On 'Melt My Eyez See Your Future,' Denzel Curry's ambitions get the best of him

Let's be honest about South Florida's rap scene: The region is full of creative talent, most of it unheralded. The Haitian hairstyles, Trick Daddy's dirty grimaces, Miami Hurricanes jackets and "The U" hand symbol that dominates Miami's hot blocks are pillars of the South. And yet, the melodic stylings of Atlanta and Louisiana draw most of the region's attention, even as Miami hip-hop has vividly incorporated the culture of the city into its scene.

Over the last decade, has escaped that curse of nonrecognition, carving out a distinct presence in hip-hop's mainstream with his flair for versatility. For Curry, who hails out of Carol City, there's an -esque dynamic of belonging to a regional music scene while eagerly embracing outside influences. A Houston screw and Memphis phonk fanatic, Curry's always been less anarchic than a traditional SoundCloud rapper (despite being from the region that put the genre on the map), but more chaotic and downtrodden than, say, a comparative elder like and his soulful raps about luxury.