Live Review: Denzel Curry, The Kid LAROI

Florida's charismatic Denzel Curry – a seminal cloud rapper, punk-trap inventor and hip hop disruptor – first hit Australia in 2017, returning briefly in December for Perth's Origin Fields. But now he's back for Laneway – his biggest run yet.

Opening for Curry's Melbourne sideshow is The Kid LAROI, a 15-year-old rap prodigy from Redfern, Sydney. He clearly belongs to the same generation as Ruel and KIAN. The Blessings rapper recently supported Juice WRLD and has been co-signed by Lil Skies. LAROI brings a bouncy cheer to the stage, performing cuts off his EP, 14 With A Dream.

Denzel Curry's crowd is overwhelming male-dominated – a striking contrast to the emo Lil Xan, who has young female fans, or Travis Scott, whose audience is balanced. And they're here to mosh. While awaiting Curry, they chant "ULT" (unity, love, trust).

The 23-year-old Curry is at a tipping point in his career, going from overground cred to legend status. And he intuits it. Last year Curry delivered a bold conceptual – and cathartic – third album in TA13OO, which transcends cloud, trap and even his hardcore steez. And tonight's high energy set draws heavily on it. "This is one of the best albums of 2018," Curry himself declares.

Accompanied by his DJ, POSHtranaut, and trippy cyber visuals, Curry launches with TABOO | TA13OO – the album's compelling preface, largely sung. He leads into BLACK BALLOONS | 13LACK 13ALLOONZ, his song with Twelve'Ien and GoldLink. He's joined here by a mystery female rap guest. Then comes CASH MANIAC | CAZH MAN1AC, a West Coast funk groove, Curry following the trajectory of TA13OO. He introduces SIRENS | Z1RENZ, his most overtly political track, as a favourite on TA13OO (it has a Billie Eilish feature). Among the night's highlights is CLOUT COBAIN | CLOUT CO13A1N, the grunge trap joint that's surely Curry's most iconic.

Still, Curry does acknowledge old classics. Early on, he revives his anthem ULT, beloved by fans, from 2016's LP Imperial. Curry dedicates This Life to the "ladies" (at one point, he also implores the dudes to be respectful to women in the mosh pit). And, later, Curry stages 2015's breakthrough hit, the traphall banger Ultimate, his rap flow possibly faster than light.

Towards the end, Curry pays tribute to the late (and controversial) XXXTentacion, who died last June. He rips into a furious #ImSippinTeaInYoHood, a SpaceGhostPurrp diss, and XXX's dubstep-fuelled Look At Me!.

Curry closes with the nu-hardcore BLACK METAL TERRORIST | 13MT, after reiterating his endearingly nerdish love of anime and video games – especially Mortal Kombat. Curry presents an intriguing encore: the lost second part of BLACK BALLOONS | 13LACK 13ALLOONZ, which he recorded with Flying Lotus but left off TA13OO.

There is a misconception that cloud rappers are enervating but, live, they radiate energy. However, Curry has always been in a league of his own. He performs for an hour, but, thanks to his intensity, it feels longer. Indeed, Curry has a superhero's presence, gliding across the stage and into hip hop mythology.