Brockhampton doesn’t fall into the trap of making the angsty, angry hip-hop that you might expect from a group of young 20-somethings. They don’t sound like the whining little brother of Frank Ocean or the overly emotional cousin of Tyler the Creator. Whilst they see these artists as influences, along with Kanye West and Wu Tang Clan, they’re not trying to be their heroes. The way that they’ve shaped themselves shows that their creativity is not a byproduct of their predecessors in hip-hop and rap. They want to break new ground and establish themselves as what they’ve proclaimed themselves to be – the most hardworking boy band in show business.
The group can be classified as the first ever internet boy band after they formed on a Kanye West forum online. Their origins come from growing up as part of the internet generation where most of us found ourselves on MSN and MySpace from an early age, just as the social media siege began. This contributes to their focused mindset and incredible work ethic. When it comes to music, when you live in a world where innovation is a constant, you have to be quick on your feet and with Brockhampton, the production line never ends.
“They know that purely by existing and performing, they’re taking social stigmas and shoving them in the faces of the sheltered.”
As a team, they don’t prioritise one job over another. Currently, there are 14 members of the band which includes rappers, vocalists, producers, their manager, web designer and photographer. No one is left out from the group. Kevin Abstract acts as the frontman. As a writer, rapper, vocalist, creative producer and director, he leads the group on all levels. Although their music takes precedence, they have produced a short film called Billy Star and their own music videos, released their own merch and have even starred in Viceland reality TV show American Boyband. Their output is beyond impressive. Their Saturation trilogy, three albums which include 48 songs (minus demos), was released over the course of 2017.
Musically, they place no limits on themselves. Whilst they have been labelled as a Rap and Hip-Hop group, they have ventured into rock and even pop. With 14 creative minds in one collective, they test themselves by trying to produce their albums within short periods of time. The latest, Iridescence, was made in ten days in the famous Abbey Road studios. What’s even more impressive is that before March 2018, they were independent of a record label. Instead, their debut album All-American Trash and the Saturation trilogy were released under their own label, Question Everything Inc.. The fact that all of them began as amateurs shows how much they have devoted themselves to the love of music and production. With no outside control or management, they allow themselves to be uncensored, rough around the edges, and not afraid to admit they’re still learning.
The band took a hit earlier this year after one of their lead rappers, Ameer Vann, was accused of sexual misconduct and was asked to leave the band. Whilst this was a blow for the band due to their close relationship with Vann, it showed that they were not afraid to prioritise what they believed to be the right thing. They kicked him out of the band but didn’t call it the solution for anyone who was affected. Although they may be a group that is still emerging from the States, this sets an example to their fans as well as other musicians who find themselves caught up in a scandal.
Subject-wise, they speak of their experiences. They have, however, been criticised for being more sentimental and not as tough as other hip-hop artists. The most notable example of this was Pitchfork’s review of Iridescence. They targeted Dom McLennon, calling his verse on ‘THUG LIFE’ filled with “faux sad-boy deepness”. To disregard personal feelings because they don’t fit the hip-hop stereotype is a harsh critique. Other publications, such as Rolling Stone, fawn over Abstract’s honesty regarding his sexuality, praising ‘WEIGHT’ as the “emotional centre” of Iridescence. As a group whose goal is to redefine the term ‘boy band’, it’s not surprising that they’re receiving criticism. They’re breaking boundaries purely by being autonomous over what they produce.
Abstract uses his music but also the short films that he has produced in collaboration with Brockhampton to speak to young people. The band has a loyal fanbase due to their sentimentality and openness. Twitter is constantly flooded with memes and their reddit thread is one of the most welcoming and funny places on the internet, filled with support and respect for the group. Whether they’re having trouble with their sexuality, racism or school, their fans and others can find pieces of themselves in the many parts of Brockhampton. They are the representation that this generation deserves. Building themselves from the ground up with no outside guidance takes some guts. They’re showing young adults everywhere that you can achieve what you put your mind to.
The representation they provide goes beyond the “woke” stereotype that millennials only dream of becoming. Whilst performing at Coachella, all of the onstage counterparts of the band wore bulletproof vests, each with a label. For Abstract: “F*ggot”, targeting his own queerness. For Bearface: “nothing”, mostly likely chosen because of his quiet demeanour. For Meryln Wood: “Wakanda”, probably due to his African heritage. They tackled race, police brutality, American globalisation and sexuality all in one performance at one of the biggest music festivals in America. They know that purely by existing and performing, they’re taking social stigmas and shoving them in the faces of the sheltered.
Iridescence has become Brockhampton’s first number 1 album, proving the hard work they’ve been putting in since Abstract gathered his crew has paid off. Although they have been criticised by the media, they haven’t changed for anyone and remained loyal to themselves. They don’t want to be seen as what everyone wants to see them as but as what they are: a boyband who defies all of your expectations.
