Saturation (Brockhampton album)

Following the release of Brockhampton's debut mixtape All-American Trash, the group relocated to a shared home in South Central, Los Angeles. In May 2017, Brockhampton announced Saturation, at the time referred to as the group's second mixtape.{{Cite web |last=Ivey |first=Justin|date=2017-05-03 |title=Kevin Abstract’s Group Brockhampton Will Release Their Second Mixtape ‘Saturation’ Next Month - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kevin-abstract-brockhampton-mixtape-saturation-next-month/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}} The release date was set for June, although recording had not yet begun at the time of the announcement.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-03 |title=The Oral History of Brockhampton... as Told by Brockhampton |url=https://www.gq.com/story/the-oral-history-of-brockhampton |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Joe |date=July 6, 2017 |title=How Brockhampton Made One of the Year's Best Albums in Less Than a Month |url=http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2017/07/brockhampton-saturation-interview-review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706183857/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2017/07/brockhampton-saturation-interview-review |archive-date=July 6, 2017 |access-date=October 30, 2024 |website=Pigeons & Planes}} Saturation was recorded, produced, and mixed in the groups home, with Romil Hemnani and Joba credited as the recording engineer and mixing engineer, respectively. The entire record was mixed by Joba in three days. Kevin Abstract, Hemnani, and Joba served as executive producers.

Compared to previous releases, Saturation was produced more collaboratively and features a more cohesive sound. The groups dynamic on the record and decision to rap about more specific subject matter was inspired by Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Wood and McLennon cited the tracks "Milk" and "Trip", respectively, as opportunities to open up on vulnerable verses. Group member Bearface was in London during the albums recording, and contributed the solo track "Waste", written and recorded in a single day alongside No Rome.

The opening track, "Heat", has been described as "horrorcore-adjacent", with the track's blown-out bass serving as "a moment of catharsis for both the rappers and the listener". "Gold" is as a "zany posse cut", with verses by Matt Champion, Ameer Vann, Merlyn Wood, and Dom McLennon that were regarded by Matthew Strauss of Pitchfork as their best performances on the album. "Star" features an eerie beat, with Abstract, Vann, and McLennon making numerous pop-culture references within their verses.{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Joe |title=Watch the Surreal Video for Brockhampton's New Song "Star" |url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/a/backwoodsaltar/brockhampton-star |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Complex |language=en-us}} "Boys" contrasts a "swirling" instrumental with deadpan verses from Champion, Vann, and McLennon. On "Trip", Abstract and Vann disavow the suburban lifestyle, whereas "Milk" features an uplifting message of self-acceptance. "Face" has a "pristine beat" that sports a gentle chorus from rapper and singer Joba. The album closer, "Waste", is a guitar-driven ballad featuring a "tortured" performance by Bearface.{{Cite web |date=2018-03-27 |title=Clairo Shares Acoustic Cover of Brockhampton's "Waste" |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/clairo-shares-acoustic-cover-brockhampton-160530302.html |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}} "Waste" is the only track on the album only featuring one member of the group.

Saturation was announced on May 3, 2017 for a release in June. The first single, "Face", was released alongside a music video on May 8.{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Joe |title=Watch the Stark Video for Brockhampton's New Song "Face" |url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/a/backwoodsaltar/brockhampton-face |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Complex |language=en-us}} For the remainder of the month, the group released music videos on a weekly basis, with "Heat", "Gold", and "Star" receiving videos directed by Abstract and filmed in South Central.{{Cite web |title=Watch Brockhampton’s Colorful Visuals For "Gold" |url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/05/23/watch-brockhampton-gold-video-kevin-abstract |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The FADER |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Kevin Abstract Directs The Video For Brockhampton’s "Heat" |url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/05/16/brockhampton-heat-video-kevin-abstract |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The FADER |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=C.M |first=Emmanuel C. M. Emmanuel |date=2017-06-01 |title=Brockhampton Turn Blue in 'Star' Video - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/brockhamptons-star-video/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}

Shortly after the album's announcement, Brockhampton were revealed to be the subject of a Viceland documentary series titled American Boyband. The show premiered a day before the album's release, on June 8. The same day, a non-album single titled "Lamb" was released as the final single in promotion of the album.{{cite web |last=Nyren |first=Erin |date=May 8, 2017 |title=TV News Roundup: Viceland Announces Premiere Dates for Summer Slate |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/viceland-summer-slate-series-lineup-premiere-dates-1202418902/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217014745/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/viceland-summer-slate-series-lineup-premiere-dates-1202418902/ |archive-date=December 17, 2017 |access-date=December 3, 2017}}{{cite web |title=Watch The Trailer For Kevin Abstract's American Boyband TV Show |url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/22/kevin-abstract-american-boyband-tv-show-trailer-viceland |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130072721/http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/22/kevin-abstract-american-boyband-tv-show-trailer-viceland |archive-date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=December 3, 2017}}{{cite web |title=Watch the Intimate Video for Brockhampton's Touching New Song "Lamb" |url=http://pigeonsandplanes.com/music/2017/06/brockhampton-lamb-video |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204191729/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/music/2017/06/brockhampton-lamb-video |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |access-date=December 3, 2017}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = HotNewHipHop

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/brockhampton-saturation-new-mixtape.117218.html |title=Brockhampton - SATURATION |work=Hot new Hip Hop |first= Kevin |last=Goddar |date=Jun 8, 2017 |accessdate=15 June 2017}}

| rev2 = Pitchfork

| rev2score = 6.5/10

| rev3 = Pretty Much Amazing

| rev3score = B−{{Cite web|url=https://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/brockhampton-saturation-saturation-ii|title=Review: Brockhampton, Saturation / Saturation II|website=prettymuchamazing.com|access-date=2017-12-27}}

| rev4 = RadioUTD

| rev4score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

|rev5 = theneedledrop

|rev5score = 9/10{{cite web|title=Brockhampton - Saturation ALBUM REVIEW |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBHjkRZQbv8 |publisher=TheNeedleDrop|accessdate=12 June 2017}}

}}

Saturation received general acclaim from music critics upon its release. DJBooth's Brent Bradley praised the group's chemistry, noting that "With Saturation, Brockhampton has cemented themselves as a force to behold, the next in an all-too-short line of examples in which groups manage to fully realize their dynamic potential".{{Cite news|url=http://djbooth.net/news/entry/2017-06-09-brockhampton-saturation-album-review|title=BROCKHAMPTON 'Saturation' Cheat Code Album Review|work=DJBooth.net|access-date=2017-06-15}} For RadioUTD, Roman Soriano referred to the group's members as "highly talented", continuing that "it's incredible to think that this was put together in just three and a half weeks, given the complexity of this project", praising its "powerful lyricism, great storytelling, and ... cohesive but diverse sound".{{Cite news|url=http://www.radioutd.com/blog/2017/06/brockhampton-saturation/|title=BROCKHAMPTON - SATURATION |last=Soriano|first=Roman|date=2017-06-13|work=RadioUTD|access-date=2017-06-15|language=en-US}} In a less positive review, Pitchfork's Matthew Strauss called the album a "split between effortless cool and empty platitudes", praising the group's stylishness and assertiveness, but criticizing the album's less aggressive moments as "sappy", revealing "the collective's lyrical weakness".

{{Track listing

| headline = Saturation track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title_width = 20%

| writing_width = 50%

| title1 = Heat

| length1 = 4:32

| writer1 = {{hlist|Ameer Vann|William Wood|Dominique Simpson|Russell Boring|Matthew Champion}}

| extra1 = Romil Hemnani

| title2 = Gold

| length2 = 4:26

| writer2 = {{hlist|Ian Simpson|Vann|Wood|Champion|D. Simpson|Boring}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Q3 (Jabari Manwa|Kiko Merley)|Hemnani{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| title3 = Star

| length3 = 2:41

| writer3 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Vann|D. Simpson}}

| extra3 = Manwa

| title4 = Boys

| length4 = 4:38

| writer4 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Vann|Wood|D. Simpson|Champion|Boring}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Manwa|Hemnani{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| title5 = 2Pac

| length5 = 1:02

| writer5 = {{hlist|Vann|I. Simpson}}

| extra5 = Kiko Merley

| title6 = Skit 1

| length6 = 0:19

| writer6 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Robert Ontenient|Manwa}}

| extra6 = Hemnani

| title7 = Fake

| length7 = 4:36

| writer7 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Vann|Wood|D. Simpson|Isaiah Merriweather}}

| extra7 = Q3

| title8 = Bank

| length8 = 3:16

| writer8 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|D. Simpson|Vann}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Manwa|Hemnani{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| title9 = Skit 2

| length9 = 0:16

| writer9 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Ontenient|Manwa}}

| extra9 = Hemnani

| title10 = Trip

| length10 = 3:23

| writer10 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Vann|D. Simpson|Boring}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Hemnani|Kiko Merley{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| title11 = Swim

| length11 = 3:33

| writer11 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Wood|D. Simpson|Boring}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Hemnani|Q3{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| title12 = Bump

| length12 = 2:38

| writer12 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Vann|Wood|Champion|D. Simpson}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Hemnani|Joba{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| title13 = Cash

| length13 = 3:15

| writer13 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Wood|Vann|Boring|D. Simpson}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Hemnani|Manwa{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| title14 = Skit 3

| length14 = 0:39

| writer14 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Ontenient|Manwa}}

| extra14 = Hemnani

| title15 = Milk

| length15 = 4:55

| writer15 = {{hlist|I. Simpson|Vann|Wood|Champion|D. Simpson}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Hemnani|Q3{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| title16 = Face

| length16 = 4:19

| writer16 = {{hlist|Vann|Boring|D. Simpson|Champion}}

| extra16 = Kiko Merley

| title17 = Waste

| length17 = 2:34

| writer17 = Ciarán McDonald

| extra17 = {{hlist|Bearface|No Rome{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| total_length = 51:02

}}

Notes

• All tracks are stylized in all caps. For example, "Heat" is stylized as "HEAT".
• ^{{{note|a|[a]}}} signifies an additional producer.
• ^{{{note|b|[b]}}} signifies an additional drum programmer.

Brockhampton

{{div col|colwidth=}}

• Kevin Abstract – performance (tracks 2–5, 7, 8, 10–13, 15), executive production, creative direction
• Ameer Vann – performance (tracks 1–5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16)
• Merlyn Wood – performance (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 11–13, 15)
• Dom McLennon – performance (tracks 1–4, 7, 8, 10–13, 15, 16)
• Matt Champion – performance (tracks 1, 2, 4, 12, 15, 16)
• Joba – performance (tracks 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, 13, 16), additional drum programming (track 12), additional vocals (tracks 7, 12), additional keys (track 16), co-executive production, mixing, mastering
• Bearface – performance (track 17), production (track 17)
• Romil Hemnani – production (tracks 1, 6, 9–15), additional production (tracks 4, 8), additional drum programming (track 2), co-executive production, recording engineering
• Q3 – production (tracks 2, 7), additional production (tracks 11, 15)
• Jabari Manwa – production (tracks 3, 4, 8), additional production (track 13), additional synth (track 1), performance (tracks 6, 9, 14)
• Kiko Merley – production (tracks 5, 16), additional production (track 10), performance (track 7)
• Henock Sileshi – creative direction, graphic design
• Ashlan Grey – photography
• Robert Ontenient – webmastering, performance (tracks 6, 9, 14)

{{div col end}}

Additional personnel

• No Rome – additional production (track 17), additional vocals (track 17)
• Nick Lenzini – creative assistance
• Kevin Doan – creative assistance

{{reflist}}

{{Brockhampton}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2017 debut albums

Category:Empire Distribution albums

Category:Brockhampton (band) albums

Category:Albums produced by Romil Hemnani