Kevin Abstract: "GUMMY"

Abstract takes aim at critics who say Brockhampton's music is too sappy and doesn't align with the expected "hardcore" style of fellow Texas-raised rappers. But after Abstract lists all the ammunition any detractors have to say, he dismisses it by highlighting the importance of the band's brotherhood.

Honourable mention: McLennon because his cadence in this song is too smooth.

"JUNKY”

As an openly gay man, Abstract often talks about his sexuality in his verses. While he sometimes discusses the trials he's faced because of the world's perceptions of gay men, he takes a more self-reliant approach in "JUNKY." Rather than emphasising the pitfalls of embracing a non-hetero identity, he declares that he's going to keep rapping about being gay to be a beacon of hope for others who can relate to him. My favourite lines, you ask? "I say sh*t when I rap and y'all n*ggas barely listen / I do the most for the culture, n*gga, by just existing."

Honourable mention: Champion because his denunciation of misogyny is something everyone needs to take note of, especially those in the music industry.

"STAR"

This two-minute banger packs a lot of punch, especially with Abstract's verse at the end. The hard, yet whimsical beat perfectly parallels the rapper's fusion of expository lyrics and playful tidbits.

Honourable mention: Manwa because the production is just . . . *chef's kiss.*

"STUPID"

We love a good "nothing to something" flex, and that's exactly what Abstract gives us in "STUPID." He again touches on his sexual identity while describing his ascent to sold-out shows and getting to do what he loves against all odds.

Honourable mention: Hemnani because the sound mechanisms are exemplary.

Matt Champion: "BOY BYE"

Champion's signature swagger shines through in "BOY BYE." But his sense of humour takes the wheel as he makes a few comical pop culture references to Looney Tunes, Disney, and Mean Girls [4]. Taking aim at naysayers, he raps, "Goofy ass boy, look like Elmer Fudd's cousin / Heavy-ass feet, bet Pluto heard you comin' / Actin' like Regina, you a lil' bit dramatic."

Honourable mention: McLennon because his flow is simply sublime.

"SISTER/NATION"

Champion boasts a speedy verse as he commends the band's success while telling other artists not to copy their style.
Honourable mention: Joba because he cleverly delves into his struggles with split personality disorder, using a tone that lies somewhere along the spectrum of serious and frivolous.

"ALASKA"

Champion has no problem embracing his quirks and oddities, especially in "ALASKA." He also encourages listeners to think for themsevles and follow their own paths in life.
Honourable mention: Hemnani because the beat change before Matt's part followed by the ominous outro is high art.

"ZIPPER"

I'm trying to come up with an eloquent reason why this is one of Champion's best rhymes. But all I can think of is the fact that his voice just sounds really good, and it makes my heart skip a beat.
Honourable mention: Sorry, but I have to give it up for Wood because "shout out to South Central, San Marcos / I got addicted to soft shell tacos" always makes me laugh.

Dom McLennon: "MILK"

McLennon closes this tune with what feels more like a spoken word piece rather than rap lyrics. He discusses some of the tribulations he's been through — a failed romance, almost losing his father, and dealing with negative thoughts — but offers a beautiful message of hope at the end. "Some people have angels, what if only shadows follow you?" he says. "The branches of the weeping willow start to swallow you / And then you realise you're exactly where you're supposed to be / The horizon clears, you wipe the tears / And all the skeletons are ready for your story."

Honourable mention: Wood because he shows a different side to his customarily flashy self. He opens up about social class, his previous contemplations of selling drugs, and being the only African at the University of Texas before he dropped out.

“NEW ORLEANS”

Highlighting his sense of indiviuality and innate writing skills, McLennon opens the song with a collection of electrifying bars.
Honourable mention: Bearface because he coproduced it, and any time he shows a little bit of edge in his lyrics is a treat.

"WEIGHT"

McLennon shares a heartfelt message about travelling on "the road to peace" and not letting a world full of hate stop him from showing love and being a better person.

Honourable mention: Joba because the line, "Pressure makes me lash back, wish I could get past that" hits close to home for a lot of people (myself included).

"DEARLY DEPARTED"

McLennon pours his heart out in "DEARLY DEPARTED" as he addresses the turmoil caused by ousted member Ameer Vann's sexual misconducts in 2018. Not only does McLennon express feelings of pain for those affected by Van's actions, but he also feels betrayed by the former bandmate [5], who reportedly set up one of McLennon's friends to get robbed.

Honourable mention: Joba because that high note!

Bearface: "WASTE"

This relaxing melody wraps 2017's Saturation as Bearface's soothing voice tells the tale of a wistful lover watching their romance fizzle out.

Honourable mention: We can't give an honourable mention to anyone else in the group since Bearface is the only member featured in the song and produced it. But London-based musician No Rome also lends his vocals to the track.

"SUMMER"

The title of this bop is appropriate, thanks to Bearface's delicate articulations and the summery sound.

Honourable mention: Bearface gets to take all the credit for this one since he's the only artist on the song and is listed at the sole producer [6].

“TONYA”

Bearface's contributions to Brockhampton's songs tend to create a cross-genre sound. Such is the case with "TONYA" as he starts the song with a pop, R&B ballad before they transition into hip-hop elements.

Honourable mention: Abstract because he beautifully describes the peaks and valleys of fame and scandal akin to the experience of figure skater Tonya Harding [7].

Merlyn Wood: "GOLD"

Wood's verse in "GOLD" is just fun to learn and dance to. After a few listens, you'll probably get "time-travelin', Honda-swervin', book learnin' / That's so Merlyn" stuck in your head.
Honourable mention: McLennon because his part is also super catchy.

"QUEER"

It seems like the uppity beat of "QUEER" was made for Merlyn. It matches his spirited inflections and contagious vigour. What's also noteworthy is his chiding remarks about the brand Dolce & Gabbana, which received backlash in 2016 (a year before this song came out) after naming a shoe, "Slave Sandal [8]." Wood vocalizes, "First off, f*ck Dolce & Gabbana / Racist mothersuckers tryna be my pana / Put that on me auntie and me mama / Grab the Ghost then I go right back to Ghana."

Honourable mention: Champion because his "Don't go runnin' your mouth" refrain makes me feel 10 times tougher than I actually am.

"HOTTIE"

I'd be lying if I said I didn't scratch my head in confusion after Wood declares, "I'm always babbling / Love rappin' like it's my girlfriend / Every tour is like a catfish / Just kidding, I love you assh*les." I'd also be lying if I said I didn't . . . love it? The execution and delivery seals the deal for me.

Honourable mention: Joba because his singing is gorgeous, and that's that.

“1998 TRUMAN”

Wood's energy goes unmatched on most of Brockhampton's tracks, and that's espcially true on "1998 TRUMAN." I never knew someone yelling "Give me no drugs, lend me some love" could be so enlivening.

Honourable mention: McLennon because his rhythmic modulations are music to my ears (pun intended).

Joba: "SWEET"

This song features one of Joba's most well-known verses, and for good reason. He kicks off with a drawn-out note before talking about his dreams of being a music star while humourously changing his voice to imitate people who doubted his abilities growing up.

Honourable mention: Wood because his part goes well with the song but feels disruptive at the same time. Not to mention, his line, "Tryna see if Beyoncé will take me for adoption" is pretty relatable.

"FACE"

Joba's silky sound in "FACE" melts my heart every time I listen to it (which is often). This jam also shows his versatility as he can go from mettlesome rapping in one song to fragile crooning in another.

Honourable mention: Merley because the sound is perfect for a lazy day, and I personally appreciate that.

"JOHNNY"

Joba's openness with talking about his inner demons really resonates with fans, and his part in "JOHNNY" is a prime example. He describes the headache of anxiety and bouncing between emotions, saying "Anxious, impatient and always wanting something different / I hate the way I'm feeling, I'm sick of chasing feelings." But he uses faith and prayer to find answers and hope.

Honourable mention: Abstract because he goes in on the beat and has some real zingers (e.g., "I could've got a job at McDonald's, but I like curly fries" and "Anybody got Harry Styles' phone number? / OK, I called him and they said I got the wrong number").

"IF YOU PRAY RIGHT"

A part of me thinks Joba's composition is the best one on "IF YOU PRAY RIGHT" because of its substance. Another part of me thinks it's because his use of parallelism is fun and quick-witted. But most of my favouritism stems from the fact that he doesn't blink a single time while rapping his verse in the music video. And if you ask me, that's pretty darn impressive.

Honourable mention: McLennon because the way he glides through his verse and incorporates religious wordplay is genius. When he says, "My attention to detail is in scale with classic impressionists," he's not lying.

Romil Hemnani: "BLEACH"

Between the sound of a rewound tape and the slightly deconstructed melody, the auditory makeup that Hemnani helped create establishes this as one of Brockhampton's best works.

Honourable mention: Bearface because he sounds so angelic at the end.

“FABRIC”

The oscillation of sounds from slow and stretched to fast and hard-hitting keeps you on your toes. It's like multiple songs are wrapped in one, but it's still cohesive.

Honourable mention: Joba because his vocals are haunting and downright enchanting.

“CANNON”

This is one of Brockhampton's more underrated jams. But its plaintive strain and pensive aura make it just as deserving of praise as the band's other top hits.
Honourable mention: McLennon because his verse really complements the song's ruminant tone.

Jabari Manwa: “BOOGIE”

Manwa is a musical mastermind for helping to create "BOOGIE." Its structural sound is a cluster of chaos that deserves to be blasted through your speakers at full volume.
Honourable mention: Joba because "Break necks, I'm the chiropractor / Come on down, you know I gotcha / Real sh*t, feelin' saturated / Realign the spine, f*ck the haters" is one of the best Brockhampton bridges to date.

“SUGAR”

Even though "SUGAR" came out on this year's Ginger, it has a nostalgic harmony that sounds like a chart-topper from the late 1990s or early 2000s. I can see why Abstract cited this as his favourite song on the album [9].
Honourable mention: Bearface because, again, he sounds so pure.

“ST. PERCY”

If I had to guess what aliens listen to at a wild house party, I'd say "ST. PERCY" is on the playlist. The celestial sound is — get ready for a pun — out of this world.

Honourable mention: Champion because his monotoned composure and witticism make him a standout on the track.

“LOVE ME FOR LIFE”

The beat goes hard, and there's no other way to put it. I'm forever grateful that Manwa played a part in making this come to fruition.
Honourable mention: Wood because he ups the ante. Fans have debated whether he makes or breaks the song with his rowdy sequence, but I definitely think he makes it.

Kiko Merley: “1999 WILFDIRE”

This is another Brockhampton song that's reminiscent of the '90s, and we have no choice but to stan and jam. Props to Merley for having a hand in producing the beat.
Honourable mention: Abstract because the chorus really sticks with you.

“SWAMP”

"SWAMP" has a similar feel as "ST. PERCY," but instead of aliens playing this at a wild house party, they'd play it at a college kick-back.
Honourable mention: Champion because, well, just scroll through the thirsty YouTube comments on this music video and read what people have to say about him.