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 records 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 one of the most well-received raps albums of the year, “UNLOCKED.” The album and the corresponding visual film on YouTube were a unique experience that truly brought out the best of both artists in the best way. This made it even more exciting when “UNLOCKED 1.5” was announced.
“UNLOCKED 1.5” is a reworking 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 as well as artists Smino, Arlo Parks, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Joey Bada$$ and Benny the Butcher.
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 brand of rereleases. However, most of the time there really isn’t a lot to 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 a different tone entirely from the original album, and it sounds like two completely different albums 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. It’s possible this is 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 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 quite simple in what it was but complex in what the content of the album was. That’s why the “1.5” title is very apropos. It is the original released 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 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 so incredible. Parks and Murdlow’s vocals are smooth and exceptional, and all the rappers featured on “1.5” hit the bullseye every single time. What makes this album great 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 amazing 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 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 that being said, “UNLOCKED 1.5” gets a 5/5.
Teren Kowatsch can be reached at [email protected]