BROCKHAMPTON, ROADRUNNER | Album Review 💿

Incredibly talented collective BROCKHAMPTON brings the heat once more on their penultimate LP, ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE.

Sigh, one totally awesome ‘boy band’ is coming to an end.  That’s right, the multi-genre collective, 🎙 BROCKHAMPTON,  is heading down the homestretch of what has been an awesome run. BUMMER! It’s sad news for fans but at least the incredibly talented group is releasing two more albums, both scheduled for 2021, beginning with 💿 ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE. ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE is ultimately another fine addition to the discography that shows this multi-person collective at the top of its game. I dare you find a dud on the track list!

“BUZZCUT” 

BROCKHAMPTON unveiled ✅ 🎵 “BUZZCUT” in advance of ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE, tapping rapper 🎙 Danny Brown for the assist. There are ample pros including epic production work.  Part of the allure are the samples/interpolations utilized – 🎙 Jay-Z, 🎙 Raekwon, as well as BROCKHAMPTON themselves! 🎙 Kevin Abstract takes first blood, delivering a colorful verse referencing Latino protection, racial injustice, and a virus, with multiple meanings. He follows up his verse with a wacky if endearing, gimmicky chorus. Danny Brown follows, bringing toughness and idiosyncrasy, fitting the aesthetic and vibe of this banger. Beyond his distinct verse, we get a bridge with similar lyrics to the chorus, but a stark contrast regarding sound.  Also, there’s an outro that further distinguishes itself from the rest of the record. “Buzzcut” is quite a trip.

On ✅ 🎵 “Chain On”, BROCKHAMPTON taps 🎙 JPEGMAFIA for the assist on the first verse.  One of my favorite lines: “Is it how I make the beats sounds like Poltergeist?” Woo! Of course, the 🎙 Dua Lipa and 🚴 Lance Armstrong references are pretty rad too. In addition to the chorus performed by Kevin Abstract, 🎙 Dom McLennon makes his first appearance on the second verse.  He drops some electrifying rhymes throughout.  Interestingly, McLennon references faith, iconic soul singer 🎙 Marvin Gaye (specifically 🎵 “What’s Going On”), and gets socially conscious in his own right (“Screamin’, ‘Free my niggas,’ ‘til they free it’s never over / Spirit said, ‘it’s time for me to really be a soldier now’”).  Notably, “Chain On” samples the 🎙 Wu-Tang Clan classic, 🎵 “C.R.E.A.M.” and features 🎙 Method Man on the outro (“Cash rules everything around me…”).

“Count on Me”

“It’ll be okay, no matter what they say about us / It’ll be okay, no matter what they say about us / I know that it’ll be okay / You ain’t even need no money, you can count on me.”  That catchy chorus appears on 🎵 “Count on Me” and features 🎙 Jabari Manwa, 🎙 Ryan Beatty, and – wait for it – 🎙 Shawn Mendes on vocals! Beyond them, we get verses by 🎙 A$AP Rocky (verse one), 🎙 SoGone SoFlexy (verse two), and the first appearance by 🎙 Matt Champion.  Between the second and third verse there is no chorus, with the soulful centerpiece – the best part of the record – following the third verse.

After making an appearance on “Count on Me,” A$AP Rocky returns (pre-chorus) on the fantastic ✅ 🎵 “Bankroll,” joined by fellow A$AP Mob member, 🎙 A$AP Ferg.  As you’d expect with the title “Bankroll,” there’s banging production work, and the verses are aggressive and unapologetic.  Ferg truly sets the tone on the first verse, with his distinct tone and no shortage of confidence when it comes to sex. We see 🎙 Merlyn Wood appear on the second verse, playing off of the vibes established by Ferg on the first: “Make it fit like nuts and bolts / One nut and I’m boltin’ off.” Hmm, what could he ever be referencing? Jabari Manwa also gets in on the action of this banger, likewise, getting sexual and of course focusing on the drip.  The chopped and screwed outro is pretty awesome.

“The Light”

✅ 🎵 “The Light” is heavy, period.  🎙 Joba makes his first appearance and it’s emotional.  Why? He tackles his father’s suicide: “When I see myself, I see a broken man / Remnants of my pops, put the Glock to his head.” Besides the key first verse, he goes on to deliver the chorus, where he asserts, “Something’s missin’ deep inside / The light.” Kevin Abstract follows, and also seems to be bummed, dropping some clever references to Tennis, The Matrix, and referencing the constriction of their record deal.  The emotion and the honesty are greatly appreciated and make this record a resounding success.  The hard-hitting, dramatic production also plays a key role.

SoGone SoFlexy returns for the epic, six-minute-plus gem, ✅ 🎵 “Windows.”  He performs the intro and the first verse before we get performances by numerous members and associates of BROCKHAMPTON.  Merlyn Wood appears on the second verse and shouts out the late great Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest.  Matt Champion asserts “I can see through your bullshit, like your face was made of plexi” on the third verse, which precedes the Jabari Manwa chorus.  Dom McLennon and Joba drop the fourth and fifth verses, before a bridge fit for a boy band by Ryan Beatty, and an interlude by Kevin Abstract.  Abstract returns for an outro but not before we get that sixth verse from 🎙 bearface.  Again, “Windows” runs long, but man oh man, is it a winner.

Adding to the star-studded cast of ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE is a little old-school – 🎙 Charlie Wilson.  Sure, Wilson appears on the intro and outro of 🎵 “I’ll Take You On,” but it’s pretty cool he’s a guest, right? Right! Once more, we get a mix of different members performing with Kevin, Matt, and bearface performing the verses.  The chorus is a mix of bearface, Joba, Kevin and Matt, while there’s a refrain by Joba, and of course, the outro performed by Kevin and Charlie Wilson. As has been the case of the entire album, “I’ll Take You On” marks another well-rounded moment.  Great singing (including falsetto), even with various vocal effects in play.

“Old News” 

On 🎵 “Old News,” Jabari Manwa delivers another golden chorus – beautiful, soulful, and ultimately, ear catching.  From there, we get a verses from Matt, Merlyn, featured guest 🎙 Baird, and last but not least, Joba.  Baird drops a memorable line on the third verse, spitting, “The words cracked in silence, the sun gone down / But no regrets, coyote baby, you can watch me howl.” Also, of note is a sample of 🎙 Willie Scott & The Birmingham Spirituals’ 🎵 “Keep Your Faith to the Sky”.

More intriguing is ✅ 🎵 “What’s the Occasion?” which features mean distorted electric guitar.  The sound of the record gives it a rock edge, showing the versatility of the collective.  The ending, in particularly is incredibly grand and robust – chocked full of energy.  A Matt Champion and Joba showcase, the boys shine.  Champion incorporates spiritual matters, but you don’t leave his verse understanding the full extent of his walk you might say.  Joba gets a verse as well but it’s the work he puts in on the chorus that is the biggest selling point.

✅ 🎵 “When I Ball” keeps the consistency and fire of ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE going strong.  Dom McLennon kicks things off ferociously, bringing the heat over an incredibly soulful backdrop.  Providing contrast are Joba and Kevin Abstract, who sing the chorus beautifully.  Contrasting once more is Matt Champion. Perhaps he doesn’t bite as hard as McLennon, but he still packs a sizable punch, asserting himself to be “On my sucker-free shit since I was a fetus.”

“Don’t Shoot Up the Party”

✅ 🎵 “Don’t Shoot Up the Party” is the 11^th track – deep into ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE – but there’s no letdown.  Like “When I Ball,” “Don’t Shoop Up the Party” is hype AF from the jump.  This is definitely one of Kevin Abstract’s best moments, keeping things real from the jump. “Colonized minds by masters and slaves,” he raps, “They both hate niggas that like niggas the same / Homophobic, I tried to gang-bang / I tried to get laid, I had to get paid.” Woo! The flow is electric, and it doesn’t stop there as “Don’t Shoot Up the Party” features one of the best choruses of the album, performed over the old-school but totally refreshing West Coast, G-Funk backdrop.  Besides Kevin, Matt Joba, and bearface contribute to the continued musical excellence.

Penultimate two-minute cut 🎵 “Dear Lord” is absolutely stunning – chilling to be honest.  While there are a number of gorgeous vocals and harmonies, bearface is the big man on campus here.  It’s definitely heavenly. Most editions of ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE conclude with 🎵 “The Light Pt. II”, which indeed, picks up where “The Light” left off.  This one belongs to Joba and Kevin Abstract. Once more, Joba speaks about the suicide of his father.  Again, quite heavy.

Final Thoughts 💭

BROCKHAMPTON has done it again – delivered a superb studio album.  Running 13 tracks deep, the boys never miss the mark.  What makes his album shine is the versatility of the members of the band, the authentic, honest, often emotionally tinged lyrics, and great production work.  Furthermore, BROCKHAMPTON are able to secure some awesome guests which only add to their own stellar contributions.  If this is indeed the penultimate album by the collective, well, it’s a damn good one.  

✅ Gems 💎: “BUZZCUT,” “Chain On,” Bankroll,” “The Light,” “Windows,” “What’s the Occasion?” 

🎙 BROCKHAMPTON • 💿 ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE • 🏷 Question Everything, Inc. / RCA • 🗓 4.9.21

[📷: Question Everything, Inc. / RCA]