Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine (often abbreviated to Roadrunner and stylized in all caps) is the sixth studio album by American hip hop boy band Brockhampton.[1] The album was released on April 9, 2021 through RCA and Question Everything,[2] and received generally positive reviews from music critics.[3] The album contains guest appearances from Danny Brown, JPEGMafia, A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, SoGone SoFlexy, Charlie Wilson, Baird, and SSGKobe.
| Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Standard album cover; CDs with individual members on different covers were released via Brockhampton's website | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 9, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2018–2021 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Alternative hip hop | |||
| Length | 46:38 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer |
| |||
| Brockhampton chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine | ||||
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Background
editDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Brockhampton released songs on their YouTube channel every weekend, and would sometimes livestream on Twitch and Instagram. During these streams, known as Technical Difficulties Radio, Brockhampton would play unreleased music, with some songs releasing shortly after the end of some streams.[4] The series was abruptly cancelled, and in September 2020, Brockhampton producer Romil Hemnani revealed in an interview that the album's initials were RR, leaving fans to believe that the album was titled Roadrunner.[5] The title was later confirmed, and the album's full title, Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine, was announced shortly after the release of the lead single "Buzzcut". Brockhampton recorded three different versions of Roadrunner and chose one for the final cut of the album.[6] Kevin Abstract revealed on Twitter that Roadrunner was the first of "[two] Brockhampton albums [to be released] in 2021", later clarifying that the upcoming albums will be Brockhampton's final releases.[7] The second album was later delayed to 2022, though on January 14, 2022, Brockhampton announced an indefinite hiatus following their Coachella performance in April 2022.[8] That album, The Family, was announced October 27, 2022, set for a November 17 release.
After the album was released, Abstract announced via TikTok that a deluxe edition of the album was to be released soon.[9] The Plus Pack edition of the album was released on June 4, 2021, including four new songs.[10]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.0/10[11] |
| Metacritic | 79/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Clash | 8/10[13] |
| Consequence of Sound | B[14] |
| DIY | [15] |
| The Independent |  [16] |
| The Line of Best Fit |   [17] |
| NME | [18] |
| Paste | 8.4/10[19] |
| Pitchfork | 7.4/10[20] |
| Rolling Stone | [21] |
Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine was met with generally favorable reviews upon release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the release received an average score of 79, based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[3] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album a 7.0 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[11]
Amongst the positive reviews from critics, AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung said that the album served as a "masterful group therapy session, picking up the broken pieces of life and uplifting with cautious optimism."[22]
In June 2021, Billboard ranked the album among the best 15 albums released by LGBTQ artists in 2021 so far.[23]
Lyrics
editPrior to the album's release, one member of Brockhampton, Joba, commented that the lyrics of Roadrunner contains themes that are very personal to the members, including the suicide of Joba's father.[24] Kevin Abstract noted that there would be lyrics about his sexuality on the record.[24]
Track listing
editCredits adapted from official website.[25]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Buzzcut" (featuring Danny Brown) |
|
| 3:21 |
| 2. | "Chain On" (featuring JPEGMafia) |
|
| 3:21 |
| 3. | "Count On Me" |
|
| 2:35 |
| 4. | "Bankroll" (featuring A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg) |
|
| 3:22 |
| 5. | "The Light" |
|
| 3:42 |
| 6. | "Windows" (featuring SoGone SoFlexy) |
|
| 6:11 |
| 7. | "I'll Take You On" (featuring Charlie Wilson) |
|
| 4:14 |
| 8. | "Old News" (featuring Baird) |
|
| 3:13 |
| 9. | "What's the Occasion?" |
|
| 3:45 |
| 10. | "When I Ball" |
| 3:23 | |
| 11. | "Don’t Shoot Up the Party" |
| 3:07 | |
| 12. | "Dear Lord" |
|
| 2:02 |
| 13. | "The Light Pt. II" |
|
| 4:18 |
| Total length: | 46:38 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Roberto's Interlude" |
|
| 0:53 |
| 15. | "Jeremiah" |
|
| 2:59 |
| 16. | "Sex" |
|
| 3:36 |
| 17. | "Pressure / Bow Wow" (featuring SSGKobe) |
|
| 2:45 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Pressure / Bow Wow" (featuring SSGKobe) |
|
| 2:44 |
| 15. | "Sex" |
|
| 3:37 |
| 16. | "Jeremiah (Rmx)" |
|
| 3:00 |
| 17. | "Jeremiah (Original)" |
|
| 3:03 |
Notes
edit- All tracks are stylized in all caps. For example, "Buzzcut" is stylized as "BUZZCUT".
- ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
- ^[b] signifies a strings producer.
- "Jeremiah (Rmx)" from the Digital Plus Pack is the same song as "Jeremiah" from the Physical edition.
Samples
edit- "Chain On" contains samples from "September Romance Intro", written and performed by Isaac Hayes, "C.R.E.A.M.", written by David Porter, Gary Grice, Clifford Smith, Russell Jones, Robert Diggs, Dennis Coles, Jason Hunter, Corey Woods and Lamont Hawkins, and performed by Wu-Tang Clan, and "As Long as I Have You", performed by the Charmels.
- "Windows" contains excerpts and a sample of "It's Me Who Loves You", written by Darryl Gibbs and performed by Crown Heights Affair, excerpts from "In the Struggle", written by Dominic Painter, Hasani Lateef Chapman and M. Jacobs Jr., and performed by Reborn Soldiers, and "Em3", written by Shaheel Wright and performed by Lord Apex.
- "Old News" contains excerpts from "Keep Your Faith to the Sky", written by Nathaniel Johnson and performed by Willie Scott & the Birmingham Spirituals.
- "The Light Pt. II" contains excerpts from "Hace casi 2000 años", written by Edelmiro Molinari and performed by Color Humano.
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Tidal.[26]
Brockhampton
- Kevin Abstract – vocals, creative direction
- Merlyn Wood - vocals
- Joba – vocals, programming (1), synthesizer (4), bass (7), vocal arrangement (13)
- Matt Champion - vocals
- Dom McLennon – vocals, recording engineer (2), programming (4)
- Bearface – vocals, recording engineer (12), mixing engineer (12, 14)
- Jabari Manwa – vocals, background vocals (1, 11), additional vocals (17)
- Romil Hemnani – recording engineer (tracks 1–11, 13, 15–17)
- Kiko Merley – programming (4), background vocals (6)
- Henock "HK" Sileshi – art direction, graphic design
- Robert Ontenient – additional vocals (14), web development
- Jon Nunes - day-to-day management
- Ashlan Grey – photography
- BH NGR – art direction assistance
- Ashlan Grey
- Nick Holiday
- Weston Freas
Additional musicians
- Johan Lenox – background vocals (1), programming (1), strings (1)
- Imondre Goss – background vocals (1, 6)
- Versus – flute (1, 4), saxophone (1, 6)
- Shawn Mendes – vocals (3)
- Ryan Beatty – vocals (3, 6), background vocals (track 15)
- Baird – background vocals (4, 6), guitar (4), programming (4), additional vocals (6)
- Christian Alexander – background vocals (5, 10)
- Abhi Raju – guitar (6)
- Lando – background vocals (7)
- Odunayo Ekunboyejo – background vocals (8)
- Nick Velez – drums (9)
- Goldwash – keyboards (9), organ (9), background vocals (11), piano (11), synthesizer (11)
- Alex O'Connor – background vocals (10)
- Zuri Marley – background vocals (10)
Technical
- Mike Bozzi – mastering engineer
- Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mixing engineer (1–11, 13)
- Curtis "Sircut" Bye – mixing engineer (1–11, 13)
- Tyler Shields – recording engineer (3, 6–10, 13, 16)
- Baird – recording engineer (4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 16)
- Anthony Jordan Smets – recording engineer (7)
- Boylife – recording engineer (12)
- Nick Velez – recording engineer (14)
- Jacob Bryant – assistant engineer (1–11, 13)
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] | 6 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[28] | 35 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[29] | 17 |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[30] | 27 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] | 64 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] | 31 |
| Irish Albums (OCC)[33] | 11 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[34] | 10 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[35] | 5 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[36] | 23 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[37] | 75 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[38] | 58 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] | 92 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[40] | 24 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[41] | 4 |
| US Billboard 200[42] | 11 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[43] | 6 |
Notes
edit- ^ Kevin Abstract and Romil Hemnani are credited under their production duo and record label Video Store.
References
edit- ^ Shaffer, Claire (March 26, 2021). "Brockhampton Announces New Album Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE by BROCKHAMPTON". Apple Music. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE by BROCKHAMPTON, retrieved April 10, 2021
- ^ "Technical Difficulties by BROCKHAMPTON". Genius. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ^ Greenwood, Douglas (September 8, 2020). "How to make music according to Brockhampton". i-D. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ^ "Brockhampton's Kevin Abstract: 'I'm tired of this boyband thing. I don't want to be a boyband'". the Guardian. March 27, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ abstract, kevin (March 31, 2021). "2 brockhampton albums in 2021 - these will be our last". Twitter. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ^ @brckhmptn (January 14, 2022). "Register" (Tweet). Retrieved August 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ deluxe otw #fyp | with Music Cotton Eyed Joe - The Hit Crew, retrieved April 14, 2021
- ^ ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE PLUS PACK, June 4, 2021, retrieved January 16, 2022
- ^ a b "Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine by Brockhampton". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ "BROCKHAMPTON - ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE". AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "BROCKHAMPTON - ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE". Clash Magazine. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "BROCKHAMPTON Get Introspective on the Soul-Searching Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine: Review". Consequence. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ Subscribe. "Brockhampton - Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine | Reviews". diymag.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Album reviews: Brockhampton – Roadrunner, New Light New Machine and Flyte – This is Really Going to Hurt". The Independent. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "On their sixth album BROCKHAMPTON wrestle with heavy pasts, fleeting presents and bright futures". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Brockhampton – 'Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine' review: pain and resolution". NME. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ McDuffie, Candace (April 9, 2021). "Brockhampton Embrace Strength in Numbers on Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine". Paste. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "BROCKHAMPTON: ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ Conteh, Mankaprr (April 9, 2021). "Brockhampton Process Pain and Get Closer to Pop on 'Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE - BROCKHAMPTON | Songs, Reviews, Credits". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ "15 Best Albums By LGBTQ Artists of 2021 (So Far): Staff Picks". Billboard. June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "Kevin Abstract says he's "tired" of Brockhampton being a boyband". NME. March 27, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "BROCKHAMPTON". www.brckhmptn.com.
- ^ "Credits / ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW NEW MACHINE / BROCKHAMPTON". Tidal. April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Brockhampton – Roadrunner - New Light, New Machine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Brockhampton Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 15, 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Brockhampton – Roadrunner - New Light, New Machine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Albumit 15/2021". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "2021 15-os SAVAITĖS (balandžio 9-15 d.) ALBUMŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 16, 2021. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ "Album 2021 uke 15". VG-lista. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 15". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Brockhampton – Roadrunner - New Light, New Machine". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "{{{artist}}} | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ "Brockhampton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Brockhampton Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2021.