Album review: Brockhampton isn't losing steam with 'Saturation III'
(image via BROCKHAMPTON)
Three full-length studio albums in a single calendar year; each one as brilliant as the last.
That's the new benchmark for surging hip hop collective, Brockhampton. That, plus cutting-edge music videos, a massive coast-to-coast tour and a short film titled Billy Star.
Saturation III dropped today, and I haven't been able to stop listening.
I can't remember being this hyped for and ultimately satisfied by an album release since Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Fitting, since Kanye is the catalyst that brought these guys together in the first place.
Now a self-proclaimed "boyband," key members of Brockhampton originally met on a Kanye fan forum. After collaborating remotely for some time, the group relocated to a shared house in Southern California.
Consisting of artists, rappers, singers and directors as well as in-house management and production, Brockhampton is a truly unique endeavor. The result of which, apparently, is that they produce a shit load of content.
Their first studio album, Saturation, came out in June of 2017 followed by Saturation II in August. Now here we are in December with their third release.
Saturation III is their most well-rounded album of the trilogy. I was particularly struck by Joba's verse on "Johnny". Kevin Abstract turned in one hell of a verse on "Stupid" as well.
"America's favorite, I do my best and they hate it / It's like I'm stuck in the matrix and I'm stuck losin' patience."
"I'm ugly and genius / I went from nothing to sleeping on Jon's couch / To makin' people bounce at every show that's sold out."
"Bleach" seems to be an early favorite with a certain Childish Gambino feel to the instrumental. In fact, a lot of what they do has a Childish Gambino feel to it, including the symbolism hidden outside of the music.
For example, the final noise you hear in the last track of Saturation III matches up perfectly with the noise heard on the first track of Saturation. This is meant to bring you back around to the beginning of the trilogy, completing the circle.
Furthermore, the number of letters in each song title is consistent throughout the album. Saturation has four-letter titles, Saturation II has five-letter titles and Saturation III has six-letter titles.
Only the last track of each album breaks this mold. In Saturation, the last track has five letters, W-A-S-T-E. Saturation II ends with S-U-M-M-E-R, consisting of six letters. And the last track on Saturation III is called T-E-A-M - four letters - further symbolizing the aforementioned loop.
And you thought Kendrick releasing a backwards version of Damn. was cool...
Now what are you doing still reading this review? Go listen to Saturation III on loop until your battery dies. Then recharge and do it again.
Oh, and in case you want even more Brockhampton in your life, their next project has already been announced. Team Effort, their fourth studio album, is set for a 2018 release. Aptly named.
