Thank God for Kevin Abstract -BLUSH Breakdown

Kevin Abstract, Texas native, returns home with his latest album Blush a

comprehensive, diverse, and joyfully chaotic project for the latter half of summer. Born

and raised in Texas, Abstract brings together undiscovered artists from the depths of

Houston—voices that have long waited for someone like him to create opportunities and give back to the place that raised him. Blush is both a homecoming and a reunion,

featuring not only underground artists but familiar faces like Dominic Fike, Danny

Brown, and JPEGMAFIA.

Blush Official Album Cover

As America wades through waves of grief and paralysis amidst today’s socio-economic

and political crises, artists like Kevin Abstract, Beyoncé, and other Southern creatives

are becoming necessary antidotes—reflecting healing and community, not chaos and disconnection. Speaking on the origins of the album, Abstract shared on Instagram:

“In 2024, I was dealing with heartbreak, addiction, feeling completely lost.

Felt myself erasing myself from me. So I left the city I been at since 19 and

went back home. Just to see some n-ggas who really know me honestly...

We all push each other to be better artists and humans. We kept making

shit. That turned into Blush. We say Texas Pop, but really, it’s just music that

sounds like home.”

Just before the teasers dropped, I couldn’t help but notice the wave of Brockhampton

nostalgia taking over my Tiktok FYP. Like many others, I was initially confused about

what Blush actually was. And honestly, I like that —because it’s evolving. Blush is a

collective. It’s the fans promoting the project through their own art. It’s the events

happening across Texas. It’s also… Geezer? At times, it's mistaken as Brockhampton

reborn, however it's something even more honest.

“Blush is not a fixed group. There are no permanent members. It is a

platform for discovering new possibilities through collaboration. The group is

ever-changing and can involve anyone who brings value to the vision:

musicians, photographers, designers, videographers, models, DJs, etc. The

possibilities of Blush are truly limitless—whether that be in terms of rotating

members, a changing artistic medium, or an abstract personal brand. These

factors allow for a journey that can be defined as it's embarked and traveled

on. Blushbrings focus back to the product and the music. Blush disrupts.

Blush challenges the norm. This is our chance to build something that will

last.” —Abstract via Instagram

Abstract’s return and the response it’s received has been incredibly exciting. His last project, Blanket, was deeply experimental and, in my opinion, criminally under appreciated. But Blush feels different. Kevin is the heart and soul of this project, its creative director and emotional anchor. While the rap aspect is solid, it’s the melodic, guitar-driven tracks that carry the weight of the album—songs full of healing, desperation, and the disillusionment of exsisting.

Tracks like “I Wasn’t There” and “Abandon Me” hit like a slap to the face—twice. There’s

a rawness, a vulnerability, laced with moments of hope. Dominic Fike’s verse on

“Maroon” reflects on his past, tracing his growth from former relationships and dead-end jobs to the artist he is now. Meanwhile, songs like “Pop Out” and “NOLA” lean into

chaos—in the best way—pushing the experimental edge and channeling the crazed yet

familiar energy of Brockhampton.

Out of curiosity, I checked out Abstract’s blog site, clifford73.com. He recently posted on his story looking for journalists to contribute. I really love the 2014 Tumblr-esque style of the blog and can’t wait to see it make a full comeback. Abstract shares anecdotes from pre-Blush and snippets from unreleased songs. It’s a platform clearly built to highlight others and build a legacy beyond himself.

I genuinely can’t express how excited I am to see what’s next—maybe Geezer drops? I was in attendence for the BLUSH "I Swear It Happened Tour" and I loved that experience.

We’ll see.

Love,

Adrian

Sent from Dallas

blush