![Influences of BROCKHAMPTON + [ Playlist ]](https://centralsauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bhinf.jpg)
We dug through every interview Brockhampton has ever given (both individually and as a group) to discover the inspirations and influences of Brockhampton, then spent hours making the ultimate playlist of Brockhampton’s greatest musical influences. Prepare to get to know the group like never before.
Brockhampton technically began in 2015, but the group’s early beginnings go much further back. In 2011, Brockhampton’s members were scattered across the country. Many of them, including Merlyn Wood and Ameer Vann, weren’t even making music at the time. Others were pursuing various solo projects, like Dom McLennon and Kevin Abstract. But then, everything changed with the now famous thread that Kevin Abstract posted on the online forum KanyeToThe, simply titled “Anybody wanna make a band?”.
The group banded around their shared musical tastes, centering on genre-innovating artists and prolific producers like Kanye West. Starting with their debut mixtape All American Trash, Brockhampton began developing their own unique sound. Keeping one foot firmly planted in the musical space created by hip hop revolutionaries like Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Future, and Tyler, The Creator, while exploring other genres like pop, alt rock, r&b (and even the occasional rock ballad), Brockhampton began creating something special and increasingly hard to define.
Few other artists can match the amount of emotion and sheer energy for even a single song that Brockhampton brings by the album-load. They’re not afraid to be vocally exposed with acapella segments and have also shown a willingness to work with surprising collaborators like former Radio Disney star Ryan Beatty. Although it remains to be seen whether the members of Brockhampton have what it takes to pursue successful solo careers, the sum of their collective is greater than anything we’ve seen in the rap game with just a few exceptions.
Brockhampton’s Influences: The Comprehensive Playlist
We recommend listening to the playlist straight through (no shuffling!) so you can track song themes and each song’s Brockhampton counterpart with our Playlist Guide below.
About the Playlist
The vast majority of artists included in this playlist have either been specifically mentioned themselves or had a song by them mentioned by a member of Brockhampton in an interview discussing personal music influences. We picked 1-4 tracks by each influencer that carry noticeable themes audible in Brockhampton’s sound, taking into account overall sound, or some specific aspect such as production, vocal style, or flow.
Influences of: BROCKHAMPTON
Playlist Guide
Every song from the playlist and its Brockhampton counterpart, track by track.
| Influencer | Playlist Song | Brockhampton Counterpart | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Future | "Neva End" | "SWAMP | |
Kanye West | "Blood on the Leaves" | "STAR" | |
| Kanye West | "Amazing" | "FAKE" | |
| Kanye West | "On Sight" | "JUNKY" | |
Kid Cudi | "Erase Me" | "GAMBA" | |
| Kid Cudi | "Alive (nightmare)" | "GOLD" | Listen to chorus over chorus - matches almost perfectly |
| Kid Cudi | "GHOST!" | "TRIP" | |
Tyler, The Creator | "Domo23" | "STAR" | |
| Tyler, The Creator | "Who Dat Boy" | "JUNKY" | |
| Tyler, The Creator | "Jamba" | "GOLD" | |
| Tyler, The Creator | "Tamale" | "BUMP" | Listen closely to the end of each song where they transition to indie rock |
| Tyler, The Creator | "She" (feat Frank Ocean) | "BOYS" | |
Frank Ocean | "Novacane" | "SWIM" | Pay special attention to Merlyn and Dom's verses at the end |
| Frank Ocean | "Self Control" | "WASTE" | |
| Frank Ocean | "Crack Rock" | "MILK" | |
| Frank Ocean | "Chanel" | "JELLO" / "SUMMER" | JELLO mirrors the flow style but SUMMER captures nearly the exact chord progression and pace (& even uses piano similarly), just in a rock ballad form |
Eminem | "We Made You" | "FAKE" | |
| Eminem | "Crack a Bottle" | "SWEET" | Note JOBA's verse and compare Ameer's verse to Dre's |
| D12 / Eminem | "My Band" | "SWEET" | Compare the hooks & note Bizarre's verse vs Dom's |
| Justin Timberlake | "SexyBack" | "BOOGIE" | |
Odd Future | "Rella" | "STAR" | |
| Odd Future | "Hcapd" | "JELLO" | |
| Wu-Tang Clan | "Bring Da Ruckus" | "HEAT" | Just 20 years earlier in production! |
| Wu-Tang Clan | "Shame On a Nigga" | "CHICK" | |
M.I.A. | "Borders" | "JUNKY" | |
| M.I.A. | "Go Off" | "JELLO" | |
| M.I.A. | "Come Around" (feat Timbaland) | "SWEET" | Note how Ameer and Dom's verses reflect different aspects of Timbaland's verse |
| Death Grips | "Guillotine" | MERLYN | Honestly this song somehow sounds just like if we combined all Merlyn's verses into one song |
| Death Grips | "No Love" | "HEAT" | |
N.E.R.D. | "Sooner or Later" | "SWIM" | |
| N.E.R.D. | "Everyone Nose" | "TRIP" | |
| Injury Reserve | "Oh Shit!!!" | "GUMMY" | |
| Injury Reserve | "All This Money" | "BOOGIE" | |
King Krule | "Baby Blue" | "SUMMER" | If Merlyn sang all Bearface's songs, you'd have King Krule |
| King Krule | "Easy Easy" | "WASTE" | |
| Earl Sweatshirt | "Hive" | "BOYS" | Plenty of other options like BUMP, FAKE, & others but we went with BOYS because of the similarity in flow and production between the tracks |
| Earl Sweatshirt | "Sunday" (feat Frank Ocean) | "CASH" / "MILK" | |
Beyoncé | "Run the World (Girls)" | "TOKYO" | JOBA's flow is very bey-esque, and production is very similar (albeit less powerful) |
| Beyoncé | "Partition" | "JELLO" | |
| MF DOOM / Danger Doom | "Benzi Box" (feat CeeLo Green) | "GOLD" | |
| Radiohead | "Everything In Its Right Place" | "FIGHT" | So similar it almost sounds like they used it as a sample for the beginning |
Radiohead | "Idioteque" | "FAKE" | |
| BADBADNOTGOOD | "WEIGHT OFF" | "SWEET" | Listen to that bass line |
Mac Miller | "Donald Trump" | "CANNON" | Pay attention to their flow and that melody on the chorus |
| Mac Miller | "Loud" | "STAR" | |
| Pharrell Williams | "Freedom" | General | We included this one mostly just because of Pharrell's voice - he screams like JOBA and sings like Kevin Abstract |
| Pharrell Williams | "Can I Have It Like That" | "BOYS" | |
Missy Elliott | "Work It" | "SWEET" | |
| Miss Elliott | "WTF (Where They From)" (feat Pharrell Williams) | "GOLD" | |
| Kendrick Lamar | "m.A.A.d city" | "GUMMY" | |
| Vic Mensa | "Liquor Locker" | "TRIP" | |
| Will Smith | "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | General | BOOGIE & QUEER have some similar themes but we mostly wanted to include him because he's the reason Kevin Abstract began rapping |
Brockhampton Members: Top Influential Artists
Unfortunately only a couple members of the group have given solo interviews in great enough depth to quote them on their influences. We’ll keep this section updated as the rest of the group, including JOBA, Matt Champion, Merlyn Wood, and Romil Hemnani, begins to open up more after Saturation III.
Kevin Abstract
- Kanye West
- Future
- Kid Cudi
- Tyler, The Creator
- Frank Ocean
- King Krule
- Earl Sweatshirt
- Kanye West
- Beyonce
- Frank Ocean
- MF DOOM
- Eminem
- Radiohead
- BADBADNOTGOOD
- Wes Montgomery
- Billie Holiday
- Miles Davis
- Mount Kimbie
- James Blake
- A-Trak
Do you hear what we hear, or did we get a few matches wrong? Tell us in the comments!
Edit: Looks like the fellas are enjoying the playlist too!
— kevin (@kevinabstract) December 14, 2017
