Denzel Curry, Leader of the New Underground Rap Scene, to Spice up Friday Night at Pohoda 2026

The Florida rapper, songwriter, and exceptional lyricist, who has risen from cult idol to one of the most respected names in contemporary rap. Denzel Curry, renowned for his intense live performances, will captivate you on Friday evening at the 30th edition of Pohoda.

03. December 2025

Denzel Rae Don Curry began rapping in the sixth grade, created his first mixtape at the age of sixteen, and released his debut album Nostalgic 64 while still in high school. Critics often praise his aggressive rap style, high-energy performances, powerful lyrics, and artistic versatility.

Curry is considered one of the pioneers of the SoundCloud rap genre, which emerged alongside a wave of young rappers who grew up on the streaming platform and eventually broke into the mainstream charts.

The last few years have seen Denzel's rise to new heights. Through earlier albums Nostalgic 64 and Imperial, he established himself as one of the leaders of the new underground rap scene. He then released a trio of critically acclaimed albums that cemented him as one of the most important voices in rap. With his most recent studio album Melt My Eyez See Your Future from 2022, Curry demonstrated his ability to blend his signature lyrical brilliance with catchy pop choruses, which is especially noticeable in songs like "Walkin" and "X-Wing."

His latest musical project, the mixtape King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2, released in the summer of 2024, marks a return to his roots while also signalling the dawn of a new era in Curry’s career. After more than a decade of critically praised releases, he now stands shoulder to shoulder with the biggest names in the genre.

At just 30 years old, Curry has already collaborated with names like Slowthai, ASAP Rocky, Ferg, JPEGMAFIA, Yungblud, T-Pain, and Robert Glasper. As a versatile artist who enjoys experimenting with different subgenres of music, he excels not only in aggressive and energetic rap, but also in jazz-influenced and more melodic styles. What remains constant, however, are his powerful, often retrospective lyrical messages.

"To me, he’s the biggest name in American punk/hip-hop over the last decade. His audacity, attitude, and the moshpits drenched in sweat beneath the stage. After last year’s brilliant gigs from JPEGMAFIA and Joey Valence & Brae, Denzel Curry at Pohoda 2026 was a no-brainer, and it’s great that it worked out," adds Majo Tesák from the Pohoda Festival team.

The 30th edition of Pohoda will feature performances by Gorillaz, The Prodigy, IDLES, Baxter Dury, SOFT PLAY, Native James, Para, Gleb, Turtle Island, Annie & The Caldwells, Emma-Jean Thackray, and many more. This year, for the first time, Pohoda will also include an Extra Day, with legendary The Cure, Scottish band The Twilight Sad, Ireland’s Just Mustard, and Denis Bango performing. Bango will perform songs from his project Fvck_Kvlt and the band Wilderness on the piano, just before The Cure’s performance. The Extra Day will also feature a late-night afterparty at Trenčín Airport. You can purchase a 4-day ticket (festival + The Cure), a 3-day ticket (Thursday to Saturday), or extend your 3-day ticket with the Extra Day. Find all the details and tickets here.

I'M GOING TO POHODA 2026