The concept of influence is ingrained in modern society. A scroll through social media will show some of the many people whose images are perfectly curated to feel natural and relatable. Yet, for the most part, the only thing many maintain is an air of inaccessibility. When I first heard of Curtiss King, I assumed he would fit under that umbrella. It took one ForTheRecord interview to realize that I was wrong and only one meeting to understand that he is not an influencer; he is so much more.
Curtiss King is a modern-day Renaissance man with a distinctive ability to inspire new perspectives. He raps, produces, creates beats and social media content, and mentors. Most impressively, he does this and more while prioritizing being a loving husband and father and an invaluable resource to his peers. His latest album, DIY2, comes after a 5-year hiatus and a decade since the release of the first DIY album.
I met Curtiss at KnockHouse Studios in Downtown LA, and despite it being our first interaction, he greeted me with warmth and energy that is often only experienced when interacting with a good friend. We spoke about DIY2, the development of his own aesthetic, and his professional ability to map out the direction of a full-length project. The inspiration for this specific project was the result of a comment left during one of his live streams by his good friend Tone, who suggested that Curtiss redo his original DIY cover, replacing the images of himself as a baby with images of his son Nahz.
Despite the name and cover similarities, Curtiss tells me, "If you had the projects talk to one another, they wouldn't recognize each other. DIY2 is the culmination of all of the times that I threw shit at the wall, trying to find what stuck. When you throw something against the wall figuratively and literally, some things will stick, but it's remnants. It's me showing that I am in full control of my craft and that I know what I am doing." It's not that the original DIY was pale in its ability to paint a vibrant future, but rather that it was unsure of when or how that future would finally manifest. DIY2 is the manifestation. It isn't Curtiss reinventing himself; it's him settling deeper into himself and fine-tuning.
DIY2 is just as stimulating as it is entertaining. It explores Curtiss' take on the concept of doing it yourself without feeling preachy or condescending, challenging the listener to take the title beyond face value and explore what "doing it yourself" means to them in songs like "Find Your Way" and "On My Own" ft. Jay Kasai. Curtiss storms the project with confidence, delivering clever wordplay and personal anecdotes while weaving a lively spirit through each record. He fuses his experiences and influences to form a refreshingly unique sound.
If his truth and composure don't cut deep, the dynamic assortment of beats will. When asked about the timeline from conception to release of the project, Curtiss tells me, "I did every single song in front of a camera using an SD card that had a recording limit of 4 hours. 4 hours to cook up a beat and a song" something that is no small feat considering the depth and intricacies of the subject matter and production, and becomes nearly unbelievable upon hearing his song "Skin Care."
Curtiss' message goes beyond just music. He opens himself up to his audience, connecting and sharing messages of believing in your dreams, overcoming self-doubt and setbacks, collaborating with people who value and support you, and ultimately, not waiting to make things happen: doing things for and by yourself. Available in not just one but four formats, this album leaves no question that Curtiss King will continue to be a prominent figure in the industry, with his values and morals being notable along the way.
DIY2 is available on all streaming services.
Follow Curtiss King on Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.
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