Denzel Curry “Keeps on Walking” at Debut Headline Show in Milwaukee

Miami rapper Denzel Curry came to The Rave in Milwaukee on Thursday for his first headline show in the city, touring behind his most recent album “Melt My Eyez, See Your Future,” released in March of this year to critical acclaim. Technical difficulties postponed the start of the show by nearly an hour, but those who were patient got to experience an incredible night of generational hip-hop talent.

Close collaborator PlayThatBoiZay kicked off the show with a short yet fiery set, closing it out with his verse on fan-favorite Denzel track “P.A.T.” from his 2019 album “ZUU.” Maryland rapper Redveil took the stage next, fresh off of the success of his sanguine breakout album “Learn 2 Swim.” His performance was equal parts uplifting and energetic, starting off with crowd-ready anthems like “5500” and “PG Baby,” but eventually stepping into soulful territory with heartwarming tracks “Sky” and “Mars.” His stage presence and dedication to crowd control was super impressive considering the fact that he’s only 18. In a heartfelt ending to his set, he led the crowd in a harmonious chant along to his most popular song, “Weight.”

San Francisco collective, AG Club, took the final opening slot, having generated considerable buzz following the release of their album “Impostor Syndrome” earlier this month. The two vocalists of the group, Jody Fontaine and Baby Boy, performed alongside an inflatable recreation of the album cover. After their DJ played 15 glorious minutes of moshpit classics (Kanye’s “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1,” Baby Keem’s “Family Ties,” Playboi Carti’s “Sky”) the duo graced the stage with a barrage of bass-heavy bangers, weaving in between one another with immaculate chemistry. They ended their set with the one-two punch of “Memphis” and “Mr. Put It On,” two of their strongest tracks thus far. 

At long last, Curry emerged from the shadows of the stage to thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd. Even after nearly three hours of opening acts, the enthusiasm was still high, and he was more than able to channel the energy in the room into an incredible performance. Opening with “Melt Session #1,” the soul-stirring first track on “Melt My Eyez,” he set the tone for a set that celebrated togetherness– but also pondered the personal journeys that we’ve undergone in times of isolation and solitude. He then jumped straight into lead single “Walkin,” a powerful track about perseverance in the face of uncertainties. A clear crowd favorite, the audience echoed each word of the chorus in one of the most unifying moments of the night.

Curry flew through the first half of “Melt My Eyez,” but paused to address internal struggles and the importance of self-care before “Mental,”one of the more personal and mellow songs on the album. “Melt My Eyez” is one of the best rap albums that 2022 has to offer, and seeing the songs in a live setting deepened my appreciation for the project even more. It’s a body of work that sees one of the most accomplished artists in hip-hop right now tirelessly refining his sound, making his most emotionally mature album to date in the process. However, the crowning moment of the show was the absolutely ruthless hit parade that followed, where Denzel pulled out crowd favorites and deep cuts from nearly every era of his decade-long career.

“Man, you know this is my favorite song, right?” Curry told the crowd with a smile before breaking into “This Life,”an uplifting standout from his 2016 album “Imperial.” Engagement remained high with the crowd, as a fan in the front row handed him a vinyl record of Denzel’s album “TA13OO” and a Sharpie marker. He signed it on stage, and then waved the album around triumphantly in the air while performing the infectious “Black Balloons.”

I was able to scratch a major item off my bucket list when Curry’s most popular song, “Ultimate,” came over the speakers. The floor shook under me as all the openers joined Denzel on stage and several hundreds of people coalesced into a giant mosh pit. The DJ cut the instrumental for a completely a cappella rendition of the song’s second verse, the noise from the crowd only getting louder the longer he continued on – seemingly without stopping to take a single breath.

The night began to close as Curry performed “The Ills,” the poignant closing track to “Melt My Eyez.” It would have been a fitting closer for the show, but the crowd in Milwaukee was treated to something even better. As concertgoers yelled “one more song” in protest for an encore after Denzel left the stage, he jokingly obliged. “Okay, man, let me stop playing with y’all and come back out.” He re-emerged to play the infernal and ethereal, “ULT,” a consensus pick for Denzel’s best song among his core fans. With the pure energy that he brought to this final song, you certainly wouldn’t be blamed for thinking it was the first track on the setlist. 

Denzel Curry gave Milwaukee the show they deserved on the “Melt My Eyez” tour. His all-killer-no-filler setlist and impassioned performance only served to prove how versatile and consistent of an artist he continues to be – even whilst taking the steps to find himself, as evidenced on his phenomenal and emotionally vulnerable new album. Curry is bound to play a stage even bigger than The Rave in future years. To quote one of his finest tracks, “keep on walkin’, ain’t no stoppin’.”