For the longest time, Kevin Abstract has represented the future, but, now, in Trump's America, he represents the much-needed present. First and foremost, he provides an authentic voice for the misunderstood youth—for the kids who worship Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator, but also obsess over Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. These are the bedroom artists, disciples of YouTube tutorials and scavengers of online forums, hoping to find a companion equally transfixed by Shia LaBeouf's audacious performance art (and art, in general). These are the depressed art students who can't find the right words when face-to-face with their love interest but can later find the perfect words and melody to fit a beat by a producer who communicates through reverse engineered synths and guitar solos. Kevin and his crew of creative misfits in BROCKHAMPTON represent a new music industry that is anti-establishment and unabashedly collaborative, and they are the gold standard of how to use the internet and social media as a means to band together to create meaningful art. Kevin, himself, recently released his album, American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story—a brave album about sexual discovery in the suburbs—and, from it, we've taken to the track "Runner" the most. With Roy Mabie on the chorus and five different names on production, the song is a perfect representation of what this group of young mavens can do, and, on its own, it's just a really great track. Stream "Runner" below, and check out the rest of Kevin Abstract's landmark (and acclaimed) album HERE.
Kevin Abstract