BROCKHAMPTON, If You Pray Right | Track Review

Hip-hop collective BROCKHAMPTON follows up GINGER promo single “I Been Born Again,” with another brilliant advance gem, “If You Pray Right.”

According to Kevin Abstract, a key member of the ever-intriguing hip-hop collective BROCKHAMPTON, their fourth album, iridescence, “Didn’t get the reaction we wanted”. After debuting at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 with respectable numbers, iridescence took a free fall to no. 88. The good news is that BROCKHAMPTON, following a one-year hiatus, has a chance to redeem themselves with their fifth studio album, GINGER.  The boys already whetted listeners’ eager palates with the stellar promo single “I Been Born Again”. They keep the momentum rolling with another brilliant gem, “If You Pray Right.”

“If You Pray Right” commences with a bang thanks to its unique, quirky production work.  That production begins with the ‘extraterrestrial’ synths introduced during the introduction.  Worth noting, “If You Pray Right” samples the Three 6 Mafia joint, “Break Da Law ‘95’” from the veteran rap collective’s 1995 album, Mystic Stylez.  Safe to say, the production throughout “If You Pray Right” kicks ass.

Dom McLennon raps the first verse, over brassy synths, showing off his unique flow. Expectedly, there are plenty of references to religion, beginning with the opening line, “Hallelujah, holy lion, word to Judas.” As noted by Genius, Dom tweeted out the lyrics from his verse.

pic.twitter.com/CoEDDkSy90

— FLEEROY🐐JENKINS (@DomMcLennon) August 8, 2019

Kevin Abstract follows, rapping the chorus:

“Hiding at my partner house
Couple bands inside the mouth
‘Stead of feeling trippy, dawg
You need to help your city out
Hiding at my partner house
Couple bands inside the mouth
‘Stead of feeling trippy dawg
You need to help you city out.”

Once again, Abstract references his sexuality, though not as explicitly as usual, referencing his ‘partner.’  Anyways, he follows up with the post-chorus, which uniquely uses pitch-shifted vocals. Matt Champion spits the brief second verse, with Merlyn Wood segueing with the third verse. There is a great contrast between the two rapper’s voices. Joba raps the fourth verse, with some layered pitch-shifted vocals, keeping things interesting.  Of course, the rhymes are compelling, and there is reference to religion once more, albeit briefly (“At the door, bruch, Jehovah, you ho bitch / Witness sadistic shit, well, come again”). There is an instrumental break before the bridge section, which lifts off the sample (“Break the law, break the law…”) Kevin Abstract performs the outro, which is a complete shift from everything else that precedes. Additionally, it’s also more pitched, and at times, purposely out of tune.  ‘Trippy’ would be a great way to describe it.

Final Thoughts

Wow, this was a long write-up about one song.  That should speak to the many layers of “If You Pray Right.” The thing is, even more could be said.  The big takeaway is, BROCKHAMPTON seem to be on autopilot for the forthcoming Ginger.  This is nothing short of compelling to the nth degree.

BROCKHAMPTON • If You Pray Right [Single] • Question Everything, Inc. / RCA • Release: 8.8.19

Photo Credits: Question Everything, Inc. / RCA