let’s start getting back into the rhythm with a vibrant, slightly underrated hip hop masterpiece!
review
brockhampton indefinitely broke up just recently which makes this a fitting time for me to talk about what i consider one of their best albums. iridescence is their first full length release after the departure of key member ameer vann, who as you might know really couldn’t stay in the band given what happened. regardless, the other members had to press on without the literal face of their acclaimed trilogy. out of their creative minds came iridescence, which was thankfully not the loss of quality some might’ve feared. i love the production and performances on here—they manage to keep themselves on the level they established with the saturation trilogy.
personally i think the highlights of this album tend toward the middle. everything in that middle third has this impeccable energy carried by the emotional authenticity delivered by each rapper on the track. “WEIGHT” is by far one of the most powerful moments here, and there are great verses by especially joba strewn about here too. i also appreciate the sentimental last leg with “SAN MARCOS” and “TONYA.” while the first third is not the most impressive stuff they’ve done, i still admire the energy they still pack in songs like “NEW ORLEANS” and “BERLIN.”
i think that’s the big thing that always grabbed me about this album—energy. the best parts of this record make you want to jump around or even potentially cry because of how much they burst with passion and emotion. even shallower moments like “WHERE THE CASH AT” keep the momentum going before hitting you with all it’s got on the stronger tracks.
i don’t have much to say other than that, honestly. sometimes overthinking an album just runs your head in circles. iridescence is a fun, well-produced hip hop album with hard-hitting themes, and that’s pretty much all there is to it.
brockhampton prove they can still deliver consistent quality after debuting strong and surviving tough turmoil.
tracks to track
- NEW ORLEANS is a good opener—it’s no HEAT, GUMMY, or BOOGIE, but it’s still not bad
- WEIGHT is named well because i think it hits the hardest emotionally
- DISTRICT might go a bit under the radar but joba’s simple “hallelujah / i’m still depressed” verse gets stuck in my head and feels really relatable lol
- J’OUVERT has joba’s strongest verse tho, and wow it goes hard
- i like the beyonce sample on HONEY as well as just the whole vibe
- SAN MARCOS and TONYA as i said are the big sentimental ones, and i find them really successful
take a listen!
bit of a shorter post this time, but i think i’m starting to get the hang of thiiiiiings~
next week we’ll talk about the first masterpiece that a certain emo/indie band put out, perhaps in anticipation for my first artist deep dive? hopefully i can get through some of my teenage memories i might associate with it, but either way, hope you join me next week for an old beloved genre of mine!
Tess Faces the Music 