The saying "this is one of my most anticipated albums this year" is a bit overused but this album right here is where I would've said that statement. The former member of the Florida supergroup Raider Klan, Denzel Curry drops his third studio album since the group has disbanded, I've been a fan of Curry's since 2015 and each of his projects that have been released, he continues to show growth and potential from the whole "SoundCloud Rap" scene. Denzel also got a lot of attention from the mainstream for of his biggest single to date "Ultimate" which became huge in the meme community, my middle sister became a fan of his cause that shit was played in those water bottle flip compilation videos. Denzel did a very interesting concept with this record being split into three different acts and each of them representing three different emotions he was feeling while working on Taboo. "Light" was when he is a good head space, "Gray" having neutral feelings and Dark" where he was in a very dark place, and Taboo is a roller coaster of emotions, and with solid subject matter that people go through in life. In this review, I'm gonna give my thoughts act by act of Taboo so without further ado let's get right into this album!
Act 1: LIGHT: The first three tracks caught me off guard a bit just how mellow and vibey the tracks, I even think people who are new to Denzel's are gonna be more surprised cause he isn't screaming, which Denzel did make a joke about on Twitter. The titled track main theme is about Denzel being in a relationship with someone who is a victim of abuse and molestation, Curry gets very emotional and senses that the emotional connection is not a good one and Denzel comforts the women and tells her everything will be ok, I thought this topic that some people deal with was done very well. "BLACK BALLONS" is inspired by the movie "IT" and paints a good image between the two parallels with the movie's plot and his life. The song does give me a lot of Andre 3000's vibes with the production and GoldLink feature on here who I have been indifferent with his music, He did a nice job here. "CASH MANIAC" is the weakest song for act one, I did enjoy the summer vibes with the production and Denzel did his thing, I was just wasn't a fan of the hook. "SUMO" was the first single off the album and the track is great, I can't get the "CHOWDER" part of my head and I catch myself saying that shit.
Overall Act One: Light was a good start for the record, while the first three songs are a very left field to some for people just starting to get into Denzel's music, I think it shows me just how diverse he can be with his music. A lot of Andre 3000's and Summer vibes with the songs but has a message and paints good imagery within the songs.
Act 2: Gray: "SUPER SAIYAN SUPERMAN" kicks off this act and man this shit right here slaps. The track is self-explanatory with him rapping powering up like a super saiyan, I love his flow and charisma here, outro does have a yeezus vibe. "SWITCH IT UP" touches on paranoia and bipolar, he gets into about an incident where a friend pulled a gun on him and also how people are there for you but when you're down nowhere is there which a lot of people deal with it. I do like the line where everyone just rides waves and they jump when it doesn't sail anymore which has a been thing with music every few years or so.
"MAD I GOT IT" is a decent song, I would pick this track has my least favorite on act two. The verses and the hook is killer, I just wished the beat had more of a kick to it. "SIRENS" has Denzel get on his political rap shit and raps about the current state of America in his eyes and struggling he has with faith. I love the hook and Denzel said in a recent interview that the hook is under the perspective of god, which listening back to this song I understand the hidden message here, Basically saying no matter what shit happens you don't lose faith in me (GOD). JID guest verse, he fucking kills it, I did love he mimics the melody of the star spangled banner towards the end of his verse, I can't wait for his album. "CLOUT COBAIN" is one of the most interesting tracks I heard this year. Discussing how famous or not so famous dealing handling with the spotlight and are hungry for some clout in the age of social media and that some have fallen victim to drug addiction, depression or have their lives cut short when they get too caught too up with fame and attention. The track is very catchy and melodic and I have a feeling this will be his biggest single.
Overall Act 2 is as great as of act one maybe even better, The songs I have said many times have a great hidden message in the lyrics with trap bangers type production. Not many complaints here thus far.
Act 3: Dark: The final act of Taboo has some grimy production and flows that old and new fans of Curry's know him for. "THE BLACKEST BALLONS" has the first verse about dealing family issues he's been dealing and second verse rapping where he expands on how people just want clout so they can buy a mansion which he expands more in the songs "PERCZ" where he calls out the current state rappers saying they ain't shit and what happened to the message in the music and they just doing ad-libs over 808's. I do like what he is saying here and sure I like some of the "Mumble Rappers" out there but it's something I can't listen to all the time, it is weird people put Denzel in that bubble but it is light years ahead of those guys. "VENGEANCE" has the old school southern rap feel with the production and this shit slaps. Denzel sounds aggressive on here and I am happy to see my man JPEGMAFIA get a major co-sign and gets a guest verse on the track, I love the Drake lines and that 'I write hits like Akon" line was dope, don't sleep on Peggy, Zillkami did his thing too. "BLACK METAL TERRORIST" ends Act 3 and also the entire album and he dives into one his alter ego's Zel and yeah this shit hard. There are no messages here, it is just Denzel rapping his ass off and saying he is the fucking goat, perfect way to end the album.
Final thoughts are this IS easily in my top five favorite albums thus far this year. It is very rare for an album for me where I don't complain much and this is one of those moments here. Denzel did his thing here with the messaging mixed with bangers and I which more new age artists do this, They're a couple of dumb lines but I forgive him for that. Don't sleep on this album and Denzel Curry too.
Favorite Tracks: VENGEANCE, CLOUT COBAIN, SIRENS, THE BLACKEST BALLONS, BLACK METAL TERRORIST, BLACK BALLONS, TABOO, PERCZ, SUPER SAIYAN SUPERMAN, SUMO
Least Favorite Tracks: CASH MANIAC
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