“Dearly departed / Look what you’ve started / I’ve been so heartless…” Any time ‘Dearly departed’ rears its head, there are elements of mourning, remembrance, and reflection, often for someone who has died. On the superb “Dearly Departed” by American boy band/hip-hop collective BROCKHAMPTON, the members remember those who are deceased, but also highlight a different loss, the removal of former member, Ameer Vann, that affected them all. “Dearly Departed” not only does remember the late family members of Joba (grandmothers) and Matt Champion (grandparents), but also seeks to atone for the loss of a member and the affects and effects.
Kevin Abstract is the first to reference Vann, over the dramatic, emotional, minor-key backdrop, never mentioning his name. The most direct and reference occurs as he raps, “What’s the point of havin’ a best friend if you end up losin’ him?” Beyond that, near the end of the first verse, he alludes to a related incident: “RCA, that note wasn’t ‘bout y’all / No lies, it was about how me and my brothers been traumatized.” As aforementioned, Matt Champion remembers his deceased grandparents, but also makes a juicy statement about ‘truth’ – “They stretch the truth longer than the Nile” – which certainly seems to be related to the ‘death’ within the group.
No, Champion’s statement isn’t ‘concrete,’ but Dom McLennon, who seems to be the angriest about his former friend, also mentions ‘truth,’ rapping, “I don’t feel obliged to dismiss the truth because of how I feel about our time.” Even prior to that lyric, he takes shots, regarding “records y’all won’t ever hear,” due in part to Vann’s removal, and alluding to a bad situation Vann put a friend of his in. Of course, it is the scathing final lines that confirm the sheer anger:
“That’s just who you are
That’s your cross to bear
You could talk to God
I don’t wanna hear, motherfucker.”
The big takeaway from “Dearly Departed” is that BROCKHAMPTON is a ‘changed’ collective, deeply affected by personal losses but also the messy, unfortunate loss of a member. “Dearly Departed” seeks to atone for that loss and move beyond it.
You can learn more about BROCKHAMPTON here:
About The Curator - Brent Faulkner
Slightly eccentric with interests that seem to know no ends, restless ‘Renaissance Man’ is the best way to characterize Brent Faulkner, a native of Kentucky. A certified music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and composer known for his incredibly sharp ear, he lives and breathes music of a variety of styles. In addition to passion for educating, performing, and writing music, he’s equally passionate blogging and writing about it, managing his own site, The Musical Hype (https://themusicalhype.com). When he’s not intensely analyzing music, you can find him reading or watching a movie, reality television or some sporting event.
