An inventive approach to the modern rap battle, Denzel Curry’s Zeltron World Wide concept series is poised to take over several cities in 2020. The first event of its kind to foreground rappers’ lyrical agility in a wrestling-inspired format, Zeltron will see Curry step inside a wrestling ring to go head-to-head with fellow hip-hop forces to be reckoned with. The custom-built wrestling ring not only highlights the competitive spirit of Zeltron World Wide, but also equates the sport of rap battling with wrestling, exemplifying the rap battle as a type of verbal athleticism.
Curry’s opponents will vary by city. Zeltron World Wide’s imminently approaching Miami installment will notably feature J.I.D. In San Francisco, Curry’s will compete against Rico Nasty, whose debut album, Nightmare Vacation, is due later this year.
Although Zeltron is set to make subsequent stops in San Francisco and New York, its Miami iteration is especially noteworthy because it marks the Carol City-born rapper’s homecoming.
Of note, Miami is also Zeltron World Wide’s birth city. The momentous live display of lyrical showmanship first took root in the 305 during 2018’s Red Bull Presents: Zeltron vs. Zombies, during which Curry took on New York’s Flatbush Zombies. Thanks to the collaborative interplay of Curry’s unconventional vision and Red Bull’s creative resources, the formative event transcended its original one-off structure to become a multi-city initiative.
Further details are forthcoming for Zeltron World Wide New York. In the meantime, hip-hop aficionados can nab tickets to Zeltron World Wide’s Miami and San Francisco stops, here.
2020 Zeltron World Wide Calendar:
- February 29th – Miami, FL: Denzel Curry v. J.I.D @ Magic City Innovation District
- March 20th – San Francisco, CA: Denzel Curry v. Rico Nasty @ Fort Mason
- New York, NY – Details coming soon
Photo credit: Red Bull Music