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.
Smoke 2049
Denzel Curry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Still pouring liquor for my niggas
That's Chinaman and Tiara
Moments play back in my mental about
The last night of terror
Am I scared of dying, more of a bullet flying
Enter my window and hittin' my kinfolk, sit
Back with a blunt and I’m sighing, bored
I hear niggas knocking at the door
Talking about some crucial shit like Cascade
This shit is war round these parts
This shit is on your porch
Or even at the park
Shooting your bloods and your
Nigs out the dark
Then they jump out and get caught by a narc
13 round from the sound of the chopper
Guaranteed dropper
Go on and let the hammer bang
Like Bob the Builder they fix it and rang
AK-47, 30 second to 47
Fill it up with Mac-11s
Eating church's chicken reverend
Z-3 Z-4, River City, Lake Lucerne
Scott Lake, Rolling Oats
ODH still making you turn
Myrtle Grove, what it be
And it's still free Chelly Skee
Let's go get em let's go get em
Let's go get em let's go get em
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
Ready to get that smoke
Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
In Denzel Curry's song "Smoke 2049," the lyrics depict a sense of readiness and anticipation for confrontation and danger. The repetition of the phrase "Ready to get that smoke" emphasizes the singer's eagerness to face challenges head-on. The mention of smoke in the lyrics represents the intensity and aggression of the situation, while also alluding to the act of smoking as a coping mechanism or release.
The following verses delve into the singer's reflections on past experiences and a contemplation of mortality. Pouring liquor for their friends, they pay tribute to those who have passed away, specifically mentioning Chinaman and Tiara. Memories of the "last night of terror" play back in the singer's mind, raising questions about fear of death and the possibility of violence invading their personal space. The lyrics also touch on the theme of paranoia, with someone knocking at the door and discussing matters of importance.
The mention of war, shootings, and law enforcement in the neighborhood intensifies the atmosphere of danger and tension. The lyrics mention various locations related to urban life and street culture, further emphasizing the realness of the situations being described. The repetition of the phrase "let's go get em" at the end of the song creates a sense of determination and unity, urging listeners to face their challenges together.
Overall, "Smoke 2049" portrays a mindset of readiness, acknowledging the hardships and potential dangers of urban life while embracing a defiant and confrontational attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Still pouring liquor for my niggas
Continuing to pour drinks in memory of my friends
That's Chinaman and Tiara
Those are the names of my friends
Moments play back in my mental about The last night of terror
Memories of a frightening night keep replaying in my mind
Am I scared of dying, more of a bullet flying Enter my window and hittin' my kinfolk, sit
I'm not afraid of death itself, but I worry about the possibility of a stray bullet hitting my family
Back with a blunt and I'm sighing, bored
I'm smoking a blunt and feeling bored
I hear niggas knocking at the door Talking about some crucial shit like Cascade
I hear people at my door discussing important matters, possibly related to violence or conflict
This shit is war round these parts This shit is on your porch Or even at the park Shooting your bloods and your Nigs out the dark
There's a constant state of warfare in this area. Violence can happen anywhere, including right outside your home or in public spaces, targeting both rival gang members and innocent people
Then they jump out and get caught by a narc 13 round from the sound of the chopper Guaranteed dropper
Sometimes the perpetrators get caught by undercover police. Gunshots can be heard from the helicopter, and it's certain that someone will fall
Go on and let the hammer bang Like Bob the Builder they fix it and rang
Keep using the gun, causing havoc. Just like how Bob the Builder fixes things, I'm causing destruction
AK-47, 30 second to 47 Fill it up with Mac-11s Eating church's chicken reverend
I have an AK-47 and various Mac-11 guns. I'm eating Church's Chicken, feeling rebellious
Z-3 Z-4, River City, Lake Lucerne Scott Lake, Rolling Oats ODH still making you turn Myrtle Grove, what it be And it's still free Chelly Skee
These are various locations in my neighborhood, representing different areas where trouble can occur. ODH is a group that commands respect and attention. Myrtle Grove is another place where things happen, and Chelly Skee is someone who is still free despite their involvement
Let's go get em let's go get em Let's go get em let's go get em
We're ready to go after anyone who poses a threat or challenges us
Ready to get that smoke Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
I'm prepared to face danger and inhale the smoke, both literally and metaphorically
Ready to get that smoke Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
I'm fully committed to exposing myself to risk and embracing the consequences
Ready to get that smoke Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
I'm prepared to engage in conflict and face the resulting consequences head-on
Ready to get that smoke Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
I'm eager to confront any challenges or enemies, fully accepting the potential harm or consequences
Ready to get that smoke Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
I'm mentally and physically prepared to face danger and inhale the smoke, indicating my readiness for battle
Ready to get that smoke Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
I'm fully prepared to confront any adversaries and willingly expose myself to the risks involved
Ready to get that smoke Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
I'm eagerly anticipating engaging in conflict and embracing the consequences, breathing in the smoke that symbolizes danger
Ready to get that smoke Ready to get that smoke smoke in my lungs
I'm fully committed to facing any challenge head-on, risking harm and inhaling the smoke that represents the intensity of the situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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