BROCKHAMPTON may be the new sound and the next big thing of hip-hop. They are a large creative collective (they prefer the term “boy band”) consisting of currently 15 members, all with their own talents to bring to the table. Formed in Texas but currently based in Los Angeles (all of them live in a house together near the University of Southern California), the boys met on a popular forum for Kanye West fans, KanyeToThe.com. As such, they are referred to as “the internet’s first boyband.”

BROCKHAMPTON’s founder and creative director, Kevin Abstract, claims he created BROCKHAMPTON because he wanted his own “dynasty,” similar to Roc-A-Fella records or Cash Money records. Kevin is a very creative leader, and along with rapping and singing on BROCKHAMPTON’s albums, he also designs merchandise and directs videos for the group (all but two of BROCKHAMPTON’s official music videos have been directed by Kevin). Raised in Texas, Kevin Abstract had a lot of difficulties growing up. He is openly gay, but found a lot of pressure to hide who he was when living in the south, surrounded by people who did accept his sexuality. His lyrics do not shy away from his sexuality, and in this way, he may be a great representation of our current generation. Creative, and unapologetic.

The other members of BROCKHAMPTON also have struggles that young people today can relate to, such as drug addiction, racism, and family issues, and I believe this is a large reason why the boyband resonates well with their fans. Their music is raw, personal, and also just damn good.

Since their conception, BROCKHAMPTON have been working literally non-stop to create more content for their fans. Since their first mixtape, released only last year in 2016, they have released two albums in 2017 already ("Saturation I" and "Saturation II"), and claim that a third album will be out by the end of the year. These albums, known as the "Saturation" trilogy, have been critically acclaimed, and are well deserving of the praise. Unlike many other music groups, BROCKHAMPTON do not need to rely on the talent of a single member, as all have their strengths, and these are shown in the music. Every member has a chance to shine on every track, in every video, and although their solo projects are good (Kevin Abstract's and Ameer Vann's, especially), they are truly a force to be reckoned with when working together.

BROCKHAMPTON’s sound is well-polished, and unlike any other music currently being put out. They’re a new, fresh, and exciting modern hip-hop collective that I believe will go to amazing places. They have shown that they are capable of doing it all, from aggressive raps in songs such as “HEAT,” to catchy hooks such as “GOLD,” they are musically diverse and show no sign of slowing down. In fact, with their show on VICELAND, their current tour, “Jennifer’s Tour,” and their third album, "Saturation III," coming out this year, I believe BROCKHAMPTON will only increase in popularity, and continue to do amazing things for music.