Denzel Curry performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on May 6, 2025. Aaron Lee/STAFF.

OAKLAND — Florida rapper Denzel Curry brought a night of aggression, complete with sweaty mosh pits, to the Fox on Tuesday during the first California stop of his Mischievous South tour.

Curry opened the show by leaping and running across the stage to “ACT A DAMN FOOL,” off 2024 album KING OF THE MISCHIEVOUS SOUTH. Several mosh pits broke out as the rapper riled the crowd with powerful renditions of “RICKY,” off 2019’s ZUU, and 2024’s “HIT THE FLOOR.” At the end of the latter, Curry ran toward the front of the stage and completed a front flip.

At times, the 30-year-old disappeared into the darkness at the edges of the stage before leaping back into view. Even with the intensity of his stage antics, Curry nailed every bar.

During a more sedate section of the set, he performed “Walkin,” off 2022’s Melt My Eyez See Your Future, which got the crowd singing along. Later, he delivered two songs off his latest album: “COLE PIMP” and “BLACK FLAG FREESTYLE,” eliciting the largest reactions from the audience.

Kenny Mason performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on May 6, 2025.

“We’re in Cali, right?” Curry shouted before remixing his hit song with Kenny Beats, “DIET_.” Curry paid homage to Los Angeles native Kendrick Lamar, replacing the normal backing track with the beat to Lamar’s “TV Off.” The crowd resumed its enthusiastic moshing as Curry ran through “SUMO | ZUMO,” off 2018’s TA1300.

Curry also brought members of his opening acts out for a few tracks. Kenny Mason ran out to perform his feature on “SKED,” followed by 454 (born Willie Wilson) running out to perform his feature on “ANOTHA LATE NITE.”

Before ending his set, Curry played the track that made him famous: 2015’s “Ultimate,” which went viral on video app Vine. Curry ended his set with his reflective hit “CLOUT COBAIN | CLOUT CO31AIN.”

Atlanta rapper Kenny Mason preceded Curry with a 40-minute set of his own. Mason came out to “MONEY SIGNS,” off 2024’s 9.

“Y’all gonna have to earn this next track,” he shouted after swiftly teasing one of his final tracks, a collaboration with Dreamville, 2022’s “STICK.” The track had fans screaming the loudest during his whole set.

Florida native 454 warmed up the crowd earlier in the evening, coming out on stage backed by a graphic of an alligator with a flamethrower. New York native CLIP opened the night with a 15-minute set of songs that blended emo, pop and rap. Dressed in a tight body suit, she started with 2020’s “Sad B!tch,” which she performed while yelling across the stage. She concluded her quick set with 2022 cut “FALL BACK” and 2023’s “bedroom funk (outro).”

Follow photographer Aaron Lee at Instagram.com/aaronxphotos.