“Melt My Eyez, See Your Future” marks a new era for rapper Denzel Curry with an ambitious dive into lyricism about cultural hardships and mental health.
Rather than fall victim to an industry that praises recklessness over maturity, he ditches the curiosity of an earlier, mosh-maddening sound for a more analytical approach to fame and trauma. It’s not every day that an artist breaks the mold of music so late in their career, but Curry stands as proof that rap innovation is possible.
The opening track on “Melt My Eyez, See Your Future” is daringly confrontational. Whispers of hushed piano keys on “Melt Session #1” accompany somber, guilt-ridden lyrics where Curry confronts his indulgence in negative behaviors, as he raps, “I'm just hypnotized, working hard to empathize, strung out on love addiction and groupies when souls collide.”
The following tracks feel stagnant, with little to no change in tempo. Despite this lack of variety at the start of the album, Curry is wickedly honest in his observations of mental health on tracks “Walkin” and “Worst Comes to Worst.”
The accomplished rapper, with over 7 million Spotify listeners, speaks about his difficult and ongoing journey with depression on “Walkin,” where he inserts the chorus and title from Long Island, New York, trio De La Soul’s August 1989 rap hit “Me Myself and I.”
After this revelation of harrowing sorrow, Curry alludes to Greek mythology, expressing fear about being taken to the land of Hades on “Worst Comes to Worst.”
“John Wayne” marks a point of transition in the album. With shocking production from alternative artist JPEGMAFIA, gunshot sounds blend into the background of the track as Curry talks about the prominence of gun violence in America.
On “The Last,” Curry raps over a pulsating beat about the urgency of racial issues. In an interview with Loud and Quiet, he elaborated on the meaning behind the second verse of the track, where Curry criticizes the colorism of the music industry as he observes light-skinned artists breaking through the charts at a higher rate than dark-skinned artists.
Curry reveals a sense of vulnerability on the jazz-infused track “Mental,” where he grapples with suicidal thoughts. He showcases this disregard for life when he raps, “My mental statе is, ‘Whatever happens, happen.’”
Stacked features from 6lack, Rico Nasty, J.I.D., Powers Pleasant and Jasiah on “Ain’t No Way” add nuance to a track with lackluster lyrics on an otherwise revealing album of commentary on systemically-induced problems.
As the album progresses, trap-infused beats on “X-Wing” and “Sanjuro” precisely mirror the style of musical production from Florida rappers Kodak Black and YNW Melly, reminding listeners of Curry’s own origins in the sunshine state. It’s on these tracks where Curry’s unmatchable, aggressive flow shines as he delivers daring messages about fame and his upbringing, admitting he is greedy and prides himself on a life of luxury since becoming rich.
As “Melt My Eyez, See Your Future” comes to an end, a captivating outro revisits the theme of mental health, which is heavily present throughout the album.
It’s on “The Ills” where luscious jazz and electronic beats close the album with a sense of optimism as Curry looks toward the future and raps, “Lord invited me to stay idly on his left side so I can right my wrongs in these songs to live and let die.”
Despite a lack of experimental tracks, Curry lights a match, delivering graphically topical and raw commentary on the pitfalls of American society with the shockingly inventive “Melt My Eyez, See Your Future” album.
