Review: Kevin Abstract 'ARIZONA BABY'
Brockhampton co-founder Kevin Abstract (real name Clifford Ian Simpson) has been steadily releasing snippets of his new project throughout early 2019. Finally, all the pieces have been put together to form his third studio album, ARIZONA BABY.
The album begins with the first single that was released on April 9th, ‘Big Wheels.’ Abstract flexes his lyrical talent and blazing vocals here before it gives way to a psychedelic, jazzy interlude that plays out the rest of the track.
As promising as this opener is, ARIZONA BABY begins to jump from genre to genre, incorporating hip hop, Kanye-esque gospel music, and alternative styles. Though ambitious, as the album rolls on, the genre-hopping gives a much less cohesive feel than his last project, American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story. His heavy and unnecessary use of auto-tune on much of the album feels forced and often distracting. Many of the great verses on the album are broken up abruptly by auto-tuned choruses.
An overall feel of summertime nostalgia oozes from the album, with many tracks touching on Abstract’s adolescence and struggling with family issues, his sexuality, and relationships. Unfortunately, many of these same tracks over-utilize auto-tune, taking cutting verses and abruptly interrupting them. Tracks like ‘Corpus Christi’ (an allusion to where Abstract was born) is where he excels, weaving a story about his past and airing out dirty laundry with a dreamy, relaxed beat, only to be cut off by nearly unintelligible auto-tuned lyrics in the chorus.
The track ‘American Problem’ begins as a happy and uplifting song that builds towards a subtle beat switch and change of mood, with Abstract rapping about his struggle with suicidal thoughts and coming to terms with being a homosexual at a young age. No song embodies the album better than this track, and it stands out as both a high point and low point.
The album ends with ‘Boyer’, the only banger on the entire album. Abstract touches again on his past and the fear that he’s too different from those around him. However, unlike the rest of the album, the message here is different. Throughout this release, Abstract speaks about deeply personal issues from his past and how much he wishes to run away from it all. In ‘Boyer’ the chorus breaks this cycle claiming, “you cannot run forever, no/gotta learn your lesson, child.” A fitting resolution to an album wrought with personal trauma.
Overall, the album is pleasant to listen to, if relatively forgettable. Tracks like ‘Joyride’, ‘Baby Boy’, and ‘Crumble’ serve their purpose as summer love songs, but offer little in replayability. The album left me wanting more from Abstract, though his experimentation, storytelling, and range certainly give hope to his future projects.