II (Denzel Curry and Kenneth Blume album)

II
Studio album by
Denzel Curry and Kenneth Blume
ReleasedAugust 21, 2026 (2026-08-21)
GenreHip-hop
Length24:07
Labels
ProducerKenneth Blume
Denzel Curry and Kenneth Blume chronology
Unlocked 1.5
(2021)		 II
(2026)
Denzel Curry chronology
Strictly 4 the Scythe
(2026)		 II
(2026)
Kenneth Blume chronology
Fathers
(2026)		 II
(2026)
Singles from II
  1. "Difference"
    Released: August 12, 2026
  2. "Gone Fishing"
    Released: August 21, 2026

II (stylized in lowercase; also known as Unlocked II) is the first collaborative studio album[1] by American rapper Denzel Curry and record producer Kenny Beats. It was released through PH and Loma Vista Recordings on August 21, 2026. It serves as a follow up to their collaborative extended play (EP), Unlocked (2020). In promotion of the project, the two released two singles with "Difference" and "Gone Fishing"; as well as the two and will go on a North American tour.

Background

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[2]
The Needle Drop8/10[a][3]
Pitchfork5.9/10[4]

In 2020, Denzel Curry and Kenneth Blume (then known as Kenny Beats) released the collaborative extended play (EP), Unlocked. Released without a prior announcement,[5] the project was recorded in a three-day studio session, following Curry's appearance on Kenny Beats' YouTube series, The Cave.[6] It received critical acclaim from music critics[7] and was accompanied with an animated short film.[5] The following year, Curry and Kenny Beats released the remix extended play (EP), Unlocked 1.5, which features guest appearances from Smino, Joey Badass, and Benny the Butcher.[8]

Following the release of Unlocked, Curry went on to release two studio albums—Melt My Eyez See Your Future (2022)[9] and King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 (2024)[10]—with both receiving positive reviews from music critics.[11][12] Kenny Beats also went on the produce for bands such as Idles, Fcukers,[13] Geese, and Weezer,[6] while collaborating with Rico Nasty on their joint project—RX— and release the collaborative album—Fathers (2026)—with musicians Nate Smith, Carrtoons, and Kiefer.[14] In 2026, Curry collaborated with Knocked Loose on "Hive Mind", released the collaborative album—Strictly 4 the Scythe—with a rap supergroup the Scythe,[6] performed at Fred Again's concerts in New York City, and supported Deftones during the European leg of their tour.[15][14]

Production

During the production of II, Curry and Blume got into personal disputes over the project before simplifying its production, using only an SP-404 and a cheap microphone.[6]

Composition

Overview

The album features guest appearances from JPEGMafia, Westside Gunn, and Yebba.[6]

Tracks

"Difference" is described by Stereogum writer Tom Breihan as a "cluttered, energetic boom-bap track" with Curry in "fired-up but technically precise form." The track also features a hook from singer Yebba.[6]

Release and promotion

On August 11, 2026, Curry and Blume teased a sequel to Unlocked with a video of themselves walking through the mountains, while talking about their legacy and impact.[16] The project was officially announced under the title II the following day, with a release date of August 21.[15] The same day of the album's announcement, they released its lead single "Difference" with an accompanied music video featuring Yebba.[17][6] The music video showcases a "crackly VHS-style split-screen" of Curry and Kenny Beats starting their days.[6]

In promotion of the album, Curry is set to embark on a concert tour, which is set to begin on September 26, in Newport and conclude on November 13, in Springfield.[14] Physical sales for II were also made available,[18] including limited edition "galaxy colored" and "gatefold picture disc" vinyl, CD, and orange cassette. Additional merchandise includes shirts, a puzzle set, vinyl slipmat, cap, keychain, hoodie, beanie, and thermal.[19] The album was released on August 21.[20]

Track listing

Tracks are produced by Kenneth Blume, except where listed.

II track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Gone Fishing"
 2:04
2."Evil Grin" (featuring JPEGMafia)
  • Blume
  • Castelluzzo
  • Michels
  • Movshon
  • Steinweiss
  • Mason
2:22
3."Candlelight"
  • Blume
  • Curry
  • Hendricks
  • Benny Soebardja
  • Janko Nilovic
 2:46
4."Product"
  • Blume
  • Curry
  • Steinweiss
  • Matthew Cassell
 2:45
5."UPS"
  • Blume
  • Curry
  • Onaje Gumbs
  • Blume
  • J.Robb
2:22
6."Benjamin"
  • Blume
  • Curry
 2:29
7."Cold Night in Hell"
  • Blume
  • Curry
  • Ian Curnow
  • Paul Lewis
  • Rick Asikpo
 3:27
8."Crown" (featuring Westside Gunn)
  • Blume
  • Curry
  • Alvin Worthy
  • Leroy Burgess
  • Patrick Adams
  • Russell Patterson
  • Stuart Bascombe
 3:04
9."Difference" (featuring Yebba)
 2:48
Total length:24:07

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[21]

Musicians
  • Denzel Curry – vocals, writing, executive production (all tracks)
  • Kenneth Blume – writing, production, executive production (all tracks)
  • Björn Gislason – writing (tracks 1, 10)
  • Raymond Scott – writing (track 1)
  • Barrington Hendricks – vocals, writing (track 2)
  • Homer Steinweiss – writing (tracks 2, 4); production (track 2)
  • Paul Castelluzzo – writing, production (track 2)
  • Ray Mason – writing, production (track 2)
  • Leon Michels – writing, production (track 2)
  • Nick Movshon – writing, production (track 2)
  • Janko Nilovic – writing (track 3)
  • Benny Soebardja – writing (track 3)
  • Matthew Cassell – writing (track 4)
  • Onaje Gumbs (J. Robb) – writing, production (track 5)
  • Rick Asikpo – writing (track 7)
  • Ian Curnow – writing (track 7)
  • Paul Lewis – writing (track 7)
  • Alvin Worthy – vocals, writing (track 8)
  • Patrick Adams – writing (track 8)
  • Stuart Bascombe – writing (track 8)
  • Leroy Burgess – writing (track 8)
  • Russell Patterson – writing (track 8)
  • Abigail Smith – vocals, writing (track 9)
Technical

Charts

Chart performance for II
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[22] 9
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] 40

Notes

  1. ↑ Specifically, Fantano rated it a "light eight".

References

  1. ↑ Curry, Denzel [@denzelcurry] (August 21, 2026). "ii is not an Ep It's an album If you think it's an Ep because it's 9 tracks Remember Daytona was an album and it's only 7 tracks" (Tweet). Retrieved August 22, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  2. ↑ Murray, Robin (August 21, 2026). "Denzel Curry, Kenneth Blume – ii". Clash Music. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  3. ↑ Fantano, Anthony (August 26, 2026). "Denzel Curry & Kenneth Blume - ii ALBUM REVIEW". The Needle Drop. Retrieved August 27, 2026 – via YouTube.
  4. ↑ Lafontant, Olivier. "Denzel Curry / Kenneth Blume: ii Album Review". Pitchfork Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Darville, Jordan (February 7, 2020). "Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats share new album Unlocked". The Fader. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Breihan, Tom (August 12, 2026). "Denzel Curry & Kenneth Blume Announce New Album 'ii': Hear "Difference"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  7. ↑ "UNLOCKED by Denzel Curry". Metacritic. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  8. ↑ Caraan, Sophie (March 5, 2021). "Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats Deliver 'UNLOCKED 1.5' Remix Project". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  9. ↑ Blanchet, Brenton (March 25, 2022). "Denzel Curry Shares Album 'Melt My Eyez See Your Future' f/ T-Pain, Rico Nasty, 6lack, J.I.D, and More". Complex. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  10. ↑ Carter, Emily (July 16, 2024). "Denzel Curry unleashes final single from King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  11. ↑ Williams, Kyann-Sian (March 23, 2022). "Denzel Curry – 'Melt My Eyez See Your Future' review: unexpectedly soothing melodies". NME. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  12. ↑ Crone, David (September 11, 2024). "King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 - Denzel..." AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Denzel Curry & Kenneth Blume (fka Kenny Beats) reunite for new album, share Yebba-featuring "DIFFERENCE" (BV-exclusive vinyl)". BrooklynVegan. August 12, 2026. Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 Fu, Eddie (August 12, 2026). "Denzel Curry, Kenneth Blume (Kenny Beats) Announce New Album ii, Share "DIFFERENCE"". Consequence. Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  15. 1 2 Murray, Robin (August 12, 2026). "Denzel Curry, Kenneth Blume Collaborate On New Album 'ii' | News". Clash. Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  16. ↑ Quincy (August 11, 2026). "Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats Reveal "UNLOCKED 2" Release Date". Ratings Game Music. Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  17. ↑ Cole, Alexander (August 12, 2026). "DIFFERENCE - Song by Denzel Curry & Kenneth Blume featuring Yebba". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  18. ↑ Fu, Eddie (August 12, 2026). "Denzel Curry, Kenneth Blume (Kenny Beats) Announce New Album ii, Share "DIFFERENCE"". Consequence. Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Denzel Curry & Kenneth Blume - ii". i.denzelcurry.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
  20. ↑ Cole, Alexander (August 20, 2026). "Hip-Hop Albums & Songs Dropping Tonight, August 21, 2026". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 23, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ↑ "ii / Denzel Curry / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 31, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. August 28, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
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