Single Review: Brockhampton – SUGAR (feat. Dua Lipa and Jon B)
Hannah Copsey reviews Brockhampton’s latest single
Following the Billboard success of ‘SUGAR’ from Brockhampton’s fifth studio album Ginger, the 13-piece collaborative aims to push further into the mainstream music scene, by reworking their biggest hit in a collaboration with pop stars Dua Lipa and Jon B.
The remix explores the underlying themes of the original track, discussing issues in youthful relationships, as well as a sense of longing and devotion. Bearface’s alternate intro leads into an acoustic rendition of the chorus, which compliments Dua Lipa’s verse previously sang by Dom McLennon. The “Don’t Start Now” singer amplifies the sweetness of the song with her soft vocals and revised lyrics highlighting the contrasting feelings of desire and pain in relationships. Her feature continues throughout the song as she duets the well-known chorus with American singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty.
What the remix of ‘Sugar’ does well is encompass the new material of the features; whilst still maintaining the familiarity of the original song.
Matt Champion takes a shortened verse to pave the way for Jon B, whose vocals embody the style of Brockhampton in a way that might be mistaken as coming from the group themselves.
Whilst hip-hop fans remain largely divided regarding Brockhampton’s first venture into the world of pop, it is clear that the group is becoming a household name in the mainstream music industry, prior to their up and coming 2020 European tour.
