BROCKHAMPTON - ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟑 - 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑: 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓, 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐛𝐲 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐎𝐍

Brockhampton is one of those acts that’s blessed by their beginnings and burdened by it at the same time. With their introduction to mainstream hip-hop through the Saturation Trilogy, although Brockhampton’s made consistent jumps in musical styles, fans of the previous 3 albums still feel as if Brockhampton’s best was at their past. Ginger arguably suffered the most, an emotional record and comparatively laid-back to their previous outputs, it was polarized simply because this was different to the expectations fans had. On Roadrunner, it is yet again using a different approach to rap, and I truly wish it would not receive as much unnecessary backlash. Because this album’s really solid.

In a 13-track runtime, this record truly unpacks a lot of emotions. Concealed by catchy hooks and captivating instrumentals, the stories and admissions start to become prominent right after the first listen. Contrasting approaches, the bombastic expressions, and the mellow expressions entwine with each other (the best example being WHEN I BALL and DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY), as the imagination of a bearded man, down and distressed, standing on a cliff and looking to the sunset started to appear. Shouting into the far-off sea incipiently, he eventually slowly loses his energy and switch from anger to despair. As he sat down on the bumpy rocks, continuous confessions piled up, one at a time, he felt better and better, and hope seemed to be a reachable concept.

This album is not only a showcase of vulnerability, it’s a sign of growth. Aside from marketable tunes, the boys tell their experience with tragedy and misfortune and conclude their journey with optimism. The light is worth the wait. I especially love Joba on the album, he sounds much calmer and collected.

This record also branches out to so many different influences, switching up drastically throughout. West coast a bit here and there as always, a couple of hardcore stuff, implementing contemporary R&B, even a bit of rock, you’d think it would be a bit too much to handle. Yet, they manage to pull it off for me. It’s truly their own sound that glues all together, which ultimately is every self-respecting musical act’s goal.

The thorough experience of the record eventually boils down to, listening to the record as a whole. Splitting the record into songs you’d come back to and you’d not come back to eventually degrades the album unfairly. It’ll probably need more time for me to finally sink into every song, but overall, this record is rock solid.

Also, really wished some other technical difficulties cuts would've made it here. things can't stay the same would've sounded stellar with adequate mastering

PS: Brockhampton really have individual member album covers like a K-pop group LOL LET’S GOOOO