BROCKHAMPTON’s leader Kevin Abstract has refuted rumours that the group have split as he slowly releases his new record.
Last week, the music world received a trio of new songs from BROCKHAMPTON’s Kevin Abstract. Titled ARIZONA baby, this three-track single is the artist’s first solo release since 2016, and his first piece of new music since his band’s last record in 2018.
However, with Abstract focusing on solo music right now, some fans have begun to speculate that maybe BROCKHAMPTON have reached their end.
Following a year in 2018 which saw them lose a member, release a new album, tour Australia for the first time, and record two new music videos while in the country, it appears that everyone is just taking some time off, with Abstract refuting the idea that the group are breaking up.
I’ve been making a ton of music some for the group some for me just bc some shit is too personal / self indulgent to Put on a group album and thats also a dif character all together but this summer I want all that shit out tired of holding records Back
— Kevin Abstract (@kevinabstract) April 16, 2019
ARIZONA baby is an album btw I’m just slowly releasing it over time
— Kevin Abstract (@kevinabstract) April 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/kevinabstract/status/1118224002831360002
And also like I hate how people listen to albums nowadays ppl see the song with the star or most streams and listen to that shit first I’m not talkin bout y’all I mean the majority so just wanted to try something different
— Kevin Abstract (@kevinabstract) April 16, 2019
BROCKHAMPTON IS NOT BREAKING UP THE NEW MUSIC SOUNDS GOOD AS HELL WE JUST NOT SPENDING 10 DAYS ON ALBUMS NO MORE
— Kevin Abstract (@kevinabstract) April 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/kevinabstract/status/1118247277477281792
Y’all asking if bearface is okay and yes he is great doing awesome he loves this song im putting out tomorrow called ‘Mississippi’
— Kevin Abstract (@kevinabstract) April 16, 2019
That’s the plan https://t.co/k5wXzYXyQl
— Kevin Abstract (@kevinabstract) April 16, 2019
“I’ve been making a ton of music some for the group some for me just bc some shit is too personal / self indulgent to put on a group album,” Kevin Abstract explained. “Thats also a dif character all together but this summer I want all that shit out tired of holding records back.”
“BROCKHAMPTON IS NOT BREAKING UP THE NEW MUSIC SOUNDS GOOD AS HELL WE JUST NOT SPENDING 10 DAYS ON ALBUMS NO MORE.”
“I’ve been recording ARIZONA baby since the I’ll Be There tour,” he added. “People assume me and Romil [Hemnani, producer] went off and made the album on our own but I did ‘Georgia’ when we was all on tour.”
“Y’all asking if Bearface is okay and yes he is great doing awesome he loves this song im putting out tomorrow called ‘Mississippi’.”
Check out Kevin Abstract’s ‘Big Wheels’:
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time rumours of a BROCKHAMPTON breakup have circulated, with the “best boyband since One Direction” teasing the release of 2017’s SATURATION III by subtitling it, “The Last Studio Album By BROCKHAMPTON.”
Speaking to Zane Lowe about this soon afterwards, Kevin Abstract laughed off the notion, jovially noting that their albums aren’t in fact recorded in a professional studio anyway.
“Doesn’t it make it way more epic, though?” Abstract asked. “Like, SATURATION III: The Last Studio Album by BROCKHAMPTON. It seems like more of a moment than just it’s the end of the trilogy or end of the era. Even though everybody knows it’s not really our last album.”
“If this was the last one, I’d be really happy but it also feels like we have more to say,” he added. “So I don’t think it’s the last one. But at the same time, we do whatever we want in the moment.”
As promised, Kevin Abstract is set to release some new tunes from his ARIZONA baby album on Thursday, with at least one track being titled ‘Mississippi’.
Though he joked he’ll likely follow in Sufjan Stevens’ footsteps with one song for each US state, we have no idea if the ambitious artist is actually joking or not at this stage.