Denzel Curry – UP (feat. Rich The Kid, A$AP Ferg & SadBoi) Review

Denzel Curry Taps into His Roots with “UP”: A Rowdy Homecoming

Denzel Curry is currently operating at a level few can touch. His latest drop, “UP” featuring Rich The Kid, A$AP Ferg, and SadBoi, feels less like a calculated single and more like a high-energy session where everyone actually showed up to play. It’s the standout moment from King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2, a project that sees Zel circling back to the gritty, distorted Southern rap that built his foundation.

Reclaiming the “Mischievous South”

If his last record, Melt My Eyez See Your Future, was a deep breath and a moment of Zen, this new era is the adrenaline rush that follows. By revisiting the King Of The Mischievous South title, Denzel is embracing the “Big Ultra” persona—a more polished, lethal version of the underground kid who was bubbling out of Florida over a decade ago.

“UP” doesn’t try to be “smart” or overly conceptual. It’s built on a foundation of trunk-rattling 808s and the kind of eerie, Memphis-inspired loops that make you want to drive a bit too fast.

A Heavyweight Lineup

The features here actually pull their weight, which is a rarity on tracks with four names in the title:

• A$AP Ferg sounds right at home here, bringing that classic Harlem “Trap Lord” energy that meshes perfectly with Curry’s Florida bounce.

• Rich The Kid provides a smooth, melodic contrast to the more aggressive verses, giving the track its “pop” accessibility without making it feel watered down.

• SadBoi is the secret weapon, delivering an unpredictable spark that keeps the momentum from dipping even for a second.

Why It Hits

What makes “UP” work is that it doesn’t feel like a museum piece. Even though Curry is “bringing back the sound that launched his career,” he isn’t just cosplaying as his younger self. The production is crisp, the flows are technical, and the energy is infectious. It’s a track designed for the stage—loud, fast, and impossible to ignore.

The Bottom Line

Denzel Curry has spent years proving he can do it all, from jazz-rap to heavy metal. With “UP,” he’s reminding everyone that he can still run the club and the streets whenever he feels like it. It’s raw, it’s Southern, and it’s arguably the most fun we’ve heard him have on a track in years.