Curry left Raider Klan in 2013, releasing his debut studio album, Nostalgic 64, in September of that year, while still in high school. He has since released three extended plays: 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms in 2015, 13 in 2017, and UNLOCKED (a collaboration with Kenny Beats) in 2020, and four studio albums: Imperial in 2016, Ta13oo in 2018, Zuu in 2019, and Melt My Eyez See Your Future in 2022. TA13OO, ZUU, and Melt My Eyez debuted at numbers 28, 32, and 51 on the Billboard 200 chart, respectively, with Melt My Eyez returning at number 17 after the release of an extended edition. All of his projects have garnered significant critical acclaim.
In 2012, he released his second mixtape, titled King of the Mischievous South Vol. 1 Underground Tape 1996, which caught the attention of fellow American rapper Earl Sweatshirt and other members of Odd Future label.
Curry's third mixtape, titled Strictly for My R.V.I.D.X.R.S., was released after the death of Trayvon Martin, who also lived in Carol City and went to the same high school as Denzel Curry. His rap style on this mixtape was inspired by 2PAC. On June 9, 2015, Curry released his first double EP, titled 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms. His first release in 2016 was the single "Flying Nimbus".
His second full-length album, titled Imperial, was released on March 9, 2016, then re-released later on Spotify as the deluxe version on October 14, 2016. In June 2016, Curry was featured on a cover as one of the XXL's 2016's Freshmen Class.
On May 13, 2017, Curry uploaded a track entitled "Hate Government [demo]" to his SoundCloud account. In the weeks that followed, he released two more demos for songs entitled "Equalizer [demo]" and "ZELTRON 6 BILLION ft. Lil Ugly Mane." After these releases as well as a series of cryptic posts on social media (seemingly portraying another alter ego called Zeltron), he released an EP entitled 13 on June 25, 2017. All of the demo tracks were included on the EP as well as two other new songs. On August 18, 2017, Curry released another song called "Skywalker." Later that year, on September 22, a remastered version of 32 Zel was released, including a remix of "Ultimate" featuring Juicy J.
On April 2, 2018, Curry released the lead single off of Ta13oo titled, "Sumo" on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show. On May 24, 2018, Curry released the second single off the album titled, "Percs". Curry then released the third single titled, "Clout Cobain", on July 13, 2018, and announced that his album TA13OO, would be released in three acts: The first act, Light, was released on July 25, followed by Gray on July 26, and Dark on July 27. Each previously-released single represents one of the album's acts, as "Sumo" represents Light, "Clout Cobain" represents Gray, and "Percs" represents Dark, which comes together cohesively to form TA13OO. TA13OO features guest appearances from GoldLink, JID, JPEGMAFIA, ZillaKami and more.
On January 5, 2022, the official trailer for Curry's fifth studio album, titled Melt My Eyez See Your Future, was uploaded to his YouTube channel. It was revealed that the album would contain guest appearances from artists such as T-Pain, 6lack, Slowthai, Rico Nasty, J.I.D, and Thundercat, among others. Curry said the project would feature a new, more mature sound, different from his previous works: "Y'all are not going to hear the same type of Denzel anymore." On January 24, a single titled "Walkin", along with a Western-inspired music video directed by Adrian Villagomez, was released. Curry also said the album "is made up of everything that I couldn't include on Ta13oo or Imperial because I was going through depression and anger issues", and would take inspiration from traditional hip-hop, drum and bass, trap, poetry, and jazz. The same day, a North American and European tour promoting the album (with guest acts Kenny Mason, Mike Dimes, Redveil, and PlayThatBoiZay) was announced. On February 24, Curry released another single from the upcoming album, "Zatoichi" featuring Slowthai. It was accompanied by a music video also directed by Adrian Villagomez. On March 18, Curry announced the album would be released on March 25. On March 21, a third single, "Troubles" featuring T-Pain, was released along with a music video. The album was released on March 25, 2022. It debuted at number 51 on the Billboard 200 chart, and at number 23 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Curry recorded a song featuring rapper Reason, "1st Quarter", as a contribution to Apple Music's "collection of exclusively commissioned new songs from Black creatives", titled Juneteenth 2022: Freedom Songs. He commented: "It's an accomplishment to make it through the first quarter of my life. Especially as a Black man in America".
Curry's song featuring PlayThatBoiZay, "Let It All Hang Out", was included in Elvis—a biographical movie about Elvis Presley that premiered in June 2022—as well as on the movie's soundtrack album.
On June 24, 2022, a collaboration between Dot da Genius, JID, Curry, and Kid Cudi, titled "Talk About Me", was released, along with a music video directed by Cole Bennett. On June 29, 2022, Curry performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. On July 21, he performed "Walkin" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
On September 30, 2022, Curry released Melt My Eyez See Your Future (The Extended Edition). The album features reimagined versions of songs from the original album with live instrumentation performed by the Cold Blooded Soul Band, which performed with Curry on his NPR Tiny Desk Concert and The Tonight Show performance.
BLACK BALLOONS | 13LACK 13ALLOONZ
Denzel Curry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Black balloons, over my head
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Inside this paper plane
Note my words are Navy sealed
So here and I quote
Taboo and I are in the same boat
What's said from Pennywise
I guess we all float
Sky is the limit, I could die in a minute
Got my mind in a skillet
Suicide not a mission
See the vibe very timid
I'm timid and very sad
Translated my thoughts and feelings
I pivot into the pad
Rapers turn to landscapers when they use hoes
Hoes turn to housewives when they see gold
Ice Cube with activator when I'm aggravated
Or decapitated when I lose my
Head since life is overrated
Two thousand feet, a thousand steps
I let it all sink to one thousand depths
Soon black balloons pop
Let it be the day the pain stop
Hot pink, Valentine red
Black balloons, over my head
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Hot pink, Valentine red
Black balloons, over my head
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Heaven or Hell, huh, which one prevails, huh?
We gotta go and figure it out
I tried to tell you that this life isn't it
And I just wanna be the rightest I can be
Show my son to think so he
Can fly as high can be
Always show examples how they
Kill niggas like me
Thinking as straight as me, but call me crazy
Sun is my attitude, so I'm cool like JAY-Z
Ándale, ándale, my intelligence for threes
Cancel me like I ain't the King of DC
Cancel me like I ain't the number one G
Cancel me like you don't like "Dance On Me"
Quickly they forget how you change
On all these lies
You flashing all these lights
And you savin' these kids lives
And they hate you 'cause you're
Right, give me hell then, shit
Take your turn to fire and to pitchfork
Bitch
Hot pink, Valentine red
Black balloons, over my head
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Hot pink, Valentine red
Black balloons, over my head
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Let it float, let it float, let it float
Let it float
Let it float, let it float by me
Tonight on 1021
It's Denny Cascade and the gang in town
Denzel, are you really making an album?
I'm telling you, eventually, they're gonna
Catch up to your game
You're running out of time!
Someone is really trying to hurt me!
It's not enough is it? It's not enough
You had us come out here
In the middle of the night
What exactly are you trying to hide
Mr curry?
Denzel Curry's "BLACK BALLOONS | 13LACK 13ALLOONZ" is a song about mental health struggles and the ways in which people cope with them. The "black balloons" represent the overwhelming negative thoughts that can weigh on a person's mind, while the hot pink and red colors represent the more positive and optimistic aspects of life. The song's lyrics also touch on themes of suicide, depression, and anxiety.
The line "What's said from Pennywise, I guess we all float" references the character Pennywise from the Stephen King novel It, who lures children to their deaths by offering them balloons. The song's chorus encourages listeners to let their negative thoughts "float" away and to focus on the positive aspects of life instead. The line "Soon black balloons pop, that'll be the day the pain stops" suggests that the release of negative thoughts is necessary to overcome mental health struggles.
The verse "Ice Cube with activator when I'm aggravated / Or decapitated when I lose my head since life is overrated" references rapper Ice Cube's use of hair activator and suggests that the singer uses music as a coping mechanism. The line "cancel me like you don't like 'Dance On Me'" references a previous song by Denzel Curry and suggests that the singer is accustomed to criticism and cancellation.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot pink, Valentine red
Two bright and vibrant colors that may represent the contrast between love and passion and the theme of the song.
Black balloons, over my head
The black balloons symbolize heavy burdens or negative thoughts that are hovering over the singer's head.
Let it float, let it float, let it float, let it float
The repetition of this line shows a desire to let go and allow the negative thoughts to disappear.
Let it float, let it float by me
The artist wants to detach from these negative thoughts and let them pass him by.
Inside this paper plane
This line could represent the artist's mind being transported on a journey.
Note my words are Navy sealed so here and I quote
This line suggests that the words being spoken are of great importance and are sealed with the singer's trust.
Taboo and I are in the same boat
The singer and Taboo (possibly a reference to a person or a group) both share similar struggles.
What's said from Pennywise, I guess we all float
A reference to the clown from the horror movie It, this line implies that everyone has their own demons that they must face.
Sky is the limit, I could die in a minute
This line may reflect the thought that life can be short and unpredictable.
Got my mind in a skillet, suicide not the mission
The artist may be battling with suicidal thoughts but does not want to make that his goal.
See the vibe very timid, I'm timid and very sad
The singer is feeling vulnerable and unhappy.
Translated my thoughts and feelings I pivot into the pad
Writing and venting his thoughts and feelings onto the paper helps the artist to process and understand them.
Rapers turn to landscapers when they use hoes
A play on words, this line means that rappers change their focus when they start to use women as objects.
Hoes turn to housewives when they see gold
Another play on words, this line suggests that women may change their priorities and goals based on monetary gain.
Ice Cube with activator when I'm aggravated
A reference to the rapper and his hairstyle, this could mean that the singer turns to something familiar and comforting when he is upset.
Or decapitated when I lose my head since life is overrated
This line may reflect the artist's negative view on life and his desire to escape it.
Ten thousand feet, a thousand steps
The use of numbers could be a metaphor for the long journey ahead.
I let it all sink to a thousand depths
The singer is choosing to let go of his pain and negative thoughts.
Soon black balloons pop
The release of these negative thoughts will lead to a positive outcome.
That'll be the day the pain stops
The artist is looking forward to the day when he no longer feels this way.
Heaven or Hell, huh, which one prevails, huh?
A rhetorical question that reflects the artist's inner struggle between good and evil.
We gotta go and figure it out
The artist wants to find a resolution to his inner turmoil.
I ain't tryna tell you that this life isn't it
The singer is acknowledging that life is difficult.
And I just wanna be the rightest I could be
The artist wants to be the best version of himself.
Show my son to think so he could fly as high could be
The singer wants to teach his son to be a free thinker and reach his full potential.
Always show examples how they kill niggas like me
The singer is aware of the racial injustices in society and wants to teach his son to be cautious but not afraid.
Thinking as straight as me, but call me crazy
The singer is frustrated that others may not understand his point of view.
Sign is my attitude, so I'm cool like JAY-Z
The artist's attitude and demeanor are similar to those of the rapper Jay-Z.
Andele, andele, my intelligence for threes
This line may refer to the artist's intelligence and quick thinking.
Cancel me like I ain't the King of D.C
The singer is confident in his abilities and accomplishments.
Quickly they forget how you changed on these lies
People are quick to forget a person's good deeds or positive changes.
You flashing on these lights and you savin' these kids life
The artist has a platform and is using it to make a positive impact.
And they hate you 'cause you're right, give me hell then, shit
The artist is aware that some people may dislike him for speaking the truth.
Take your turn and fire with a pitchfork, bitch
The artist is not intimidated by those who oppose him and is willing to fight back.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: D'anthony Carlos, Denzel Rae Don Curry, Isaac Deboni, Lavares Jermaine Joseph, Matthew Smith Radosevich, Michael John Mule, Ryan Joseph Degrandy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DolanDark
We really out here
@sethv2986
Hello sr
@rycl0ps65
m.,,
@pabloflores5031
ULT 4 EVER
@alexfehrenbacher7217
What are you doing here
@skyblades4354
Yesss
@colbyhicks1124
Denzel really just prequeled his Clout Cobain music video. My mans is really a god damn visionary.
@greed6866
Colby Hicks word💯❌🧢
@rainmakerrr
And sequeled Vengeance. ;)
@tuneinforwhat5547
Dumb boi vengeance was the sequel to clout cobain