Denzel The Visionary: Melt My Eyez See Your Future

– Written by Will Barber –

If you’re like me, your first memories of Denzel Curry are from the iconic Ultimate intro and his unforgettable 2016 XXL Cypher verse. Trends surrounding Denzel were everywhere. Unfortunately, like most hit songs connected to trends, it slowly faded away. To think that the same artist would go on to make one of my favourite albums of all time is mind boggling. Denzel’s music career has been established through his aggressive, yet introspective sound. We saw the most artistic progression on his 3rd studio album “TA13OO”. This album would be widely considered as  one of his best, but still left us wishing for something new. On March 25th, 2022 Melt My Eyez See Your Future would drop,  rattling the world, showing fans the real Denzel.  

Melt My Eyez See Your Future is an immersive listening experience that takes you through Denzel’s mind . Each track gives insight as to  how he has evolved and changed as a person and an artist. The project features hype bangers like Sanjuro and posse cut; Ain’t No Way, lyrical masterpieces like Melt Session #1 and The Ills, or feel good songs like Mental and Troubles, this album has everything. Denzel demonstrates his diversity and shows the world how he is an artist and not just a rapper. 

The album features production credits from Dot Da Genius, Powers Pleasant, Thundercat, JPEGMAFIA, and Robert Glasper. Each producer, either upcoming or legendary, brings a different vibe that contributes to this diversified tracklist. Each track flows into the next flawlessly making the listening experience so smooth and a perfect album to have on vinyl as you won’t even realize when a new track has started.

Denzel gives you a look into his mind, presenting some of his most lyrical performances of his career. The tracks contain vulnerable and introspective lyrics. They tell a story of his struggles with mental health, trauma, addiction, and all the highs and lows he’s experienced through his life. One of my favourite tracks on the album is Melt Session #1. Denzel gets really personal and really criticises his past self. He reflects on his struggles with suicidal thoughts and lustful misogynistic lifestyle. Up until this point, we’ve never heard Denzel get this vulnerable and honest about himself. The song serves as a therapy session where Denzel puts everything on the table for the listeners. The beautiful keys from Robert Glasper completes this song. When throwing on this track, be ready for an emotional listen.

 This album featured guest appearances from some super talented vocalists and instrumentalists that are flying under the radar. These include Saul Williams, Karriem Riggins, Buzzy Lee, and my personal favourite; 454. These contributions add so much to the album and introduce the world to the raw talent of these artists. Each artist is credited in the title of these tracks.  This is something most artists don’t do for what they feel are smaller or less significant contributions. You can tell Denzel really loves and values the art of music.

As if this album could get any better, he also released a deluxe edition with two brand-new additional tracks and jazz versions of a few songs with in-studio vocals. These jazz renditions, called “Cold Blooded Soul Version,” showcase a gifted ensemble of jazz musicians that have reworked the instrumentals to provide a smooth and soulful substitute.

Denzel has always been one of the most underrated lyricists in the game and this album really accentuates his skills. I’m excited to see how he tops this because in my eyes this is his magnum opus and will be talked about for decades to come. Denzel is constantly evolving and I have no doubt in my mind that he will continue to be a dominant MC for some time.