LIVE FROM THE PIT: Denzel Curry, DJ Babyface Gio and Frozemode

Fresh off the back of an insane set at Outbreak Festival, Denzel Curry burst onto the stage of the packed O2 Brixton Academy with insane energy and charisma that comes from someone who knows they’re killing it.

With support from Frozemode and DJ Babyface Gio, Curry continued his Mischevious South Tour at one of London’s most iconic venues - just as you’d expect from one of the rising stars of the rap world. 

Opening the evening were London-based Frozemode - a trio of frontmen with a full band behind them (a rarity for rap groups!). 

From the moment they sprinted onto the stage of the packed-out venue, their energy was boundless. C’mon, when one singer runs onstage with a bottle of Courvoisier, you know they mean business. CHO-HOLLO, I.V.GATLIN and LISONG were non-stop, constantly running around, dancing and overall hyping the crowd up. If anyone was going to bring the energy before Denzel Curry’s set - it’s gonna be these guys. It was a perfect choice and the audience was eating it up, giving in to the group’s desires for mosh pits, jumping and screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs - they’ll be a headliner here in no time.

Following them was DJ Babyface Gio and despite his best attempt with some insane track choices - unfortunately, he did not have the same energy as Frozemode - but to be fair to him, going from an energetic trio to a DJ would be a tough transition for anyone. His skills are undeniable and in a more suitable lineup and venue, I have no doubt he kills it. 

On a plus side, it gave security chace to pass out water to a horrifically warm venue, and pull out people who were becoming unwell from the heat. If the venue wasn’t hot enough, when Denzel kicked into his set, he brought the heat tenfold. 

Though Denzel’s success comes from him blending genres and gaining fans from a variety of scenes, whilst he is undeniably a phenomenal rapper, the musical stylings pull influence from the grunge and hardcore scenes, giving the overall vibe a much heavier, grittier sound.

Donning an iconic Speed jersey, Curry furthered his hardcore music connection and if the moshpits in the crowd were anything to go off, the crowd were eating it up.

Denzel Curry is the prime example of a rapper being able to perform expertly and have an insane stage presence with out over the top props or staging - he just needed himself.

Though many may know him the viral ‘Ultimate’, Denzel proved to the Brixton crowd that every single one of his tracks is a hit and that he just has that star power.

Throughout the night the crowd barely stopped jumping, he really was playing banger after banger, and ending on a cover of Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Bull’s On Parade’ was truly chefs kiss. With talent, stage presence and energy like this, Denzel Curry will be selling out arena tours in no time.

If you’re a hardcore/alt fan who has been thinking about branching into listening to rap, what are you waiting for? Denzel Curry and Frozemode are just the tip of the ever-growing iceberg that is starting to blur the lines between heavy rap and hardcore.

Words and Photos: Ely King