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Since 2004, New Orleans rapper Curren$y has released 45 projects. Tomorrow marks the release of #46: Canal Street Confidential (buy here), his first studio album through Atlantic Records. With such a massive discography and history, we felt it right to highlight the prolific rapper's career, selecting our 25 favorite songs by Spitta.
Although we only stuck to Curren$y-released projects when selecting this list (meaning we didn't include/consider any of his features on other people's tracks), it's worth mentioning he has a song with Kendrick Lamar and Talib Kweli that you need to listen to. The same goes for "Grooveline Pt. 1" with ScHoolBoy Q and Dom Kennedy and “So High” with French Montana. We also dismissed his early work as a 504 Boyz member for No Limit Records. Shouts to his legendary rap on Lil Wayne's version of “Dis is How We Do,” back when they were both within Cash Money Records, too.
All this is to say, the man has made a lot of music. Thousands of Curren$y songs exist. I have 616 just in my iTunes library. We tried to make this list of 25 as eclectic as possible, while taking account of career highs like the Pilot Talk albums, which figure heavily but don't dominate this chronological, unranked list.
Note: I respect the hell out of Spitta and the massive underground following of “Lifers” and I welcome any and all hate in the comment section for songs I most assuredly missed. Praise to Spitta. Life.
UPDATE: Curren$y just dropped a new video, the fourth from Canal Street Confidential. Watch "Superstar," featuring Ty Dolla $ign, below.
2. Curren$y – "Scared of Monstas"
Year released: 2009
Album: This Ain't No Mixtape
Producer: Monsta Beats
One of the very first solo songs by Curren$y that grabbed my attention, “Scared of Monsters” is a quaking track with production from Monsta Beatz that oozes menace. This is a New Orleans track through and through, released on Curren$y's first album. After having released so many mixtapes (seven in eight months), he had to clarify for his listeners that This Ain't No Mixtape. The artwork still goes.
Honorable mention from this album: “Elevator Muzik.”
3. Curren$y x Wiz Khalifa - “Car Service”
Year released: 2009
Album: How Fly
Producer: Sledgren
2009: when Curren$y was bigger than Wiz Khalifa. The same year that Wiz and Spitta released How Fly, with “Car Service” acting as one hell of an opener, Curren$y was on the cover of XXL as one of the Freshman selections. The next year, Wiz would make that same cover. It's crazy to see where these two have come in six years.
Ever since this song dropped, I've been wanting to have my “pockets on Schwarzenegger.”
4. Curren$y - “The Pledge (In and Out)”
Year released: 2009
Album: Jet Files
Producer: Big Chop
One of Curren$y's more reflective and emotional numbers, this piece is smack in the middle of his second studio album, Jet Files. Released through Amalgram Digital, just like This Ain't No Mixtape, this song became a manifesto for the jet lifestyle.
“Bitches see they reflections when they look in my wheel but they never get to do it 'cause I can't keep still.”
5. Curren$y ft. Chip Tha Ripper & Big Sean - “Fat Raps”
Year released: 2010
Album: Smokee Robinson
Producer: Chuck Inglish
Chuck Inglish has produced some of the best posse cuts in hip-hop. Here, Sir Chuck provides the backdrop for King Chip (then known as Chip Tha Ripper) and a young Big Sean. This song was so hot that it made it also made its way on Chip's mixtape, The Cleveland Show, as well as Big Sean's Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG, which included a remix with additional verses from Chuck Inglish, Chip, Dom Kennedy, Asher Roth, and Boldy James.
Curren$y's Smokee Robinson, which houses this track, might be Curren$y's strongest mixtape over recycled beats, as tracks like “Reset” and “Lemon Kush” take it to the next level. This was released two months before Pilot Talk. Spitta had one hell of a year in 2010.
6. Curren$y - “King Kong”
Year released: 2010
Album: Pilot Talk
Producer: Ski Beatz
Can we cut the bullshit and include all of Pilot Talk on this list? “King Kong” is a personal favorite, as that Ski Beatz instrumental is a thing of beauty. This one's been bumping in the whip ever since 2010. The video is a simple black-and-white car ride in the rain, but the crisp HD and cool flows is a testament to the many quality videos made by Spitta and Creative Control.
7. Curren$y - “Breakfast”
Year released: 2010
Album: Pilot Talk
Producer: Ski Beatz & Mos Def
Whenever I hear this song, wherever I may be, I instantly think of Curren$y getting out of bed and rolling up in a hotel somewhere tropical. Complete with a sung outro from Mos Def, this song is a healthy breakfast, indeed.
Note: the music video version of “Breakfast” and what we actually hear on Pilot Talk are two very different songs. Listen closely.
8. Curren$y ft. Jay Electronica & Mos Def – “The Day”
Year released: 2010
Album: Pilot Talk
Producer: Ski Beatz
Dame Dash's studio in 2009-2010 was iconic. From Blakroc sessions to Jay Electronica and Mos Def stopping by multiple days a week, we heard so much great music that was created in this small amount of time. Pilot Talk battles at the top for the greatest project to come out of that era, with this posse cut (of sorts) being one of the most legendary creations. RIP to Blakroc 2.
9. Curren$y ft. Young Roddy & Trademark Da Skydiver - “Hold On”
Year released: 2010
Album: Pilot Talk 2
Producer: Nesby Phips
Jonah Schwartz was holding down a great deal of the video work for Creative Control in 2010, and the talented director continues to shoot for artists like Freddie Gibbs and A$AP Mob. Here, he highlights three lifestyles: Curren$y, who plays video games and plays with his dogs, Young Roddy, who gets his kid dressed and ready, and Trademark Da Skydiver, who plays poker in a dimly lit basement.
Pilot Talk 2 might just be as good as the first edition, and the sedated posse cut “Hold On” is one reason why.
10. Curren$y ft. Raekwon - “Michael Knight (Remix)”
Year released: 2010
Album: Pilot Talk 2
Producer: Ski Beatz & The Senseis
Released as a bonus track on Pilot Talk 2, Curren$y's remix with Raekwon makes “Michael Knight” a track that would stand out on any album. Ski Beatz went wild on this instrumental and The Senseis provided stellar live instrumentation. That being said, it's a shame that Curren$y didn't give us a new verse for the remix version.
11. Curren$y ft. Killa Kyleon - “4 Hours & 20 Minutes”
Year released: 2010
Album: N/A
Producer: Young Los
Released strictly as a music video and never appearing on a proper project, the collaborative single between New Orleans rapper Curren$y and Houston rapper Killa Kyleon is a bass-heavy country tune that speeds through traffic and makes it home in time for the front yard kickback. The title is obviously alluding to Smoke Time, but it's also (almost) the driving time it takes to make it from NOLA to H-Town.
According to Google Maps, the two cities are five hours and twelve minutes apart. But if you drive real fast...
12. Curren$y - “BBS”
Year released: 2011
Album: Covert Coup
Producer: The Alchemist
What a stellar opening to a free 4/20 release from Curren$y and producer Alchemist. The two gave us ten heaters and the collaborative effort remains a highlight in both their discographies. This song is in my personal Curren$y top ten. Straight flames, beats and bars fully on point.
13. Curren$y ft. Prodigy - “The Type”
Year released: 2011
Album: Covert Coup
Producer: The Alchemist
Directly following the opener “BBS,” Alchemist brings Prodigy from Mobb Deep into the studio so he and Curren$y can go back and forth with brag-heavy lines and plenty of smoke. Paying homage to Outakst's "Skew It On The Bar-B," with the hook, "We bust raps like D boys bust Gats," is just another reason to love this track.
The whole of Covert Coup knocks.
14. Curren$y ft. Freddie Gibbs - “Scottie Pippen”
Year Released: 2011
Producer: Covert Coup
Producer: The Alchemist
My last selection from Covert Coup (I wish I could pick another three tracks) is “Scottie Pippen” with Gary, IN rapper Freddie Gibbs alongside Spitta. The two do damage over the sleepy guitar beat courtesy of Alan the Chemist. This is a song best enjoyed with a RapGenius page up.
15. Curren$y ft. Lil Wayne - “Smoke Sumthin'”
Year released: 2011
Album: Verde Terrace
Producer: Organized Noise
A much appreciated collaboration, “Smoke Sumthin” showcases Lil' Wayne and Curren$y vibing over Outkast's classic “Elevators (Me & You).” Since Curren$y left Cash Money back in 2007, we weren't sure of the relationship between the two, but they kept crafting songs together (including brand new single “Bottom of the Bottle”).
More proof that everybody loves Spitta.
16. Curren$y - “Chasin' Papers”
Year released: 2012
Album: The Stoned Immaculate
Producer: The Neptunes
It's necessary to pick something from Curren$y's debut major label album. Released through Warner Bros., this album featured some big names, including one of the biggest of them all: Pharrell. With production from The Neptunes and a hook from Mr. Williams, “Chasin' Papers” had to be included; very few things sound better than Curren$y and Pharrell together.
17. Curren$y - “Biscayne Bay”
Year released: 2012
Album: Cigarette Boats
Producer: Harry Fraud
Curren$y's Cigarette Boats EP might have been my favorite project of 2012. Only four songs long, the EP finds Curren$y flowing over the hazy (and nautical) production from Harry Fraud, one hell of a formula for success. “Mirrors” with Smoke DZA is another must-hear from the project, but solo piece “Biscayne Bay” takes the cake for having the strongest music video.
18. Curren$y - “Money Machine Pt. 2”
Year released: 2012
Album: Priest Andretti
Producer: DJ Toomp
Yes, I believe that Priest Andretti is Curren$y's most slept-on mixtape. Produced by DJ Toomp, “Money Machine Pt. 2” is cinematic and boss; it's a song that should play at every bank around the country when the tellers start to count money at the end of the day.
Note: this is actually a “sequel” to “Money Machine,” which can be found on Spitta's Weekend at Burnie's mixtape.
19. Curren$y ft. Young Roddy - “Can't Get Out”
Year released: 2012
Album: 3 Piece Set
Producer: Thelonius Martin
Another oft-overlooked Curren$y release is 3 Piece Set. In 2012, Spitta paid a visit to Closed Sessions in Chicago alongside Young Roddy. The two hopped on three instrumentals from Thelonious Martin (allegedly the first three he played for them), and the rest is history. Thelo has continued producing for Curren$y, but this was the first taste, and boy, is it smooth.
“Can't Get Out” sounds like a Brazilian dream.
20. Curren$y x Wiz Khalifa - “Toast”
Year released: 2013
Album: Live In Concert
Producer: Bobbi Humphrey
Remember when Curren$y and Wiz delayed their sophomore project because of sample clearance? Then they dropped a six-song retail EP, full of samples, complete with flute solos and lounge bar bass lines? 2013 was interesting. The song “Toast” is about as classy as Curren$y will ever be. Spitta and Wiz should have worn suits in the music video, but they went with standard baggy cargo shorts instead.
21. Curren$y - “Showroom 2”
Year released: 2013
Album: Red Eye
Producer: Cardo
Before Monsta Beatz, Cornerboy P, and Young Roddy went on tour (with Sir Michael Rocks joining them for a few shows), they released the Jet Life compilation mixtape Red Eye. Although unfortunately not on the tour, Curren$y delivered on the mixtape an the unreleased solo track “Showroom 2”, produced by Cardo.
Reminder: the first “Showroom” was on The Stoned Immaculate and also produced by Cardo.
22. Curren$y x Young Roddy - “Walkie Talkies”
Year released: 2013
Album: Bales
Producer: Thelonius Martin
The third Thelonious Martin-produced track to make this list, “Walkie Talkies” has the same sample as Kid Cudi's “The One.” The song is a simple loop meant for infinite bars, and Spitta and Young Roddy are only too happy to comply. Bales is a great album from these two Jet Life cohorts, and well worth revisiting.
23. Curren$y x Smoke DZA Ft. French Montana & Big K.R.I.T. - “10 Bricks”
Year released: 2013
Album: The Stage EP
Producer: Harry Fraud
Curren$y's Cigarette Boats EP and Smoke DZA's Rugby Thompson (both fully produced by Harry Fraud) are nearly flawless, but Curren$y and Smoke's collaborative The Stage EP (again, fully produced by Harry Fraud) wasn't what it could have been. The four-song EP is unfortunately forgettable, but thankfully the track “10 Bricks” with French Montana and Big K.R.I.T acts as a nice closing posse cut for the short project.
24. Curren$y - “Hi Top Whites”
Year released: 2014
Album: The Drive-In Theatre
Producer: Thelonius Martin
Acting damn near as a follow-up to Priest Andretti (although, like, six projects were scattered between), The Drive-In Theatre is a Godfather-esque mafioso tape, covered in production from Thelonious Martin. It's hard to top the Action Bronson-featuring “Godfather Four,” but the relaxing horn-filled haze on “Hi Top Whites” is the winner.
25. Curren$y - “Cargo Planes”
Year released: 2015
Album: Pilot Talk III
Producer: Joey Fatts
Closing out the trilogy five years after it started, Curren$y dropped another strong addition to the Pilot Talk series. It wasn't as strong as the first two, but the third installment shows a more mature and wizened Curren$y.
Five years and hundreds of songs later, Pilot Talk III is a new Spitta. Still smoking heavy, still smiling, but new nonetheless. Acting as the second single on the album, “Cargo Planes” came produced by Joey Fatts and showed a more mob-friendly Curren$y, letting us know that we wouldn't be getting a cookie-cutter version of the original Pilot Talk.
Evolution is key.
26. Curren$y - “Like Five Deuce Four Trey”
Year released: 2015
Album: Cathedral
Producer: Chase N Cashe
This project went under most radars, but back in June, Curren$y linked with producer Chase N Cashe and released the seven-song EP Cathedral. A great deal of these tracks are strong, and I might even like this better than Pilot Talk III, if only for the instrumental cohesion.
“Like Five Deuce Four Trey” is signature Curren$y—you can tell that much as soon as he starts muttering “la da da” adlibs at the beginning of a soulful, smooth sample. It's riding music, it's Jet Life music, it's a 2015 product from one of the most consistent rappers in the game.
