Imperial (Denzel Curry album)

Imperial is the second studio album by American rapper Denzel Curry. It was released and made available for free download and streaming on SoundCloud on March 9, 2016, then re-released later on Spotify as the deluxe version on October 14, 2016.[1][2] The album features guest appearances from Rick Ross, Joey Bada$$, Twelve'len and Nell. The album was supported by the single: "Knotty Head" featuring Rick Ross.

Imperial
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 9, 2016 (2016-03-09) (initial) October 14, 2016 (2016-10-14) (re-release)
Recorded2015–16
Genre
Length38:42
LabelC9
Loma Vista (re-release)
Producer
Denzel Curry chronology
32 Zel/Planet Shrooms
(2015)
Imperial
(2016)
13
(2017)
Singles from Imperial
  1. "Knotty Head"
    Released: February 17, 2016
  2. "ULT"
    Released: February 21, 2016
  3. "Gook"
    Released: September 8, 2016
  4. "Zenith"
    Released: November 15, 2016

The re-released version of the album removes the tracks "Narcotics" and "Pure Enough" and replaces them with "Me Now" and "Good Night". The placement of "This Life" was also changed, with it being moved from track #9 to track #7.

Singles

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"Knotty Head" was released as the album's lead single on February 17, 2016 on Curry's SoundCloud.[3] The album version features a guest appearance from rapper Rick Ross, while the single release only featured Curry. The production was provided by FNZ and Ronny J.[4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [5]
HipHopDX3.7/5[6]
Pretty Much AmazingB+[7]

Imperial received critical acclaim. Stereogum described the album as "a hazy, gurgling rap record that's clearly the work of an active mind".[8]

Track listing

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Credits adapted from Denzel Curry's official SoundCloud account and digital booklet.[9]

Imperial – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."ULT"
4:07
2."Gook"
  • Curry
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Lino Martinez
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
  • Martinez[a]
2:46
3."Sick & Tired"
  • Curry
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
4:02
4."Knotty Head" (featuring Rick Ross)
  • FNZ
  • Ronny J
4:34
5."Narcotics"
  • Curry
  • Aristos Petrou
  • Scott Arceneaux
  • Martinez
3:31
6."Story: No Title"
  • Curry
  • Martinez
  • Promnite
  • Martinez[a]
2:49
7."Pure Enough"
  • Curry
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
3:48
8."Zenith" (featuring Joey Bada$$)
  • Freebase
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
4:03
9."This Life"
  • Curry
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
3:27
10."If Tomorrow's Not Here" (featuring Twelve'Len)
Lacy5:35
Total length:38:42
Imperial – Re-released edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."ULT"
  • Curry
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Ronny J
  • Nick Leon
  • FNZ
4:07
2."Gook"
  • Curry
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
  • Lino Martinez[a]
2:46
3."Sick & Tired"
  • Curry
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
4:02
4."Knotty Head" (featuring Rick Ross)
  • Curry
  • Roberts II
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • FNZ
  • Ronny J
4:28
5."Me Now"Curry4:39
6."Story: No Title"Curry
  • Promnite
  • Lino Martinez[a]
2:49
7."This Life"
  • Curry
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
3:27
8."Zenith" (featuring Joey Bada$$)
  • Curry
  • Scott
  • Spencer, Jr.
  • Mule
  • Deboni
  • Freebase
  • Ronny J
  • FNZ
4:03
9."Good Night" (featuring Nell and Twelve'Len)
  • Curry
  • Joseph
FNZ3:56
10."If Tomorrow's Not Here" (featuring Twelve'Len)
  • Curry
  • Joseph
  • Lacy
Lacy5:35
Total length:39:58

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • "Sick & Tired" contains two parts, "Green Store Skit" features vocals by Vares of Twelve'Len and DJ Chief Pound
  • "Pure Enough" features additional vocals by Vares of Twelve'Len
  • "If Tomorrow's Not Here" features additional vocals by Steve Lacy

Sample credits

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References

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  1. ^ "Stream Denzel Curry's new "Imperial" album". Hypetrak. March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  2. ^ V, Brendan (March 9, 2016). "Denzel Curry - Imperial - Stream - DJBooth". Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  3. ^ "Denzel Curry - Knotty Head (Prod. FNZ & Ronny J)". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Denzel Curry (Ft. Rick Ross) – Knotty Head". Genius.com. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  5. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. (January 27, 2017). "Imperial - Denzel Curry". AllMusic. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  6. ^ Diep, Eric (March 14, 2016). "Denzel Curry - Imperial". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  7. ^ Russell, Brooklyn (March 22, 2016). "Review: Denzel Curry's Imperial". Prettymuchamazing.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  8. ^ Breihan, Tom (March 9, 2016). "Stereogum Stream Denzel Curry Imperial". Stereogum.com. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  9. ^ "Denzel Curry's Imperial playlist". SoundCloud.com. March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
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