?

Denzel Curry: When everyone was getting pretty cool with each other, but a little weird with each other, I thought, I directed it at Pouya, I directed it at Banks, I directed it at a lot of these guys, like, West. Side Plague, all these guys. And I was like, "Hey, what if we make a show where we all go against each other and we do it every week? And they make us say one week it's going to be like, C-9, when it was C-9, C -9 vs. SS and then you'd have SS go against Buffet Boys and then we'll bring in West Side whoever stays in West Side Plague or whatever will go against either C- or SS or Buffet Boys and then we'll alternate. so to build a community around that.

Denzel Curry: And everyone agreed. Do not misunderstand. Everyone agreed. And this was four or five years ago, when I pitched the idea to them in the first place. And then it never failed. It never failed, so I was like, "Okay. I'm going to put this on the back burner. And when the time comes, I'll do this shit." Denzel Curry: So Lily, who stays in Miami. She is a friend of hers and works for Redbull, they approached her for some ideas on how to do what I wanted to do. The typical rapper would be like, "Hey, yeah.

I'll throw a party. I'll throw a show, whatever." Yeah, she wanted to do a show, but as soon as she said Redbull is willing to support whatever you want to do, that's when he knew. Rob Markman: The wrestling match Denzel Curry: It's about time. Rob Markman: That was great. He was a foolish man. And really man, you worked on that stage, not just rapping. And you're rapping over the instrumental, it's not... you're not rapping over a full track, you're rapping, you're bouncing around the stage, running between the ropes and doing all that stuff. You put a lot of energy into your show.

Rob Markman: And now you're also on tour with Billie Eilish. I read somewhere... I read in the Fader article that you said this is your first time using in-ear headphones. Denzel Curry: Yeah. The first time I used in-ear headphones because I was never in stadiums or big shows like that. Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: I was used to...hole-in-the-wall clubs or these kind of big places, but I wasn't used to stadiums. And sand music. It opened my eyes to a completely different ball game. It was like when Kanye West went on tour with U2 and stuff.

And he never made sands. It was like this. That opened my eyes, like, "Damn. I could be doing so much more than what I'm doing right now." Rob Markman: Right. That is drug. And you're doing a lot now. Because it's funny, I was on Rolling Loud and a lot of people who watch the show know that I make music too. I actually performed at Rolling Loud Denzel Curry: Did you perform at Rolling Loud? Rob Markman: Absolutely played on Rolling Loud. And I'm here rapping over instruments and you see a variety of things on Rolling Loud. You see everything from the fireworks that Travis Scott does...

Denzel Curry: Yeah. Rob Markman: For people who just throw in a full court. And just doing... they just doing improvisations. Denzel Curry: Yeah. That's it. Rob Markman: There are a variety of different performances. And then when I see someone really, really, really act... it's a thank you. You know what I'm talking? I think it's a lost art, man. I think you definitely represent that. Denzel Curry: I mean, I've been to a lot of shows, man. And I know what I want to do. And I see certain problems with certain people's sets and I don't say anything because if they say they're going to get money... they think, "Okay, I'm just going to perform in front of these people, get this money, go out and go get more." money, just doing my thing.

I don't really have to act when people already know who you are." Denzel Curry: I always feel like I have something to prove to everyone, whether it's my manager, my brothers, my parents, the art school, my fans who don't believe me and then people who do believe me. I always have something to prove. Denzel Curry: Even when it comes to the tours that I do, I look at the rooms and think, "Someday I'll do this room by myself." Do you feel Me? And that will be the driving force. So, that's what made me act more and more and keep acting and doing my thing because I want to do it.

I want those night shifts, you know what I'm saying? Denzel Curry: I want to be... people say, "Damn, that would be appropriate to go see Denzel Curry's set." They already that. Rob Markman: They do that. Denzel Curry: They do that. And there are many of them. And it will be day. But I want that night time. Denzel Curry: Do you feel me? I want those sands. I want to be able to do all those things. Know? Rob Markman: It's you trying hard every night. That is drug. Rob Markman: I want to talk about the music, man.

When we first met, you came to Genius to do Verified for Ultimate. Rob Markman: That was a great song for you. And it's just gotten bigger, just the growth from there, man. When you released Taboo, just conceptually, I thought it was a cool, amazing album. I have to say, I've always said that I'll tell you that Clout Cobain, to me, is one of the most thoughtful comments on where we are today with music. Rob Markman: And the artist's relationship with fans, drugs, depression, mental health, all rolled into one. I think the way you did it, especially with the video, was super creative.

And important. People needed to see that. Denzel Curry: Of course they needed to see it. Everyone just taught, like, “Oh man…” when Perks came out because Perks literally has the same message as the Clout Cobain video, except it was harder… Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: ...in the ears. And then, you look at Clout Cobain. It was more melodic. And people were not prepared for that. They weren't ready to see that side of Denzel yet. Denzel Curry: I mean, of course you saw him on This Life on certain tracks that I ULT when he sings on the hook.

But they weren't ready for a complete melodic song with a message. And then that comment from that time he was in, it was real because I'm seeing everything that happened now. Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: With 6ix9ine locked up and certain rappers dying. And everyone doesn't care. Until they die. I literally thought, "Okay, I'll put this into perspective and show everyone what's going to happen." That's literally what happened. Denzel Curry: And then, I'm here as soon as everything started happening, I look at everyone like, "I told everyone." Rob Markman: Right. The writing is on the wall.

Denzel Curry: I told you this was going to happen. Rob Markman: Do you think anything has changed? Or do you think it's... Denzel Curry: I feel like it's fading. Rob Markman: Okay. Denzel Curry: You could say he's fading. I think after Nipsey passed away, a lot of that Clout shit just died down like no one cared. Rob Markman: Right. I hope so man. Wait. Rob Markman: Because then it means you didn't die in vain. That we didn't lose guys like Nipsey or people like Mac Miller or even X in vain if we learn from it? You know what I'm talking?

If we start making the same mistakes again, it's like, what are we all doing? Denzel Curry: History will continue to repeat itself, we will have another person like that. Rob Markman: Absolutely. Denzel Curry: And it's crazy that it keeps happening like this. It's going to leak. But what he was saying is that at that moment I thought, "Look, this is what's going to happen." And then when X died, X died after the video was made. Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: So, we released the video after X died because they were like, "Hey, do you want to delay it?

Do you want to delay the video?" I was like, "No. Because my friend just died. Now you all really have to watch this shit." Because you guys don't know what's happening. Denzel Curry: And then with the whole 6ix9ine situation. And then, everyone saw it coming. They were just entertaining him, like... Rob Markman: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Denzel Curry: You know? Rob Markman: It was for likes. My life, your entertainment. Rob Markman: You know what I'm saying, someone famous had said, "I want to talk about Zuu now because I think Zuu has a different feel to it.

I don't think it's any less important. I think it's fun." album Denzel Curry: Yeah. That's what it's supposed to be. Rob Markman: But also... it's almost like a history lesson, man, and I always talk about this generational divide, right. in hip hop. I think older leaders want respect from the younger generation and the younger generation says, "Hey, we're here now." I'm not going to sit here and let them talk down to us. We're showing up right now." And a lot of times, they don't talk to each other. And there's a divide. Denzel Curry: I feel like...

Rob Markman: You know what I'm saying? For those who don't, I don't get it Denzel Curry: Although I feel like there's always been that divide Rob Markman: Mm-hmm (affirmative) Denzel Curry: From the '80s to the '90s to the '90s to the '00s to '00s to '10. and then from the '10s to the '20s, though. there will always be that division. Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: I mean, in the past, the old people didn't think that there were other people in that. You know? The younger generation, the older generation, you know? people Tupac and Biggie back then.

They probably didn't like that shit, but they probably fucked up. I don't think they were that vocal. I think... I look at someone like Nas or something, right? changed hip hop when it came out or even Wu Tang before that, in the 80s, maybe it was Melle Mel and Run DMC. They sounded very different. If you listen to it now, it sounds like an older style of music. But the artists back then weren't coming out and... Rob Markman: Yeah. They might think so, but it would still be a certain level of respect. I think they shoot you on both sides of the road now.

Denzel Curry: Yeah. Because it's like, "What are you doing? We built all this just so you guys are like, 'Ha, this that, and let's not worry about the art.'" Denzel Curry: I think the divide actually comes down to art. Denzel Curry: I feel like the old bosses don't feel like the younger generation doesn't appreciate them and the art they offer them to grow. And the younger generation feels that the old bosses just hate them. Rob Markman: Badmouth them every chance you get. Denzel Curry: Every chance they get. Rob Markman: Yeah. Denzel Curry: It's like knowing when to give advice and when to follow it.

Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry:with the pretty colors, the good women, you know? Bikinis and all that shit. Denzel Curry: And you have the ratchet side, which is the side we come from. Rob Markman: Right. No, it was the fool. I remember seeing Plies perform. And maybe it was in Tampa, which is near his hometown of Fort Meyers. The line circled the block four times. It was something I had never seen. This was during the first three albums. The hype of its commercial success. Denzel Curry: Whacked is also one of my favorite songs, by Plies. I am not going to lie.

Rob Markman: No. It's amazing... it was great to see. Because I don't really see him getting yelled at a lot, so for you to recognize him, I thought it was cool. Rob Markman: Let's talk about Shake 88. Sam Sneak is on that, right? That definitely sounds like a Miami... Denzel Curry: It is. Rob Markman: ...joint. Denzel Curry: I needed help with that though. In that case you might say, "Okay. The whole album is freestyle, but maybe I'm exaggerating it a little." That one was actually written. I couldn't... I needed help with that. Rob Markman: With... you said Twelve'Len Denzel Curry: Twelve'Len Rob Markman: And my friend Tate Kobang Denzel Curry: And Tate Kobang, yeah.

Rob Markman: That's my guy. Denzel Curry: Because they both understand the dynamics of strip clubs and stuff like that, so of course I needed help. I don't go to strip clubs. Rob Markman: So how do they help? Can you paint the picture for me? Denzel Curry: We were coming up with flows. And then we were all thinking about what to write in those bars, when we came up with the flows. And someone would have a suggestion, I would have a suggestion or they would have a suggestion. And we wanted to get to a point where it's not... where we talk about that shit, but we're still calm, you know what I mean?

Rob Markman: Mm-hmm Denzel Curry: And it was taking all those things into account. And then, you know, the part where I said, "Here's something about a bitch like me." Rob Markman: Me. Yes. Denzel Curry: Rule number one, don't touch me... I came up with that part. And then... Rob Markman: "Don't touch my knitting." Denzel Curry: So we were all talking, then we thought...we collaborated with...the main thing was, "She's going to shake her butt because she only lives once. She's going to smoke a joint and then she's going to vibe for the front." We were trying to think of what to say because it was going to be a long hook, but we were like, "No, we just need..." Twelve'Len said, "No, we just need something simple, straight to the point." Denzel Curry: And that was everything. "She's going to shake her butt because she only lives once." Rob Markman: When do you decide...

Because this is something... we actually talked about this on the show a couple of weeks ago, and that. ..again, I think it's a generational thing of how hip hop is evolving. I think when I was starting out, it was a no-no for the writers to help you on the

record

, and it happened But the rappers would never admit it. Curry: Yeah, no. I admit it... Rob Markman: Because they were ashamed of it. Denzel Curry: ...because I said, "Look, brother, I'll let you know." I think it's clear that rapping isn't a problem for you. Denzel Curry: Yeah, it's not.

Rob Markman: Lyrics and lyricism aren't a problem for you. Denzel Curry: Well, when it comes down to it... Rob Markman: This is a conscious decision. Denzel Curry: But when it's something that I don't fully see because I don't have a lot of experience with it, then I need help. Everyone seemed to say, "I did it myself. I did it myself." "No you didn't, black." Everyone needs help at some point in life. Rob Markman: That's the dumb man. And we talked about it on the show a couple of weeks ago and I think it's really... it's something that maybe I didn't understand at first, but I think it's the way that music is evolving and the way that your generation of artists are opening up the scope of what is, you know what I'm saying?

Denzel Curry: Yeah. Rob Markman: And like I said, if you listen to Denzel Curry, you know lyrics aren't a problem. Denzel Curry: Because most of my songs, Ultimate, I didn't need help writing them. I didn't help with that shit. It's only three, most... most of the shit I did. I didn't need help writing. Clout Cobain, come on, bro. I didn't need help writing that shit. Denzel Curry: I actually freestyled it too. Rob Markman: Let's talk about... I want to talk about Raider Klan real quick because... well, we talked about the different eras like Shake 88 is kind of like that 2 Live Crew, the Miami part of Booty Shake.

Denzel Curry: Exactly. Rob Markman: There are other parts. Birds is the hustle part and you have Ross in that. Rob Markman: I feel like every song takes you to a different time... Denzel Curry: A different time. That's what it's supposed to be. And then you get PAT... Rob Markman: P.A.T. Denzel Curry: Which is Projects And Turmoil, that's what it means. That was a tribute to one, Project PAT because Projects and agitation: PAT. PAT project. Do you feel Me? And Raider Klan, yes... based on Raider Klan, I described it more or less in Ricky. We were Three Six, Wu Tang mixed with Dipset.

That's what it was. That perfect description of what the Raider Klan was. Rob Markman: Let's talk... that

influence

, Raider... I feel like Purp's

influence

on Raider Clan as a team is very underrated. One of those things, like you know it, you know it. Denzel Curry: Yes. Rob Markman: And I think a lot of artists know that. Denzel Curry: You know because when everything was happening, I mean, let me just put it on the table, we didn't know that we would be able to do most of the shit that we were doing, if it weren't for Odd Future Wolfgang Kill. 'All of them.

Let's go back to Tyler because Tyler was the biggest influence in my life before I even met Purp. And when Purp came out, they called Purp's cosmic cousin Odd Future. They said, "This is like Odd Future, but from the south." Like what? Denzel Curry: And then when we found out that Purp and I were from the same city and were trying to do the same shit, that's when we made a Shinobi Alliance and got everyone together. Rob Markman: Right. Rob Markman: Can they ever put it back together, or is it just something that lives on in the infamy of the past?

Denzel Curry: Look, I'm telling you... there's only one Raider Klan and there will never be another. Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: What we did together was already legendary. We don't need to get back together to do it again. Rob Markman: But I think it's cool how you pay tribute, the black man is there... there's always little... and then in all your music, just little tributes to the Raider Klan, I think... Denzel Curry: Even Clout Co... Even Clout Cobain... Even Taboo. Denzel Curry: Where you look at the hieroglyphics. The criminal was doing that first. Know? And when it came time to the music that he was making, it was like, "Okay, I'm going to express how I feel about things, like what I learned from Metro Zu." Because Metro Zu, they're CSBG, but we also did something like CSBG-Raider Klan and it became CSBG-Raider Klan and that's what it was.

The same thing happened with ASAP-Raider Klan, when that happened. Denzel Curry: In a sense, I pay homage to both Purp and Metro Zu because when I merged them together, that's what created my sound. Know? Aesthetically, and then I started learning more and more. I like to adapt, brother. Rob Markman: That's great. No, you could definitely see the growth and I like how, again, the creativity that you put into each project. Zuu is nothing like Taboo. Denzel Curry: taboo. Denzel Curry: And Taboo is nothing like Imperial. Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: And Imperial is nothing like Nostalgic.

Rob Markman: Nostalgic. Denzel Curry: None of that... They're not meant to be the same. Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: The only ones... Rob Markman: And if we go back to King Remembered, Strictly 4 my RVIDXRZ, those are totally... Denzel Curry: Those aren't... Yeah, those are the only tapes that probably the same . In fact, “Remembered King”? and “King of the Mischievous South” are definitely more or less the same. Denzel Curry: But when you get to Strictly 4 my RVIDXRZ, it was a more conscious decision to do something that was cohesive and could bring together a project and a body of work, then move on to Nostalgic.

That was the bridge between the Raider Klan and Nostalgic, two different eras. You know what I'm talking? Denzel Curry: The only thing that unites everything is me. Do you feel Me? Rob Markman: And that's what I was going to say. It's drugs. While no project sounds exactly the same, there are details that... Denzel Curry is the glue that holds it all together. Even if you look at Parents and Ricky, there's a little bit of Parents in Ricky. Rob Markman: That comes from the Nostalgia era, but sonically it's not the same. Denzel Curry: It's not. Rob Markman: They are totally different albums.

Denzel Curry: No. I'm paying homage to my old tapes. Denzel Curry: And then even with... shit. What else, man? Even with P.A.T. and advantages. Or no, no. Not even P.A.T and Perks. P.A.T and BMT. Denzel Curry: They're in the same universe. Most people wouldn't know. Denzel Curry: The way I treat my albums... I mean, most people treat them like journal entries, chapters of their life, I treat mine like movies. Like, "Okay, Zuu is a funny movie. But it's not a comedy. It's just a funny movie. It's just kind of tight." Denzel Curry: When you have something like... it's like, damn... how can I describe it better?

Okay, forget everything I just said. Denzel Curry: They're like movies. They're like Tarantino movies. You know, you have Kill Bill Volume One, you have Kill Bill Volume Two. They're related, of course, because it's Kill Bill, but volumes one and two of Kill Bill are also related to Django Unchained because of the grave she was buried in in Kill Bill, Paula Schultz, Dr. King Schultz. Denzel Curry: That's how you bridge the gap between those two universes. Rob Markman: That's crazy. That is drug. And he did something similar with... in Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. Denzel Curry: Exactly.

Because the Vega brothers. They are in the same universe. And even if you could go Pulp Fiction related to Kill Bill Volume Two because remember when Samuel L. Jackson said he was just going to walk the earth? Rob Markman: Yes. Denzel Curry: And will it be in the place that God wants it to be? Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry: And if you watch Kill Bill Volume Two, you see the guy, Rufus, when they're in the chapel where they kill everyone. And he said, "I was a tramp. I was this, I was that." Rob Markman: Wow. I didn't even put it together.

Denzel Curry: Rufus and Julius are the same person. You know what I'm talking? All Quentin Tarantino movies are related. You know what I'm talking? And they said that Django's jacket was in the haberdashery store in Hateful Eight. Wow. Denzel Curry: That's how I treat my albums. Denzel Curry: That's why I include certain things I say on my albums, like you might hear some Nostalgic on this one. You might hear something from King Remembered on this one. Or maybe you'll hear some of it in this one. That's how I make my albums. Denzel Curry: But when it comes to videos, they're already pretty much set in that universe.

Rob Markman: That's a super dumb man. I'm glad you came to explain it because, like I said, you've been building a discography for a couple of years. If I'm honest, rarely here at Genius do we start having a relationship with you, where you come in and screw us over from Ultimate. Denzel Curry: Yeah. Rob Markman: You know what I'm saying? But even seeing where you went from Ultimate to now is amazing, bro, and I just wanted to congratulate you on that. Denzel Curry: Thank you. I mean, I feel like everyone has that one song that everyone remembers.

With Tyler, the first song I heard from him was Yonkers. Denzel Curry: But I'm a fan of his discography as a whole. Rob Markman: Look where he is now. Rob Markman: For him to have this new album, Igor, and I think it's by far his best album, his best full-length work. Denzel Curry: Yeah. Rob Markman: And then you look back and think, "Hey, this is the guy who made Yonkers. Yeah. He's the same guy." Denzel Curry: He's the same guy. Rob Markman: Evolved. You know what I'm talking? Grown up. And maybe I'll go back to Yonkers.

Who knows what he will do on the next album. Or take us somewhere completely different. Denzel Curry: When I look at the cover of Igor, for some reason I think of Grace Jones. Denzel Curry: Have you ever seen the covers of him? I was like, "Man, he looks good. He looks classy. There's power in him, you know?" Denzel Curry: I just say, "Man, that's the kind of art I like." Do you feel Me? Where an artist can constantly evolve. That's why Andre 3000 is one of my favorite rappers. Rob Markman: The Clout Cobain video gave me the feeling of when OutKast did The Whole World...

Denzel Curry: The Whole World. Rob Markman: ...video. I definitely see that in... but again, it felt like it was your own man, but it definitely gave me a similar vibe. Denzel Curry: I mean, yeah. I mean, that was one of the inspirations. Because when Mark told me about the idea, at first he wasn't going to do it. He wasn't going to do Clout Cobain like that. To be real, I didn't even think Clout Cobain was going to show up like that. I just thought they were like, “Hey, Clout Cobain is the one.” And I said, "Hey." I was like, “I'm a hardcore person, so I was like, “No, this one.” They were just like, “No.

It's Clout Cobain." And then one day they approached me and told me how they were going to make the video. At first I thought, "Oh hell no! I'm not doing any blackface shit." Like, "Fuck it!" Rob Markman: Right. Denzel Curry:They said, "No, no, no, no, no. You won't be in blackface, you'll be in clown face." And I said, "Go on." Rob Markman: "You have my attention." Denzel Curry: Yeah, "You've got my attention." Because I say: "A clown." Man, there are already people clowning me for Ultimate. Why the hell am I going to be a clown?" And then they said, "No, no.

But trust me." But that's what it was. And I was like, "Okay, I'm going to do it." Rob Markman: That's cool, man. I'm glad you did it, man. Rob Markman: Everything Good man, look, you started this interview, you asked me what my favorite grill was, right? Denzel Curry: Okay, Rob Markman: I'm going to end this interview, I'll ask you... we do something with our guests here... And. I want to ask you what your favorite verse is. And if you could spit some of it out at us: "My mind warps and. bends floats the wind counts to ten.

Meet twin Andre Ben, welcome to the lions' den. Original skin that many men understand. I'm reaching out for you to go out and tell a friend. Sin all depends on what you believe. Faith is what you make it, that's the hardest shit since MC Ren. Alien can blend perfectly with his relatives. Look again because I swear I see one from time to time. It's happening again. I wish I told you when. Andre, this is Andre, y'all gonna have to make peace." Rob Markman: Ooh, you hit that shit like you wrote it, boy! Denzel Curry: Yo. Rob Markman: That's tough.

Denzel Curry: Andre is one of my artists favorites. Rob Markman: "Faith is what you do. That's the hardest shit since MC Ren" is such a classic line. That whole verse has body, bro. Denzel Curry: Yeah, he fleshed that shit out. Not gonna lie. Rob Markman: I see a Denzel-Andre 3000 collaboration happening. Can we put that in-universe? Denzel Curry: I mean, that's... it's already in-universe, but low-key, if it weren't for Andre 3000 and I meeting him that time. Rob Markman: Wow. How's that? Denzel Curry: Never. Because he gave me the courage to do what I wanted to do. I was thinking what if people thought I'm weird like that, or I'm copying. "No." I changed my hair.

That's why my hair is like that. And I started doing Ultimate and then... I listened to a lot of Jamaican music. I mean, South Florida, of course. of Jamaicans. I can't escape these motherfuckers. I love Jamaicans to death, but I can't escape them and that influenced me. And that was it. Denzel Curry: That's why I really look at Andre and someone who really inspires me. Nobody ever gave me that inspiration like that. Not even one of my favorite rappers, like Lord Infamous. Rob Markman: Also, criminally underrated when it comes to flows and what's going on in music today, Lord Infamous is really the catalyst for a lot of this shit right now.

Denzel Curry: He was the pinnacle of that. Know? Denzel Curry: It was like that never happened, I would never have been doing what I'm doing. Rob Markman: That's the dumb man. Well, we're glad you're doing it, man. I'm glad you came to Genius, man. You are welcome any time. Denzel Curry, man. Thank you for making For the Record. Denzel Curry: Thank you. Rob Markman: Peace. Denzel Curry: Paul Wall had amazing barbecue. Rob Markman: Absolutely. Denzel Curry: Shit seemed crazy. Now that shit is normal. Denzel Curry: Even Tyler, The Creator now has gold teeth. Rob Markman: Word?

I haven't seen that. Denzel Curry: Yeah. Didn't you watch his videos? Rob Markman: I don't look... I couldn't get past the wig. The video is fantastic, but the wig gets all the attention. Denzel Curry: No! But that's the fire part.