Denzel Curry Drops Southern Rap Tribute
Denzel Curry teamed up with A$AP Ferg, TiaCorine, BKTHERULA, and Key Nyata for "Strictly 4 The Scythe," a posse album paying homage to Southern rap's evolution. The project features Memphis-inspired beats and Miami club sounds with guest appearances from Juicy J and others, available to stream now.
The formation of the supergroup, The Scythe, marks a significant collaboration, uniting Denzel Curry with A$AP Ferg, TiaCorine, BKTHERULA, and Key Nyata. Curry has emphasized that The Scythe is a distinct creative entity, a family and a group, not just a temporary side project for the members, who will all continue their solo careers. This project directly extends the sonic explorations of Curry's 2024 album, "King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2," which paid homage to the Southern rap that influenced him. "Strictly 4 The Scythe" is designed to bridge the gap between the distorted Memphis phonk of Curry's early career and a more polished, futuristic vision of Southern hip-hop. The album's artwork is also a nod to the classic covers of 1990s Memphis rap created by Pen & Pixel. The inclusion of Juicy J, a founding member of the legendary Memphis group Three 6 Mafia, is a crucial link to the genre's roots. Three 6 Mafia was instrumental in pioneering the crunk and trap genres, and their dark, gritty sound heavily influenced the aesthetics of early Memphis rap. Juicy J also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" from the film "Hustle & Flow." The entirety of the eight-track project was produced by BNYX and his brother BRYVN's Working on Dying production unit. The lead single, "Lit Effect," features production from BNYX and Lazer Dim 700 and showcases the energetic, rock-tinged sound that defines the collective's direction. For Denzel Curry, this collective is a spiritual successor to his beginnings with the influential South Florida group Raider Klan. The Scythe revives that collaborative, crew-oriented ethos, with Curry now taking on a mentor and curator role for a new generation of artists. The group's members bring a diverse range of styles to the project. A$AP Ferg hails from Harlem's A$AP Mob, while TiaCorine is known for her playful, anime-influenced lyricism. BKTHERULA emerges from Atlanta's underground scene with an experimental, melodic approach, and Key Nyata brings a grittier, street-focused sound from Seattle. Additional guest appearances on the album include Smino, Rich the Kid, and Luh Tyler, further blending different eras and regional styles of hip-hop. The project's stated goal is to unite originators of Southern rap with contemporary artists they've influenced, creating a cross-generational statement.
