BROCKHAMPTON, “The Ending” | Track Review 🎵

With the release of the second single, “The Ending,” Kevin Abstract provides another piece of the pie on the final BROCKHAMPTON album, THE FAMILY.

2022 marks the final chapter of an incredible musical collective, 🎙 BROCKHAMPTON.  The hip-hop-oriented group has one final album up their sleeves, 💿 THE FAMILY.  After throwing everybody off with the 🎙 Kevin Abstract-dominated promo single, 🎵 “Big Pussy”, the ‘collective’ drops a second advance single, 🎵 “The Ending”.  Yes, once again, it is all Kevin Abstract, which, I suppose makes sense given the band’s breakup. 

There isn’t much song on “The Ending” – it runs under two minutes in duration.  Following an intro that highlights a 🎙 Willie Hutch sample, Abstract delivers one verse + outro on the 16^th track from THE FAMILY.  The sound of the record is soulful – how could it not be with Willie Hutch? Anyone who listens to Kevin knows that he doesn’t neglect an opportunity to discuss his sexuality: “Back when I had a ‘fro still / First moved to L.A. / … I was sneaking niggas out in the early morning / After sucking good dick on Sunday morning…” Goes with the territory, I suppose.  Beyond the pleasure, Abstract reflects on the dream to become a superstar and ultimately, achieve it: “I turned my friendship into a business into an empire / Half a million that I wired to my mama, she retired.” The outro is notable, thanks to the line, “This the ending we all envisioned, right?” Food for thought.

Final Thoughts 💭

So, how does 🎵 “The Ending” stack up? It’s enjoyable, particularly given the soulful aesthetic with Abstract dropping bars over it.  🎛 boylife does a fine job producing the record. That said, it’s not game-changing or groundbreaking.  Although attributed to BROCKHAMPTON, does “The Ending” ultimately signal a Kevin Abstract solo project fulfilling one final album? The questions will be answered with the release of THE FAMILY, I suppose.

🎙 BROCKHAMPTON • 💿 THE FAMILY • 🏷 Question Everything, Inc. / RCA • 🗓 11.19.22

[📷: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay, Question Everything, Inc., RCA]