It’s refreshing to find a self-proclaimed boyband that are pushing boundaries and stereotypes in hip-hop music. BROCKHAMPTON were formed in San Marcos, Texas in 2015 and have a fairly exhaustive roster:
- Kevin Abstract, Matt Champion, Merlyn Wood, Dom McLennon (vocalists)
- Joba, Bearface (vocalists/producers)
- Romil Hermani, Jabari Manwa, Kiko Merley (producers)
- Henock Sileshi (graphic designer)
- Ashlan Gray (photographer)
- Roberto Ontenient (web designer)
- Jon Nunes (Manager)
A true multi-media group, BROCKHAMPTON can probably attribute their rapid rise in the culture to a relentless attitude to releasing quality bodies of work. Since their debut mixtape All American Trash in 2016, they released the Saturation trilogy of projects across the last 6 months of 2017 and have since started their second trilogy with the September 2018 album Iridescence. They have gone from strength to strength across a number of art forms and have been likened, lyrically and operationally, to Odd Future.
Today’s track is the final single released during a promotional run in the run-up to Saturation II. SWEET epitomises what BROCKHAMPTON are about; a unique instrumental (this one drawing on strong Middle Eastern influences), lyrically diverse and dense verses from their plethora of vocalists and a brilliantly produced package that provides another string to an ever-growing bow.
What really stands out across their discography is how they challenge notions of masculinity in hip-hop and media in general. Kevin Abstract, the group’s founder after asking for ban members on forum KanyeToThe, is one few hip-hop/black artists that are openly gay (amongst some serious talented company in Tyler The Creator and Frank Ocean). He is very eloquent and honest in his ambitions of breaking down barriers, speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac he said “I don’t want to be labelled as ‘queer rapper’, I just want to be a rapper,”. He went on to state “I have to exist in a homophobic space in order to make change and that homophobic space would be the hip hop community. So me just existing and being myself is making change and making things easier for other young queer kids. I want to be me and express that and break new ground along the way. We embrace transparency. Hip hop’s all about expression that’s why I got into it.” This really feels like the start of a new, refreshing divergence in hip-hop music and BROCKHAMPTON are doing their part to be the change they want to see in the community.
Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex
A Song A Day 