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Ultimate (song)

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"Ultimate"
Single by Denzel Curry
from the EP 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms
ReleasedJune 9, 2015
Recorded2014–15
Genre
Length3:14
LabelLoma Vista Recordings
Songwriter(s)
  • Denzel Curry
  • Ronald Spence Jr.
Producer(s)Ronny J
Denzel Curry singles chronology
"Ice Age"
(2015) 		"Ultimate"
(2015) 		"Flying Nimbus"
(2016)
Music video
"Ultimate" on YouTube

"Ultimate" is a song by American rapper Denzel Curry, released on June 9, 2015 as the lead single from his debut double EP 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms. Produced and co-written by Ronny J, it is considered Curry's breakout hit.[2][3]

The song went viral in early 2016 when users of the video hosting service Vine began uploading various memes where the song's hook would play towards the end of the video. The meme would then spread to other websites, such as YouTube.[2] It was used in some parts of the episodes of Feisty Films.[citation needed]

The official remix of the song, featuring American rapper Juicy J, appears on the remastered version of 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms. A music video for the remix was released on March 20, 2019.[4]

Production

[edit]

The project was made by Ronny J, who composed, instrumentation and arranged the music. When he finished producing, he felt that it would be worth finishing this project, so he sent the project to a few familiar rappers. The instrumental song was not originally made for Denzel Curry, but Ronny J wanted to make this song project happen. It was on hold for almost 2 years before the project was released. Around 2014, Denzel Curry started writing lyrics for it because he liked the project and told Ronny that he wanted to finish the project. The song uses a sample or interpolation of Asha Bhosle - Sheesha Sharab Shabnam. The song is made in "A" harmonic minor at 114 BPM. The song is built from both trap music and Memphis rap drums. Ronny J's world of sound contains very dark distorted instrumental tones that are complemented by hard hitting drum sounds. Ronny J made the song in Logic Pro. Denzel Curry's rap flow was inspired by Buju Banton's song "Sensimilla Persecution." Denzel's rap lyrics are inspired by Miami and the Southern lifestyle, and his nerdy and geeky outlook, which is cartoons from animes and various shows.[5][6][7]

The second verse on the song is really iconic one of the most complex verse in hip hop with contains multiple rhyme scheme mixed together and wordplay.[8]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2016) Peak
position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)[9] 38

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[10] Gold 35,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[11] Gold 25,000‡
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/denzel-curry/ultimate/
  2. ^ a b "Looking Back At Denzel Curry's "Ultimate"". Genius. January 11, 2019.
  3. ^ Thompson, Paul (February 25, 2015). "Denzel Curry, 'Ultimate' - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  4. ^ Ingvaldsen, Torsten (February 20, 2019). "Denzel Curry Goes Super Saiyan In "Ultimate" MV Feat. Juicy J".
  5. ^ Genius (October 25, 2016). Denzel Curry "ULTIMATE" Official Lyrics & Meaning | Verified. Retrieved June 26, 2025 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Genius (September 22, 2017). The Making Of Denzel Curry's "Ultimate" With Ronny J | Deconstructed. Retrieved June 26, 2025 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Genius (January 11, 2019). Looking Back At Denzel Curry’s “Ultimate” | Song Stories. Retrieved June 26, 2025 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Genius (January 9, 2017). Denzel Curry's "Ultimate" | Check the Rhyme. Retrieved June 26, 2025 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Denzel Curry – Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  12. ^ "American single certifications – Denzel Curry – Ultimate". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 13, 2018.


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