One Direction Who? (GINGER Album Review)
By Samuel Rocha | Staff Writer |
When you think of Boy Bands for every generation, you think of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys in the ‘90s or One-Direction in the 2010s. Well, there is a new boy band that’s been on the rise for over two years now and they’re not what you’d expect from a typical “boy band.” Let me introduce you into BROCKHAMPTON and their new album GINGER.
BROCKHAMPTON is a group consisting of 13 members from all over the United States. There are six members that do the vocals, Kevin Abstract, Matt Champion, Dom McLennon, Merlyn Wood, Joba, and Bearface. Three members on production, Romil Hemnani, Jabari Manwa, and Kiko Merley. The last four members are all a part of the background things such as photography, graphic design, creative director, web design, and management. These members are Henock “HK” Sileshi, Jon Nunes, Ashlan Grey, Robert “Roberto” Ontenient.
GINGER was released on Aug. 23, 2019 and it’s their sixth studio album following their last album, that went No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 2018, Iridescence.
GINGER has 12 singles that feature new upcoming artists such as, English rapper Slowtai, female singer Deb Never, and rapper Victor Roberts. GINGER is about 45 minutes long and full of songs that are unique, clever, conscious, raw, and emotional in almost every track. I believe their greatest song of all time is on this album, “DEARLY DEPARTED.” You may be thinking, calling something their greatest song of all time and it’s only been about four weeks since the album was released is crazy right? Well, listening to this album over and over again, comparing this to their past work, I believe this song alone is their most mature, emotional, lyrical, and most thought out song they’ve released because of the subject matter consisting of depression, lost friends, and regret.
Songs like NO “HALO”, “SUGAR”, and “BOY BYE” are the highlights of the project due to their catchiness, production, and once again, emotion. But this is no emo-rap album, it’s a confession album without sad 808s and surface level heartbreak lyrics. “NO HALO” and “SUGAR” are songs you can jam out to in the car and listen to them after 10 p.m. when it’s that time of day. “BOY BYE” is an energetic, upbeat, song you can listen to anytime to enlighten your mood.
BROCKHAMPTON isn’t the typical boy band to write songs about females leaving them and appealing to a majority of 12-13 year old audience (mainly female). This group is a rap collective that can sing, spit bars, and bump your speaker in the car.
I think this has potential to be one of the top five albums of 2019 and is definitely worth your time if you enjoy pop or rap music.
GINGER is now available on all streaming platforms and available wherever you can purchase CDs if you’re old school like that.
GINGER 8.8/10.