On September 20, former BROCKHAMPTON frontman Kevin Abstract took to Instagram and uploaded a cryptic video depicting a man crying over a bowl of cereal. This video is the third in a series of vague photos, seemingly teasing new music set to release on September 27.
The man in the video, presumably Abstract, is alone at first but is joined by two strange, masked figures. They approach him and begin to comfort him as he weeps. The Lo-fi, VHS quality of the video adds to the creepy aura. One of the figures then walks off-screen, only to jump-scare the audience a few moments later, ending with “927” flashing on the screen and a link to a blank YouTube page titled “Kevin Abstract.” In Abstract’s Instagram bio, he tagged rubber__head_, a private account seemingly owned by one of the figures.
The posts mark the first murmurs from Abstract since BROCKHAMPTON’s unexpected breakup last year. Leading up to their final albums, the group was suffering from burnout and growing tensions within the group. Though rumors cite many different factors, ultimately, the group had grown apart, as confirmed by Abstract on X in 2021.
On November 17, 2022, BROCKHAMPTON dropped “The Family” and “TM” the following day, officially marking the end. Since then, most members have laid low, not releasing much music. On September 15, 2023, alt-pop duo Dumb Buoys Fishing Club dropped their new album “WRECKED,” in which Merlyn Wood has two features.
The surreal video beckons a bygone era of YouTube from the early 2010s, where this type of video was popular. Sometimes called “Alternate Reality Games” (ARGs), this genre aims to scare audiences with seemingly real and off-putting content. Abstract’s video takes direct inspiration from the old viral video “freaky soup guy,” circulating since 2005. According to rumors, the footage depicts cultists torturing a man. In reality, it is a short clip from a film series by Raymond Persi. Other similar hoax videos in the genre include the Russian Homunculus series and LOCAL 58.
Be on standby for new music from this exciting and emerging solo act, and follow him on Instagram and X for updates.
Jose Zamora is a writer and creator from Boston, MA. He has been a music nerd since middle school when he started his record collection. His passion for Hip-hop began when he discovered legends like Nas and Gang Starr and became obsessed with up-and-coming acts like Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Mob.
He is a recently graduated, up-coming journalist, passionate about music and culture. He is always keeping an eye out for the next big thing and is eager to put their talent in the spotlight for others to enjoy. He believes firmly that “Good art deserves to be talked about.”
