Brockhampton (band)

Brockhampton

Company type	Collective
Industry	Music
Founded	2014 in San Marcos, Texas, United States
Founder	Kevin Abstract
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Kevin Abstract, Matt Champion, Merlyn Wood, Dom McLennon, Russell "JOBA" Boring, Ciarán "bearface" McDonald, Jabari Manwa, Romil Hemnani, Kiko Merley, Henock "HK" Sileshi, Ashlan Grey, Roberto Ontenient, Jon Nunes
Products	Music albums, mixtapes, music videos
Number of employees	14 (final roster)

Brockhampton was an American hip-hop ensemble established in San Marcos, Texas in 2014. Emerging partly through internet forums, the collective was distinguished by its large membership, cultural variety, and extensive output. The final roster featured vocalists Kevin Abstract, Matt Champion, Merlyn Wood, and Dom McLennon; producers and vocalists Russell "JOBA" Boring, Ciarán "bearface" McDonald, Jabari Manwa; producers Romil Hemnani and Kiko Merley; graphic artist Henock "HK" Sileshi; photographer Ashlan Grey; web designer Roberto Ontenient; and manager Jon Nunes.

Initiated by the group's unofficial leader Kevin Abstract, Brockhampton evolved from participants of the now-defunct online collective AliveSinceForever. Their first mixtape, All-American Trash, was self-released in 2016. After moving to Los Angeles, they attained both critical acclaim and commercial success with the albums Saturation, Saturation II, and Saturation III, all launched within a six-month span in 2017. In 2018, they entered into a contract with RCA Records, but founding member Ameer Vann departed following allegations of sexual misconduct. Their album Iridescence (2018) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and received a nomination at the Brit Awards. Later releases, including Ginger (2019) and Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine (2021), maintained comparable commercial achievements, with Ginger featuring the multi-platinum hit "Sugar". The group officially disbanded in 2022 after issuing their concluding albums The Family and TM.

Although primarily identified as a hip-hop collective, Brockhampton initially described themselves as a boy band to challenge traditional definitions. Their membership encompassed rappers, singers, producers, photographers, and others representing diverse sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, and national origins. Notably, they produced eight studio albums within five years following their inception.

2009–2014: AliveSinceForever

In 2009, then-13-year-old Kevin Abstract launched a collective on the KanyeLive forum. This group included producers Robert Ontenient and Romil Hemnani, who connected through the forum’s Lupe Fiasco section, along with graphic designer Henock "HK" Sileshi, recognized for his custom album artwork. HK joined after Hemnani commended a parody cover he had shared. Producer Jabari Manwa from Grenada also became involved through the forum.

Several members were brought together via existing relationships: Abstract, Merlyn Wood, Matt Champion, and Ameer Vann began collaborating as classmates at The Woodlands High School. Russell "JOBA" Boring, initially working as a recording engineer in Houston, was invited to participate. Hemnani, Dom McLennon, Rodney Tenor, and Jon Nunes collaborated in Connecticut before joining the group. Northern Irish singer-producer Ciarán "bearface" McDonald met Hemnani during a session in New York City.

AliveSinceForever functioned as a loosely organized collective of approximately 40 individuals pursuing solo projects across various cities. They performed several small-scale shows including appearances at South by Southwest. In 2013, they released The ASF EP. The following year saw AliveSinceForever contributing to Abstract's debut album MTV1987, featuring involvement from Hemnani, Champion, JOBA, Vann, Wood, HK, Ontenient, and Kiko Merley.

2014-2016: Origins and Initial Projects

Toward the end of 2014, JOBA moved to San Marcos, Texas to enroll at Texas State University. Alongside him, several collaborators, including Abstract, also relocated. Due to difficulties managing the group AliveSinceForever, Abstract decided to disband the collective. Subsequently, he invited selected members to join him in San Marcos to establish Brockhampton, a name inspired by the street where Abstract was raised in Corpus Christi.

Brockhampton's first single, "Bet I," was launched in January 2015 accompanied by a music video directed by HK and Franklin Mendez. However, by 2017 this track was no longer available on streaming services. Their next single "Hero" premiered in June of the same year. That month also marked a significant achievement when Brockhampton won the VFiles Loud Contest, earning a professionally produced music video for their song "Dirt," which was released via Fool's Gold Records. On March 24, 2016, they offered their first mixtape All-American Trash as a free download. Later that year in November, Abstract unveiled his sophomore studio album American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story, which included collaborations with Hemnani, bearface, JOBA, Albert Gordon, Ashlan Gray, Ontenient, HK, and Wood.

2017: Move to Los Angeles and the Saturation Trilogy

After launching All-American Trash, Brockhampton relocated to a communal residence in South-central Los Angeles. During this period, vocalist Rodney Tenor and producer Albert Gordon departed from the collective, while photographer Ashlan Gray became a new member. In January 2017, the group released the standalone track "Cannon" and announced forthcoming solo projects from various members.

On May 3, Abstract revealed the group's debut studio album, initially promoted as a mixtape, titled Saturation. Recording commenced immediately, with all production handled internally at their South Central residence. Over the following weeks, singles "Face", "Heat", "Gold", and "Star" were issued consecutively each week, each accompanied by music videos directed by Abstract and shot locally. In May, Brockhampton was featured in Viceland’s documentary series American Boyband, which premiered on June 8 alongside the release of a music video for "Lamb". The full Saturation album was officially released on June 9, 2017, receiving widespread critical praise.

Subsequently, the group moved into a new house located in North Hollywood. Prior to finishing Saturation, they announced its sequel, Saturation II, which was also produced at their North Hollywood home. Singles "Gummy", "Swamp", "Junky", and "Sweet" were released weekly from August 1 through August 22, followed by an unexpected non-album single titled "Follow". Released on August 25, Saturation II further boosted their visibility. To support both projects, Brockhampton embarked on their inaugural national tour, Jennifer's Tour, beginning September 3.

On December 1, Brockhampton declared that Saturation III would serve as their final studio album—although this was later clarified not to be absolute. The lead single "Boogie" was unveiled on December 12. Two days later, they announced plans for a fourth album called Team Effort, scheduled for 2018 release, alongside releasing the new single "Stains" from Saturation III. The album dropped on December 15. To commemorate the trilogy’s completion, they self-produced and financed a feature-length film. From January 6 to March 8, 2018, Brockhampton toured nationwide on the Love Your Parents Tour supporting the entire Saturation trilogy.

2018: Signing with RCA, Ameer Vann’s Departure, and Iridescence

In March 2018, Brockhampton announced an indefinite postponement of Team Effort, intending instead to release their fourth studio album titled Puppy later that year. Shortly thereafter, they secured a record contract with Sony's RCA Records, reportedly valued at over $15 million for six albums over three years. Following the conclusion of the Love Your Parents Tour in April, they launched their nationwide Stereo Spirit Tour.

In May, allegations of sexual and domestic abuse were made against member Ameer Vann. While he admitted to instances of mental and verbal abuse, he denied any sexual misconduct. Kevin Abstract responded by affirming that Vann would be held responsible and suggested that the release of Puppy might be delayed. On May 27, Brockhampton announced Vann’s exit from the group, issued an apology for their delayed response, and canceled remaining tour dates including their appearance at Governors Ball Music Festival. Subsequent reports implicated Vann in orchestrating a home burglary.

Following Vann’s departure, the band regrouped in Hawaii to revise their fourth album, during which they composed the track "Tonya". On June 20, Brockhampton made their late-night television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performing "Tonya" with guest vocalists and unveiling the new album title as The Best Years of Our Lives. They continued touring by headlining the Agenda Festival in Long Beach, California. In July, Brockhampton launched a Beats 1 radio show entitled Things We Lost in the Fire Radio, premiering singles like "1999 Wildfire" featuring Jazze Pha, "1998 Truman," and "1997 Diana," each accompanied by music videos.

On August 26, Brockhampton announced their forthcoming album Iridescence, recorded over ten days at Abbey Road Studios, with a planned September release. Concurrently, they revealed a documentary named The Longest Summer in America, which premiered on September 20. The band also announced their I'll Be There Tour scheduled from October through December 2018. Released on September 21, Iridescence included a studio version of "Tonya" without guest vocalists. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart on September 30—marking Brockhampton’s first chart-topping release. In January 2019, they earned their first nomination for Best International Group at the Brit Awards, held at The O₂ Arena in February.

2019: Ginger

After the release of Iridescence, Brockhampton entered a six-month break. During this interval, members such as JOBA, bearface, Hemnani, Manwa, HK, and Grey focused on Abstract's third solo project, Arizona Baby. When Abstract encountered writer's block late in the album’s creation, the group began work on their subsequent record. The album's lyrical themes were heavily influenced by weekly group therapy sessions called "Friday Therapy," led by actor Shia LaBeouf. Although the band no longer resided together as they had during the Saturation trilogy, much of the recording took place at a shared residence in Hollywood Hills used by the creative collective.

On July 2, Brockhampton revealed their fifth studio album titled Ginger. Similar to the rollout strategy of the Saturation series, they released weekly singles accompanied by videos: "I Been Born Again," "If Your Pray Right," "Boy Bye," and "No Halo." The album officially dropped on August 23 and was supported by a one-time Los Angeles performance named Friday Therapy, featuring opening acts 100 gecs, Deb Never, JPEGMafia, and Dominic Fike. From October through December, Brockhampton toured across the United States on the Heaven Belongs to You Tour alongside 100 gecs and Slowthai.

Brockhampton made their television debut on September 6, 2019, appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show where they performed "Sugar" and an untelevised rendition of "Boy Bye." That same day, they also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! performing "No Halo" with Deb Never. Later, on October 24, the group featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, performing "Sugar" together with Ryan Beatty.

On January 14, 2020, "Sugar" became Brockhampton’s first song to enter the Billboard charts, debuting at number 70 on the Hot 100 and reaching a peak position of number 66 over nine weeks. A remix including Dua Lipa, Jon B., and Ryan Beatty was released on March 6. By April 29, 2020, the single achieved platinum status and earned a second platinum certification in November 2021.

2020-2021: Technical Difficulties Radio and Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brockhampton released a collection of non-album singles titled Technical Difficulties Radio via YouTube. These tracks were recorded while quarantined and were preceded by livestream sessions hosted on Twitch. Songs such as "N.S.T," "things cant stay the same," "M.O.B," "Twisted," "I.F.L," "Baby Bull," "Downside," "Fishbone," and "Chain On / Hold Me" were initially available but later removed. This project marked producer Jabari Manwa’s first vocal contributions on official group releases.

During these livestreams, band members shared that their sixth studio album was sonically complete and anticipated for release in summer. Abstract and HK later revealed that the album’s initials were RR. In August 2020, Abstract and Hemnani introduced a new label and clothing line named Video Store. On January 2, 2021, a preview of the lead single "Buzzcut" was posted on Instagram.

The single "Buzzcut," featuring Danny Brown, was officially released on March 24, 2021. Alongside this release came the announcement of the album’s full title: Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine. The second single, "Count On Me," followed on April 2. The full album was launched globally on April 9. The music video for "Count On Me," which premiered on April 13, included appearances by Lil Nas X and Dominic Fike. Brockhampton promoted Roadrunner as their second-to-last album with plans for one final release within that year. In June, they contributed the track "MVP" to the soundtrack for Space Jam: A New Legacy.

2022: Disbandment, The Family, and TM

In 2021, Brockhampton experienced unproductive recording sessions in Ojai while working on their concluding studio album. On January 14, 2022, the group declared an indefinite break, cancelling the majority of their Here Right Now tour dates promoting Roadrunner, with the exceptions of performances at The O2 Arena and Coachella, which were confirmed as their final live appearances. Following their Coachella set, they revealed plans to release their last studio album later that year.

Throughout the hiatus, two separate albums were created independently. Abstract collaborated in New York City alongside bearface, Hemnani, and Ryan "Boylife" Yoo on a project featuring only Abstract’s lead vocals, with bearface and Boylife serving as executive producers. Concurrently, Champion finalized the 2021 Ojai session recordings into a complete album, acting as its executive producer.

In October, Abstract announced The Family as Brockhampton's final studio album, scheduled for release in November. This announcement was preceded by the singles "Big Pussy" and "The Ending." On November 17, coinciding with the release of The Family, Champion’s album TM also debuted, positioned as the group's definitive final record and described as a "parting gift" for fans. Despite earlier assertions that Coachella would mark their last performance, Brockhampton held one more live event on November 19—a complimentary live-streamed concert at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre.

Although Abstract’s lyrics hinted at internal tensions, the band clarified that their hiatus was not due to interpersonal conflicts. Champion explained that the group felt they had reached a natural conclusion to their collective work and wished to explore individual creative paths.

2023-present: Solo work and further collaborations

In April 2023, Manwa initiated his solo career under the name Saga Buoy by releasing singles post-Brockhampton. Later in November, Abstract unveiled his fourth solo album Blanket, featuring Hemnani returning as both producer and engineer. Champion's debut solo project Mika's Laundry, released in March 2024, included contributions from former Brockhampton members Hemnani, bearface, Manwa, and Merley. Hemnani also produced Champion's EP Slint's Favorite within the same year. In September, JOBA independently released his debut album Russel Boring, without involvement from other ex-members.

By May 2025, Abstract confirmed that a Brockhampton reunion was improbable and noted minimal communication among members. The following month, he released his fifth studio album Blush, which featured collaborations with Vann, Hemnani, Merley, and a Houston-based collective supporting Abstract. This album has been characterized as a spiritual continuation of Brockhampton’s legacy.

Musical style

Brockhampton was chiefly identified within the hip-hop genre, predominantly classified under alternative hip-hop. Their Saturation trilogy highlighted an eclectic sound palette blending elements of pop rap, hardcore hip-hop, G-funk, and indie rock. With Iridescence, they shifted toward industrial hip-hop, experimental hip-hop, and progressive rap, drawing inspiration from UK rap and grime influences. Their most subdued project, Ginger, emphasized pop rap alongside alternative R&B, while Technical Difficulties Radio embraced West Coast hip-hop and marked their first extensive use of sampling. The album Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine continued this sampling approach while incorporating elements of rap rock, contemporary R&B, and conscious hip-hop into their established pop rap foundation. The final studio effort from Abstract alone, The Family, explored sample-heavy chipmunk soul, southern hip-hop, and drumless hip-hop styles. Meanwhile, TM, their ultimate release overseen by Champion, fused influences from trap and dance-pop.

Members

The vocalists within the collective utilized a range of vocal methods and thematic content, with each individual typically assuming a distinct role akin to that found in a conventional boy band. Kevin Abstract, serving as the unofficial frontman, often delivered pop hooks inspired by his personal encounters with homophobia and public recognition. Throughout the Saturation trilogy, Ameer Vann stood out as the group's most "grounded" and intense presence, adopting a gangsta rap approach shaped by his Houston background and experiences involving gang violence and racism. Matt Champion concentrated on themes such as romantic relationships, personal vulnerabilities, and battles with substance dependency. Dom McLennon employed a backpack rap style, delivering conscious lyrics that tackled political issues and racial topics. As the group's hype man, Merlyn Wood used energetic shouting to explore relationship dynamics and celebrate his Ghanaian roots. Russell "JOBA" Boring showcased versatility by performing ballads, screams, and comedic rap reminiscent of Eminem.

Northern Irish multi-instrumentalist Ciarán "bearface" McDonald began contributing primarily with closing ballads featuring guitar-driven production but expanded his role from Iridescence (2018) onward to include vocals, rap segments, and production duties. Producer Jabari Manwa transitioned into a performing artist starting with Technical Difficulties Radio, frequently providing Auto-Tune-enhanced choruses on projects like Roadrunner and TM.

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The ensemble's identity was characterized by its considerable size, cultural diversity, and defiance of conventional categorization. Pete Tosiello of Pitchfork remarked on their "Breakfast Club charm," highlighting the presence of "Black, White, gay, straight, African, Irish, and Latin members," as emphasized by Michael Cragg from The Guardian. In contrast to established hip hop collectives like Wu-Tang Clan and N.W.A, Brockhampton incorporated not only rappers but also singers, producers, photographers, graphic designers, managers, and web developers. Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times described the group as a "Gen Z dream team."

Cara Smith from Flood praised Brockhampton for their greater inclusivity toward women and LGBTQ+ individuals compared to traditional hip hop acts, noting their engagement with identity beyond materialistic themes. She identified Abstract as one of the rare openly gay rappers achieving mainstream success. The group received commendation for their swift dismissal of Ameer Vann following sexual misconduct accusations, which contrasted with typical hip hop attitudes surrounding masculinity and misogyny.

During the 2017 Saturation period, Brockhampton self-identified as a boy band rather than a hip hop ensemble. They earned titles such as the "All-American boy band" and were hailed as "the best boy band since One Direction." This branding sought to redefine the boy band archetype by emphasizing their diverse outsider lineup in contrast to traditional boy bands composed mainly of straight, white, conventionally attractive males targeting young female audiences. Vann explained that adopting the boy band label afforded them greater artistic liberty since pop music generally faced fewer stylistic limitations than hip hop. Although their appearance diverged from typical boy bands, they embraced certain traits such as coordinated stage attire. By the time of their 2021 album Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine, Brockhampton distanced themselves from the boy band categorization due to reluctance to conform to chart-driven expectations and limited acceptance within hip-hop culture.

Legacy

Kevin McDermott of Firebird recognized Brockhampton as heirs to the title once held by "the rap game’s favorite oddball posse," previously associated with Odd Future. Numerous collectives and artists influenced by Brockhampton—such as Teezo Touchdown, Kidz at Play, PartyOf2, 99 Neighbors, and Paris Texas—mirror their experimental blending of alternative rap and pop genres. Abstract’s visibility as an openly gay rapper contributed to greater acceptance for queer artists like Lil Nas X, while their strategy of cultivating an online fanbase has been widely emulated by musicians in the Gen Z demographic via platforms like TikTok.

Final line-up

• Kevin Abstract – vocals, production, video direction, creative leadership (2014–2022)
• Matt Champion – vocals (2014–2022), production (2022)
• Dom McLennon – vocals, production (2014–2022)
• Merlyn Wood – vocals (2014–2022)
• JOBA – vocals, production, mixing, mastering, piano (2014–2022)
• bearface – vocals, guitar, production (2014–2022)
• Jabari Manwa – production (2014–2022), vocals (2020–2022)
• Romil Hemnani – production, recording engineering, DJing (2014–2022)
• Kiko Merley – production (2014–2022)
• HK – creative direction, graphic design (2014–2022)
• Roberto Ontenient – production, web design, app development (2014−2022), skit vocals (2017, 2021)
• Jon Nunes – management (2014–2022)
• Ashlan Gray – photography, videography, webmaster duties (2016–2022)

Former members

• Ameer Vann – vocals (2014–2018)
• Rodney Tenor – vocals (2014–2016)
• Albert Gordon – production (2014–2016)

Discography

Main article: Brockhampton discography

Studio albums

• Saturation (2017)
• Saturation II (2017)
• Saturation III (2017)
• Iridescence (2018)
• Ginger (2019)
• Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine (2021)
• The Family (2022)
• TM (2022)

Filmography

Music videos are cataloged under the group's discography.

Films and series including title, release year, and director

Year	Title	Director	Medium
2016	All-American Trash	Henock Sileshi	Documentary
2017	American Boyband	Shane Tilston	Documentary series
	Billy Star	Kevin Abstract	Short film
	Saturation	Henock Sileshi	Documentary
2018	The Longest Summer in America	Dude Heifetz
2019	Keeping the Band	Kevin Abstract	Series
2021	Live from The Chapel		Concert film

Tours

Main article: List of Brockhampton concerts

Headlining tours

• Jennifer's Tour (2017)
• Love Your Parents Tour (2018)
• Stereo Spirit Tour (2018)
• I'll Be There Tour (2018)
• Heaven Belongs to You Tour (2019)
• Here Right Now Tour (2022) (Cancelled)

One-off concerts

• All-American Drive-In Prom (Los Angeles, 2016)
• Brockhampton Prom (Los Angeles, 2017)
• #iridescencelive (Auckland, 2018)
• Friday Therapy (Los Angeles, 2019)
• Live from The Chapel (Live-streamed event, 2021)
• Brockhampton Ends at the Fonda (Los Angeles, 2022)

Awards and nominations

Award events, years, nominees/works, categories, and outcomes

Award	Year	Nominee / work	Category	Outcome
Brit Awards	2019	Brockhampton	International Group	Template:Nominated
GLAAD Media Awards		Iridescence	Outstanding Music Artist	Template:Nominated
NME Awards	2020	Brockhampton	Best Band in the World	Template:Nominated
		"I Been Born Again"	Best Music Video	Template:Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards		Brockhampton	Best Push	Template:Nominated
GLAAD Media Awards	2022	'Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine'	Outstanding Music Artist	Template:Nominated