“TM” is the final album released under hip-hop boy band collective BROCKHAMPTON, released as a surprise release alongside their 2022 album “The Family.” Without any promotion, the record landed on streaming platforms the day after the release of “The Family” on Nov 18th, 2022. 

Started in 2010, BROCKHAMPTON gained success seven years later from their “SATURATION” trilogy of hip hop records, which combined modern hip hop sounds with shades of ‘90s boom-bap, jazz and pop. With a diverse range of talent found within the group, they would continue to evolve their sound in records like “iridescence” and “GINGER,” furthering their pop centric boy-band image and establishing a deeper emotional core with a mellower sound. They would then bring this full circle by combining it with an energetic vibe in “ROADRUNNER,” which would be their final record before they officially announced their indefinite hiatus. To meet label contracts, they would then announce their final releases the following year. 

Where “The Family” is much more an energetic observation, “TM” delivers its message with a melancholic palette. Each track paints this emotion with different brushes; there’s smooth hip-hop bites, expansive jazz solos, glitch-hop raves and energetic hyperpop spotlighting the group’s reflective and conclusive lyrical performances. It’s the way that BROCKHAMPTON blends these performances that adds to the finality of the record, a look back to their multi-genre tribulations from the very start of their discography.

The most noticeable trait of “TM”is found immediately within the abrupt musical finishes on the record. Where the opener “FMG” is a cold-blooded electronic trap banger complete with an industrial synth sound, this angry energy flips entirely on its head with the somber “ANIMALS,” which meshes psychedelic hip-hop and ambient pitched vocals done by member Kevin Abstract. There’s a dreamier quality to this track’s sound that heavily contrasts the energy of the opener, providing respite within the swathes of pad layers that flow over the latter half of the song. 

“TM” also sports a significant dive into sobriety, a detour from the group’s performances on records like “ROADRUNNER.” The band displays their clarity on two polar opposites of the emotional spectrum. With an energetic drum-and-bass feature on “MAN ON THE MOON,” the group sets the stage for the euphoric “I wanna kiss the man on the moon” chorus that complements their tone. On the other side, “DUCT TAPE” is somber, sporting compressed vocal performances and wailing guitars. 

But this record holds a secret behind its veneer of finality — it struggles with substance all across the board. It’s clear that “TM” is a collection of B-side cuts removed from past records — leftover ingredients of past tracks on the chopping board put into a melting pot. While there are great instrumental breaks in tracks like “MAN ON THE MOON” and “CRUCIFY ME,” it is apparent that these moments were compensations for the lack of writing done for those songs. 

Compounding this problem, there is no trace of the involvement of other members other than the performing and producing parties — most notably performances from member and vocalist Bearface. With this cut down performance list, “TM” listens more as a collaborative project between those artists than the entirety of BROCKHAMPTON as a whole, unable to stand as a representation of the band’s sound. 

Eventually, “TM” finds its appeal towards the listener that’s been with the boy-band collective this whole time — journeying alongside in the group’s artistic journey all the way from their roots in their debut projects to the present. The indifferent passerby, however, can parse through its nostalgic veneer, leaving the record having to carry its weight by its content alone. And while there’s still memorable moments on this project, the unfinished nature of the tracklist leaves much to be desired from a finale to one of hip-hop’s most memorable acts.

2.5/5