BROCKHAMPTON's “GINGER” is the product of patience and freedom
One of the most electrifying young acts in music right now, self-proclaimed boy band BROCKHAMPTON has returned with their 5th project, the reportedly Shia Lebeouf inspired “GINGER.” After having an unbelievable run in 2017 dropping their “Saturation” trilogy, the group was hit with a roadblock when group member Amir Vann was accused of sexual misconduct and kicked out of the group. The project that followed, the purging “iridescence,” although a solid project was missing something. The jam-packed 11 man boy band known for their seemingly effortless ability to balance chaos didn’t strike out, with their 4th project, but clearly, something wasn’t clicking. After a whirlwind 2018 that involved Television debuts and a World Tour, the group finally took some time off to digest their newfound fame before working on their 5th project. The project’s inspiration comes from an intriguing place, as their new fame has brought new relationships, Kevin Abstract credits his mentor Shia Lebeouf for inspiring the album’s purpose, to help the listener heal.
In regular BROCKHAMPTON fashion, the rollout for the new album included singles and music videos. In the weeks leading up to the album’s release, the group dropped off videos for “I BEEN BORN AGAIN,” “IF YOU PRAY RIGHT,” “NO HALO,” and “BOY BYE.” Although the DIY vibe that BROCKHAMPTON is known for is still apparent, the dollars from their deal with RCA are clearly at play. But that doesn’t stifle their signature chaotic and low budget aesthetic.
The project standing at 12 songs 44 minutes hits all the spots, including a balance of sounds and topics, and of course artists. The group flexes their newly purchased charms while acknowledging their newfound struggles, making for a solid 5th project. Although frontman Kevin Abstract referred to the album’s vibe as a “summer” one, its a great project to transition into the fall.
Categories
The songs on this album divided into three lanes that are prevalent throughout the project and scored on a 1.5 scale. (0 = trash, .5 = not for me, 1 = good, 1.5 = a standout)
Deep/introspective
Many of BROCKHAMPTON’s artists have shown their ability to conjure up deep, hard-hitting verses. Their ability to finesse efficient verses that pack so much honesty continues to impress
“NO HALO” (1.5)
“DEARLY DEPARTED” (1)
“BIG BOY” (1)
“LOVE ME FOR LIFE” (1.5)
“VICTOR ROBERTS” (1)
Songs about Love
Although it may seem that a bunch of rowdy boys wouldn’t find the time to get in their feelings together, you couldn’t be more wrong. The boys highlight lost loves and more.
“SUGAR” (1.5)
“GINGER” (1)
Bangers
Known for their high energy, irresistible cuts, the bulk of this project is made up of bangers meant to get you jumping
“BOY BYE” (1.5)
“HEAVEN BELONGS TO YOU” (1)
“ST. PERCY” (1.5)
“IF YOU PRAY RIGHT” (1.5)
“I BEEN BORN AGAIN” (1.5)
Must Listen Songs
“SUGAR”
A clear standout, the track is accompanied by alternative artist Ryan Beatty. The song follows a guitar riff and contains verses that highlight toxic relationships revolving people just trying to make it work.
“IF YOU PRAY RIGHT”
One of the most BROCKHAMPTON songs on the project, the beat alternates between following either a mesmerizing horn or synth. The group's chemistry shines, and they all come in with clean-cut verses that highlight each member’s strengths.
“LOVE ME FOR LIFE”
One of the more honest tracks on the project, the beat is a smooth 808 and chords with a high pitched synth. Another track that perfectly highlights each member, “Love Me For Life” is on the darker side toting lines from Joba like “ Fly away, different ways, hit the liquor store/Better days follow me like the saddest song/Grab a case, hideaway, fill my loads with bleach/Couple stains and the gang, they both hauntin' me.”
Final Review
While the group may continue to struggle to recreate the magic they found during the “Saturation” trilogy run, the group takes another step in the right direction. Since Amir Vann left, Joba and Bearface have noticeably picked up the most weight, similar to “iridescence” bearface closes out many of the tracks, while most songs are different groupings of the recording artists of the group. The standouts are frontman Kevin Abstract, Joba and Matt Champion, the BROCKHAMPTON vets continue to show their growing maturity with each project. “GINGER” is the product of patience and freedom, but is rooted in a sense of longing. It’s clear that the group is still recovering from the Amir Vann scandal, but their 2nd project since will give BROCKHAMPTON fans hope as the group has done some very needed recalibration. One of the greater surprises of the project may be the collaborations, Ginger totes many new faces including slowthai, Deb Never, Ryan Beatty, and Victor Roberts. The album substitutes the groups past fun times and childish wit for much more serious content. The beats falling back into the Texas-California fused bounce, the band has silenced the haters and are back on track. Even letting some new people into the fray, it seems as if BROCKHAMPTON is regaining their identity.
Scoring
Raw Score: The number of good songs on a project versus the overall amount. Songs must have a 1 or above to be counted.
Quality Score: The total amount of points accumulated over the total amount of songs.
Playback value: The resonance an album is perceived to have if played again in full. Scale out of 5.
Raw Score: 14/14
Quality Score: 15.5/14
Playback Value: 4/5
Go out and listen to BROCKHAMPTON’s “GINGER” wherever you listen to your music. Also, don’t forget to check out OLDMLK’s Instagram page (@OLDMLK) and Twitter (@OLDMLKDOTCOM) for more Hip-Hop Album Reviews, The OLDMLK.Com Playlist, The OLDMLK Radar and more! Don’t Know it? Oldmlk Does!
