Arizona Baby (studio album) by Kevin Abstract

From mdbaxter 06/03/2019 15:24

A pleasing but chaotic listen. As is typical with a lot of Brockhampton-related releases, this album comes out of the gates abrasively but still has time for the softer side of Kevin Abstract's persona. It seems like his self-awareness has continued to grow, meaning that he has a good understanding of where he fits and where others fits on his tracks. He isn't automatically at center stage on every song but he is unmistakably on every song. However, the album does seem a bit scattered. Some of the songs work nicely before and after each other but the album, as a whole, could've used more cohesiveness. Specifically, "Boyer" feels out of place. It's probably intentional that the most in-your-face song comes at the very end after the softest but the purpose of it is lost on me. "Baby Boy", "American Problem" and "Crumble" are my favorites.

Authenticity, a fantastic work on prods and texts and a rap whose originality can still mobilize a dozen million clicks on each track: BROCKHAMPTON has become the main alternative hip-hop band of the decade, no doubt about it. Yes, I'm part of BROCKHAMPTON's strong fanbase since the "Saturation" trilogy. My favorite member of the group was Ameer Vann but since his exclusion, I think it's Kevin Abstract the soul of BROCKHAMPTON. "ARIZONA BABY" is the first album released by Kevin Abstract since the advent of his crew.The guy is in the process of promoting the States considered minor in rap. Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, all these places are mentioned: "I got Georgia on my mind". The question of his homosexuality also sprinkles the whole disc, themes related to the stigmatization he suffered, to those that his family suffered and which he accuses himself painfully. If you were afraid for the future of BROCKHAMPTON, you can reassure yourself: Kevin Abstract has just proved to us that he has things to say for at least one decade.

8/10

Best track: "Baby Boy"