SATURATION II
BROCKHAMPTON
Recommended for:
People who love interesting origin stories
Post-puberty, pre-responsibility Odd Future fans
People who liked the first SATURATION
Pros:
Stylistically diverse but memorable production
Each rapper/singer shines through in their own way
Catchiest hooks in the game
Cons:
A few sonic pairings don’t perfectly gel together
Ameer Vann literally never changes his flow
Lyrics can be hit-or-miss
There’s a sense of pride that’s comes with catching a wave before it crashes on those unsuspecting. Good news for those still out at sea: it’s not too late to align yourselves with the BROCKHAMPTON movement. And if their future is as they envision it, the rest of the world won’t be hit by a wave—it’ll be a tsunami.
For those not yet cruising on the bandwagon: BROCKHAMPTON is collective, based in South Central LA, made up of—okay, deep breath—rappers, singers, producers, a graphic designer and photographer, and even their own webmaster/mobile app guy. After toiling in the backdrop of leader Kevin Abstract’s burgeoning solo career for a couple of years, they began turning heads in 2017 by releasing an unfathomable amount of quality tracks.
SATURATION II arrived at our doorsteps just two months after their debut project, SATURATION, and will be followed by SATURATION III before the year’s end. Although critics and fans alike gushed over the dynamic personalities, left field production, and versatility exhibited on the inaugural SATURATION, brevity between releases customarily induce skepticism. Thankfully, SATURATION II shows a BROCKHAMPTON that has noticeably upped their game.
For the most part, BROCKHAMPTON sticks to their winning formula. The track list is bookended by braggadocios bangers for starters and sweet serenades as the dessert course. However, the line between serene and satanic is hazier than ever. Like mad scientists, they relish in odd, seemingly harsh combinations of sonic elements. “QUEER” begins with a deafening wall of nineties rap-era hits and sub-bass, then introduces a softly sung mid-section backed by…a harpsichord? And, uh, it works really well?
In BROCKHAMPTON’s first album, vocal contributions were lauded for their emphasis on the distinct and contrasting personas behind the mic—regardless of each individual’s ability to rhyme like a traditional emcee. This time around, we dive deeper into their motivations and backstory. When Matt Champion—who mostly raps about his womanizing exploits—first explains the debt he owes to his mother then threatens misogynists with violence near the end of “JUNKY,” it’s hard to not place yourself next to him, equally incensed at your companion’s grievances.
What values define this generation? Baby boomers center criticism on our work ethic and silver spoons; notwithstanding, this decade’s young adults have overseen a most rapid expansion of equal rights and representation. This is true for both legal and social spheres—even America’s beloved TV show Friends was prone to jokes about masculinity and race that, if produced today, would spark Twitter calls for boycott. The moral truth of our times is this: it’s okay to be different, because everyone is different.
Naturally, an uncomfortable contradiction arises. Safeguarding individuality requires the cosign of the community. Can we really consider ourselves equal in our inequalities? It is exactly this tension of values, says author E. J. Dionne Jr. in Our Divided Political Heart, that encapsulates the journey of American democracy. We are both “a nation of individualists who care passionately about community” and “a nation of communitarians who care passionately about individual freedom.” The challenge is in maintaining this precarious balance of seemingly incompatible values.
BROCKHAMPTON is also defined by an intent to juxtapose: they’re contemporarily unique but wear their influences on their sleeves, individually one-dimensional but collectively versatile, bitter at personal and societal injustice but glowingly optimistic. Like Merlyn Wood’s ballistic howls over the shoegaze guitar riff on “SUNNY,” BROCKHAMPTON refuses to choose sides because both sides are indispensable to their mission. They aim to create music that nakedly reflects the passions of its creators. At the same time, they also strive for far-reaching emotional accessibility. I’m going to show you how different we are, each member seems to say, but also show you how alike we are.
An oft-repeated fact about the group is that BROCKHAMPTON considers themselves to be a boy band. At least for now, this does not entail eager willingness to conform in pursuit of popularity. What it does signify is the purity of their pursuits. Gorgeously performed by bearface., concluding track and perfect late-August ballad “SUMMER” might reek of ulterior motives if not for the overwhelming sense of bare sentimentality that is present on this and all other tracks of the SATURATION series. Stripped down to our cores, no one is immune to the forces of love, anger, and fear—how they affect our personal tales, however, differs considerably. On SATURATION II, America’s next great boy band presents their own stories while inviting you to share your own.
Favorite Songs: “JUNKY”, “TOKYO,” “FIGHT,” “SWEET,” “SUMMER”
9/10
