denzel curry covers ‘i against i’ with bad brains

Is a rock album in the cards for Denzel Curry? It’s starting to look like it. On the heels of dropping one of the best rap albums of 2019 so far with ZUU and doing a rendition of Rage Against The Machine’s “Bulls On Parade” that would Zack de la Rocha proud Curry is flexing his punk bona fides once again. This time Curry has collaborated with Bad Brains’ bassist Darryl Jennifer to cover the seminal punk band’s classic “I Against I” and linked up with Canadian Hardcore band, Fucked Up, to do a mosh pit-inciting version of his own song “CLOUT COBAIN.”

Curry and Jenifer appeared on Spotify’s Under Cover podcast to discuss their collaboration with Curry noting the superficial similarities between himself and Bad Brains: “Think about it: We all look alike. We all got dreads we Black!” He sees himself as a kindred spirit to Bad Brains throat man who shared the same “dooked-out” dreads he has and whose birthday, Feb. 16 is just five days before his own.  Jenifer, invigorated by performing with Curry, felt transported back to the days of his youth: “The spirit of Denzel comin’ in and just kickin’ it with positive energy and positive spirit it was like I was back on stage with this song.”

The result is a raucous rendition that’s both a tribute to H.R. and a showcase of Curry’s unique vocal abilities. “What’s makes a good cover song?” Curry asked on “Under Cover.”  “Actually nailing it! Actually owning it. It’s not doing it how the [original] artist did it but how you did it …” Well done, kid.