Immerse Yourself in BROCKHAMPTON
Collectives are nothing new to hip-hop and have been very successful for a variety of reasons, especially the diversity they are able to provide in their music. One such group is BROCKHAMPTON who have been capturing the attention of listeners for the last few years but have outdone their previous work with the release of iridescence this year.
While they are a self-proclaimed boy band, they are not of the same breed as some of my personal favorite 90’s heartthrobs but, instead, operate more in the realm of hip-hop.
If you have not given BROCKHAMPTON a chance because of lack of awareness or understanding of who they are, you are missing out on some unique and innovative music.
BROCKHAMPTON was founded unconventionally, but somehow very fittingly, by Kevin Abstract, the group’s leader, on a message board. Hailing from Texas, the group owes a lot of their current popularity to a growing fan base online which has culminated into a force to be reckoned with.
So far this year, they’ve signed a contract with RCA Records and even performed at Coachella. They also already have two “documentaries” under their belts.
With more than a dozen members it’s no surprise that the key to this group’s success has been their diversity. This can be attributed to the very eclectic makeup of the group including rappers, vocalists, and producers, all of whom are from different walks of life.
While it may seem like being all over the board with pop, trap, hip-hop, and R&B stylings could come across as confusing and lacking identity, it somehow works for the group. The layers of personality, musical styles, voices, and energy levels work together to create dynamic sounds like we haven’t heard before.
In addition to their own skill sets, you can hear influences from all over the spectrum, personally, I feel like I hear a lot of similarities to Grime which has been more popular in the UK. You can also draw connections to M.I.A., Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and Odd Future.
Overall, their sound has kind of surreal quality to it that captures your attention in a way transports you into the world they’re painting for you. However, from slower jams to up-tempo beats, there is surely something on their latest album for everyone.
The artistic talent of the group isn’t limited to their music, they also portray their character through photographs and unique music videos.
I’m excited to see how they continue to evolve and push the boundaries of mainstream music in 2019. For now, I highly recommend giving iridescence a listen, if not their entire discography.
To start, listen to some of my favorites from the album including “Where the Cash At?”, “Berlin”, “Something about Him” and “Vivid”.