Rapper Denzel Curry and producer Kenny Beats have each been on their own respective streaks of solid releases for the past few years. Kenny Beats has released solid collaborative releases with artists such as KEY!, Rico Nasty, ALLBLACK and 03 Greedo. Curry has released numerous critically acclaimed products such as “TA13OO,” “Imperial,” “Zuu” and “32 Zel.”
In 2020, the two artists came together to release what was one of the most well-received raps albums of the year: “UNLOCKED.” The album and the corresponding visual film on YouTube was a unique experience that truly brought out the best of both artists. This made it all the more exciting when “UNLOCKED 1.5” was announced.
“UNLOCKED 1.5” is a reworking/remix of the original 2020 release with new instrumentals from producers such as Charlie Heat (who Curry has collaborated with on the single “Aloha”), Jay Versace, The Alchemist and Robert Glasper, Artists such as Smino, Arlo Parks, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Joey Bada$$ and Benny the Butcher all lend their lyrics and vocals to the project, as well.
It is not unheard of for instrumentally-alternative rap albums to get the remixed or instrumental-only rerelease. “Pinata,” “2001,” “Bandana” and “Hot Soup” are all notable rap releases that have gotten some type of the previously mentioned style of rereleases. Most of the time, however, there really isn’t a lot too them. For instrumental releases, the album often loses some type of vibe or feel without the lyrics, and rereleased albums with reworked instrumentals typically just take an entire tone entirely from the original album, and it sounds like two completely different projects, albeit with the same lyrics.
“UNLOCKED 1.5” does have a different tone than the original 2020 release – but it feels like an accompanying piece rather than a separate album. This may be due to the original feel of the 2020 version of “UNLOCKED.” The original release of the album features amazing use of voice distortion with Denzel Curry’s voice and old-timey samples from Kenny Beats that worked really well with the visual that went along with it. The album also had no features – it was exclusively the lyrical stylings of Denzel Curry with Kenny Beats’, well, beats.
“UNLOCKED” was simple in what it was, but complex at the same time. That’s why the “1.5” title is very apropos because it is the original released album. It’s just expanded upon. The instrumentals are redone almost entirely, and a lot of Curry’s voice distortion from the 2020 version are either reduced or not on the tracks it was originally featured on. All of the same lyrics are there, but “UNLOCKED 1.5” introduces an entirely new vibe that just fits right together with the original release.
The features are also immaculate. Parks’ and Murdlow’s vocals are smooth and all of the rappers features on “1.5” hit the bullseye every single time. What’s interesting is if this was the only “UNLOCKED” album we got instead of the original 2020 release, it would still be just as incredible. It doesn’t have an accompanying visual aside from the announcement of the project, but it is still an incredible aural experience that only Kenny Beats and Denzel Curry can provide.
Even with albums I enjoy, it’s very rare that I can’t find one single thing that I can critique an album for, even with a hyper-critical lens. With this album, I honestly can’t. I forgot to put the original “UNLOCKED” album to my “Top Ten Albums of 2020” list that I wrote back in December, but “UNLOCKED” is on that list. “1.5” though, I just can’t find anything wrong with it. It isn’t a revolutionary album, but it just does everything so well that there is negative I can say about it. I’ve tried. Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Joey Bada$$, Isaiah Rashad and Kanye West are all rumored to drop this year, but I can’t see any of those albums exceeding this one.
With all of that being said, “UNLOCKED 1.5” gets a 10/10.
This review can also be seen on www.uiargonaut.com.