Iridescence (album)

Iridescence
Studio album by Brockhampton
Released September 21, 2018
Studio
Genre Hip hop[1]
Length 48:49
Label
Producer
Brockhampton chronology
Saturation III
(2017)		 Iridescence
(2018)

Iridescence (stylized in all lowercase) is the fourth studio album by American collective Brockhampton, released on September 21, 2018 by Question Everything, Inc. and RCA Records, as their major-label debut and the first installment of their The Best Years of Our Lives trilogy. The self-produced album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, as well as the group's own studio in Hawaii. It is their first album since rapper Ameer Vann's departure from the group following sexual misconduct allegations. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming the group's first chart-topping album.

Background

On December 14, 2017, Brockhampton announced their fourth studio album, Team Effort, slated for release in 2018,[2] but in March 2018, they announced that Team Effort had been delayed indefinitely, and that they would instead release their fourth studio album Puppy in mid-2018.[3] The next week, they announced via social media that they had signed a record deal with Sony's RCA Records in a deal reportedly worth $15 million for six albums over three years.[4] Puppy was also delayed following allegations of sexual misconduct against founding member Ameer Vann.[5][6] On May 27, Brockhampton announced that Vann would no longer be a part of the group, and cancelled the remainder of their tour dates.[7] Brockhampton has said that they were "lied to" over the situation.

Following Vann's departure, on June 20, the band made their late-night television debut when they appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon performing "Tonya", accompanied by guest vocalists Jazmine Sullivan, Ryan Beatty and Serpentwithfeet, as well as revealing the new title of their upcoming album, The Best Years of Our Lives.[8][9] The next month the group announced a Beats 1 radio show Things We Lost in the Fire Radio,[10] where they debuted a trilogy of singles, "1999 Wildfire", "1998 Truman" and "1997 Diana", released throughout July 2018.[11][12][13]

The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 2018, with further recording taking place at the Brockhampton Factory in Hawaii.[14]

Kevin Abstract stated on Twitter that the album was inspired by English rock band Radiohead's fourth studio album, Kid A (2000).[15]

Release and promotion

In August, the group announced the album's title, to be released in September,[16] and later announced dates for their new "i'll be there" tour.[17][18] On September 11, they announced a documentary titled The Longest Summer In America set to be released in selected theaters on September 20.[19] The group then released the track listing and artwork for the album.[20] A video for "J'Ouvert" was released the day before the album's release.[21] The videos for "San Marcos" and "New Orleans" were released on the 25th and 27th of September, respectively.[22][23]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic85/100[24]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[25]
The A.V. ClubB[26]
Clash8/10[27]
Consequence of SoundA–[28]
DIY[29]
HipHopDX4.1/5[30]
The Line of Best Fit9/10[31]
NME[32]
Pitchfork6.6/10[33]
Sputnikmusic4.4/5[34]

Iridescence received acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, Iridescence received an average score of 85, based on 11 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[24] DIY gave the album a perfect score, with Will Richards writing, "Brockhampton have found a new sense of unity, and when Iridescence confronts every single one of these bumps, it proves that the band possess a truly special voice."[29] Wren Graves of Consequence of Sound wrote, "Iridescence is full-to-bursting; it's like almost eating too much food, almost drinking too much booze; it's getting close to too much, and still asking for more."[28]

Sputnikmusic opined that "Iridescence is the best Brockhampton album because it doesn't give a fuck what you think a Brockhampton album should sound like."[34] NME's El Hunt wrote, "Far from making vague allusions to the events prior to Iridescence, Brockhampton lay them bare, atop some of their most adventurous work to date."[32] The Line of Best Fit critic Sam Higgins stated that "the more you listen, the more intricacies you notice. The more you listen, the more you realise just how defining this record will be for the future of Brockhampton."[31] In the review for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung stated that Brockhampton absorbs what they need from across genres, sharing honest confessions from their varied personal backgrounds (the most striking provided by group leader Kevin Abstract) and reflecting its mixed audience as a voice of their generation. Brockhampton have seized upon this defining moment with Iridescence, a defining peak in their young career." [25]

Commercial performance

Iridescence debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 dated October 6, 2018, with 101,000 album-equivalent units (including 79,000 pure album sales).[35] It is the group's first number-one album.[35]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Brockhampton's official website.[36]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."New Orleans"
  • Dominique Simpson
  • Ian Simpson
  • Ciarán McDonald
  • Matthew Champion
  • Russell Boring
  • William Wood
  • Romil Hemnani
  • Jabari Manwarring
  • Hemnani
  • Russell "Joba" Boring
  • Jabari Manwa
  • Bearface
4:03
2."Thug Life"
  • I. Simpson
  • McDonald
  • D. Simpson
  • Hemnani
  • Boring
  • Manwarring
  • Hemnani
  • Joba
  • Bearface
  • Manwa
2:03
3."Berlin"
  • McDonald
  • D. Simpson
  • Champion
  • I. Simpson
  • Boring
  • Hemnani
  • Manwarring
3:19
4."Something About Him"
  • I. Simpson
  • Isaiah Merriweather
  • Hemnani
  • Manwarring
  • Kiko Merley
  • Hemnani
  • Manwa
1:34
5."Where the Cash At"
  • Wood
  • Champion
  • Manwarring
  • Hemnani
  • Boring
  • I. Simpson
  • Manwa
  • Hemnani
  • Joba
  • Abstract
1:55
6."Weight"
  • I. Simpson
  • Boring
  • D. Simpson
  • Hemnani
  • Manwarring
  • Hemnani
  • Abstract
  • Joba
  • Manwa
4:20
7."District"
  • I. Simpson
  • Wood
  • Boring
  • McDonald
  • D. Simpson
  • Champion
  • Hemnani
  • Manwarring
  • Hemnani
  • Joba
  • Bearface
  • Manwa
3:32
8."Loophole"HemnaniHemnani0:53
9."Tape"
  • I. Simpson
  • Boring
  • Champion
  • D. Simpson
  • Hemnani
  • Hemnani
  • Joba
3:29
10."J'Ouvert"
  • Manwa
  • Hemnani
  • Joba
3:54
11."Honey"
  • Hemnani
  • Abstract
  • Manwa
  • Merley
3:15
12."Vivid"
  • Champion
  • D. Simpson
  • McDonald
  • I. Simpson
  • Merriweather
  • Hemnani
  • Manwarring
  • Merley
  • Hemnani
  • Manwa
  • Bearface
2:24
13."San Marcos"
  • Champion
  • I. Simpson
  • McDonald
  • D. Simpson
  • Boring
  • Hemnani
  • Merriweather
  • Manwarring
  • Bearface
  • Hemnani
  • Merley
  • Abstract
  • Joba
  • Manwa
4:47
14."Tonya"
  • McDonald
  • I. Simpson
  • Boring
  • D. Simpson
  • Wood
  • Hemnani
  • Manwarring
  • Josiah Wise
  • Hemnani
  • Joba
  • McLennon
  • Manwa
  • Bearface
4:43
15."Fabric"
  • I. Simpson
  • D. Simpson
  • Wood
  • Boring
  • McDonald
  • Hemnani
  • Manwarring
  • Hemnani
  • Abstract
  • Manwa
  • McLennon
4:38
Total length:48:49

Notes

  • All track titles stylized in all caps.
  • "New Orleans" features vocals by Jaden Smith.
  • "Thug Life" and "San Marcos" feature vocals by London Community Gospel Choir Children featuring St. Ann's.
  • "Tonya" features vocals by Serpentwithfeet.
  • "Honey" features additional vocals by Kirsty Hopkins.
  • "Fabric" features additional vocals by Ashlan Grey, Matt Champion, Jabari Manwa and Romil Hemnani.

Samples

Personnel

Credits adapted from Brockhampton's official website.[36]

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[38] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[39] 47
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[40] 5
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[41] 29
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[42] 39
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[43] 46
Irish Albums (IRMA)[44] 8
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[45] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[46] 21
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 41
UK Albums (OCC)[48] 20
US Billboard 200[35] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[49] 1

References

  1. ↑ Greenwood, Douglas (September 25, 2018). "Brockhampton's 'Iridescence' Is a Boundary-Breaking Triumph". Highsnobiety. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8257037/brockhampton-new-album-puppy
  3. ↑ "Brockhampton Cryptically Delays 'Team Effort'". HYPEBEAST. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  4. ↑ "Brockhampton Signs With RCA Records". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  5. ↑ "BROCKHAMPTON's Ameer Vann Accused of Sexual Misconduct, Responds". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  6. ↑ "Brockhampton set to delay 'Puppy' album release following Ameer Vann sexual abuse allegations - NME". NME. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  7. ↑ Kim, Michelle (May 27, 2018). "BROCKHAMPTON Kick Out Ameer Vann Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  8. ↑ Minsker, Evan; Yoo, Noah (June 21, 2018). "BROCKHAMPTON Debut New Song "Tonya," Announce New Album on "Fallon": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  9. ↑ Minsker, Evan (June 13, 2018). "BROCKHAMPTON's First Appearance After Ameer Vann's Exit Happened on "Fallon"". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam (July 5, 2018). "BROCKHAMPTON Announce New Beats 1 Radio Show". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  11. ↑ Skelton, Eric (July 7, 2018). "Brockhampton Drops Video For New Song "1999 Wildfire"". Pigeons & Planes. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  12. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (July 19, 2018). "BROCKHAMPTON Share Video for New Song "1998 TRUMAN": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ Kim, Michelle (July 27, 2018). "BROCKHAMPTON Share 2 New Songs: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  14. ↑ https://twitter.com/brckhmptn/status/1040441554966441984
  15. ↑ "kevin abstract on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  16. ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/brockhamptons-new-album-out-in-september/
  17. ↑ "Brockhampton Announce I'll Be There Tour Dates". Complex. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  18. ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/brockhampton-announce-north-american-tour/
  19. ↑ https://pitchfork.com/news/brockhampton-announce-new-documentary-film-share-trailer-watch/
  20. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam; Minsker, Evan (14 September 2018). "BROCKHAMPTON Detail New Album Iridescence". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  21. ↑ https://www.thefader.com/2018/09/20/brockhampton-jouvert-music-video
  22. ↑ "BROCKHAMPTON Delivers Kevin Abstract-Directed Video for "San Marcos"". HYPEBEAST.
  23. ↑ "BROCKHAMPTON share video for "New Orleans"". The FADER.
  24. 1 2 "Iridescence by Brockhampton Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  25. 1 2 Yeung, Neil Z. (September 21, 2018). "iridescence - BROCKHAMPTON". AllMusic. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  26. ↑ Purdom, Clayton (September 28, 2018). "Cher does ABBA, BROCKHAMPTON sprawls out, and more in this week's music reviews". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  27. ↑ Rosebury, Will (September 28, 2018). "Brockhampton - Iridescence". Clash. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  28. 1 2 Graves, Wren (September 24, 2018). "Brockhampton Makes One Hell of a Statement for the ADHD Streaming Age with Iridescence". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  29. 1 2 Richards, Will (September 24, 2018). "Brockhampton - Iridescence". DIY. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  30. ↑ Spielberger, Daniel (September 24, 2018). "Review: Brockhampton's "Iridescence" Is Simply Thrilling". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  31. 1 2 Higgins, Sam (September 21, 2018). "Brockhampton return with the outstanding Iridescence". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  32. 1 2 Hunt, El (September 21, 2018). "Brockhampton – 'Iridescence' album review". NME. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  33. ↑ "BROCKHAMPTON: iridescence Album Review". Pitchfork. September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  34. 1 2 Rowan5215 (September 23, 2018). "Review: Brockhampton – Iridescence". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  35. 1 2 3 Caulfield, Keith (September 30, 2018). "Brockhampton's 'Iridescence' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  36. 1 2 "IRIDESCENCE". Brockhampton. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  37. ↑ Bote, Joshua (September 21, 2018). "5 Queerest Moments On Brockhampton's New Album 'Iridescence'". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  38. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 1, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Brockhampton – Iridescence" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Brockhampton Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 39, 2018". Hitlisten. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Brockhampton – Iridescence" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Brockhampton: Iridescence" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Villagers claim highest new entry on Official Irish Albums Chart with The Art of Pretending to Swim". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  45. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 1, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  46. ↑ "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 39, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 28, 2018. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
  48. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Brockhampton Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
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