Imperial (Denzel Curry album)
| Imperial | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 9, 2016 (initial) October 14, 2016 (re-release) | |||
| Recorded | 2015–16 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:42 | |||
| Label | C9 Loma Vista (re-release) | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Denzel Curry chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Imperial | ||||
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Imperial is the second studio album by American rapper Denzel Curry. It was released and made available for free download and streaming on SoundCloud on March 9, 2016, then re-released later on Spotify as the deluxe version on October 14, 2016.[1][2] The album features guest appearances from Rick Ross, Joey Bada$$, Twelve'len and Nell. The album was supported by the single: "Knotty Head" featuring Rick Ross.
The re-released version of the album removes the tracks "Narcotics" and "Pure Enough" and replaces them with "Me Now" and "Good Night". The placement of "This Life" was also changed, with it being moved from track #9 to track #7.
Singles
"Knotty Head" was released as the album's lead single on February 17, 2016 on Curry's SoundCloud.[3] The album version features a guest appearance from rapper Rick Ross, while the single release only featured Curry. The production was provided by FNZ and Ronny J.[4]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| HipHopDX | 3.7/5[6] |
| Pretty Much Amazing | B+[7] |
Imperial received critical acclaim. Stereogum described the album as "a hazy, gurgling rap record that's clearly the work of an active mind".[8]
Track listing
Credits adapted from Denzel Curry's official SoundCloud account and digital booklet.[9]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "ULT" |
| 4:07 | |
| 2. | "Gook" |
|
| 2:46 |
| 3. | "Sick & Tired" |
|
| 4:02 |
| 4. | "Knotty Head" (featuring Rick Ross) |
|
| 4:34 |
| 5. | "Narcotics" |
|
| 3:31 |
| 6. | "Story: No Title" |
|
| 2:49 |
| 7. | "Pure Enough" |
|
| 3:48 |
| 8. | "Zenith" (featuring Joey Bada$$) |
|
| 4:03 |
| 9. | "This Life" |
|
| 3:27 |
| 10. | "If Tomorrow's Not Here" (featuring Twelve'Len) |
| Lacy | 5:35 |
| Total length: | 38:42 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "ULT" |
|
| 4:07 |
| 2. | "Gook" |
|
| 2:46 |
| 3. | "Sick & Tired" |
|
| 4:02 |
| 4. | "Knotty Head" (featuring Rick Ross) |
|
| 4:28 |
| 5. | "Me Now" | Curry | 4:39 | |
| 6. | "Story: No Title" | Curry |
| 2:49 |
| 7. | "This Life" |
|
| 3:27 |
| 8. | "Zenith" (featuring Joey Bada$$) |
|
| 4:03 |
| 9. | "Good Night" (featuring Nell and Twelve'Len) |
| FNZ | 3:56 |
| 10. | "If Tomorrow's Not Here" (featuring Twelve'Len) |
| Lacy | 5:35 |
| Total length: | 39:58 | |||
Notes
- ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
- "Sick & Tired" contains two parts, "Green Store Skit" features vocals by Vares of Twelve'Len and DJ Chief Pound
- "Pure Enough" features additional vocals by Vares of Twelve'Len
- "If Tomorrow's Not Here" features additional vocals by Steve Lacy
Sample credits
- "ULT" contains a sample of "Sweet Nothin's", as performed by Brenda Lee and samples of "What You Will See (Heavenly Garden)" from Tekken Tag Tournament 2 soundtrack.
- "Narcotics" contains a sample of "Fuck tha Police", as performed by N.W.A, excerpts of a documentary film "The Murder of Fred Hampton", excerpts of a 1964 Malcolm X interview and excerpts of 1994 Tupac Shakur interview.
- "Story: No Title" contains a sample of "Crash Goes Love (Yell Apella) by Loleatta Holloway.
References
- ^ "Stream Denzel Curry's new "Imperial" album". Hypetrak. March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ V, Brendan (March 9, 2016). "Denzel Curry - Imperial - Stream - DJBooth". Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ "Denzel Curry - Knotty Head (Prod. FNZ & Ronny J)". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ "Denzel Curry (Ft. Rick Ross) – Knotty Head". Genius.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ Yeung, Neil Z. (January 27, 2017). "Imperial - Denzel Curry". AllMusic. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ Diep, Eric (March 14, 2016). "Denzel Curry - Imperial". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Russell, Brooklyn (March 22, 2016). "Review: Denzel Curry's Imperial". Prettymuchamazing.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (March 9, 2016). "Stereogum Stream Denzel Curry Imperial". Stereogum.com. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ "Denzel Curry's Imperial playlist". SoundCloud.com. March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
