Brockhampton share Kool and the Gang cover
(Credit: Brockhampton)

New Music

Brockhampton share Kool and the Gang cover

Texan rappers Brockhampton have released a cover of Kool & the Gang’s ‘Hollywood Swinging’. Their take on the 1973 track stays true to the original whilst also adding a refreshingly contemporary twist.

Featured on the all-star soundtrack of Minions: The Rise Of Gru, the track comes as something of a surprise following the band announcing their “indefinite hiatus”, and playing their “last-ever show” at Coachella in April. 

A stellar reminder of the band’s talent, hearing the band get all ’70s is brilliant, and we’re sure to be hearing this cut at parties and discos across the summer. There are also flecks of the stoned sound of Curtis Mayfield’s Curtis in the mix, which is just brilliant. 

Interestingly, Brockhampton band leader Kevin Abstract revealed that the band would be involved in the film’s soundtrack on Twitter just last month, explaining that their cover was actually recorded “two years ago”.

The soundtrack for Minions: The Rise Of Gru was produced by the ubiquitous Jack Antonoff. A “funk-fuelled” work, it features the likes of Tame Impala, Phoebe Bridgers, Thundercat, and RZA who deliver cuts that take us back to the heady days of the ’70s, completing the brief with ease.

Whilst the film isn’t released until July 1st in the US, we’ve already had other previews from the soundtrack, with ‘Turn Up The Sunshine’ by Tame Impala and Diana Ross, and St. Vincent’s stellar cover of ‘Funky Town’ already getting us excited for what else is to come. 

Minions: The Rise Of Gru tracklist:

  1. ‘Turn Up The Sunshine’ – Diana Ross ft. Tame Impala
  2. ‘Shining Star’ – Brittany Howard ft. Verdine White 
  3. ‘Funkytown’ – St. Vincent 
  4. ‘Hollywood Swinging’ – BROCKHAMPTON 
  5. ‘Desafinado’ – Kali Uchis 
  6. ‘Bang Bang’ – Caroline Polachek
  7. ‘Fly Like An Eagle’ – Thundercat 
  8. ‘Goodbye To Love’ – Phoebe Bridgers 
  9. ‘Instant Karma!’ – Bleachers 
  10. ‘You’re No Good’ – Weyes Blood 
  11. ‘Vehicle’ – Gary Clark Jr. 
  12. ‘Dance To The Music’ – H.E.R. 
  13. ‘Black Magic Woman’ – Tierra Whack
  14. ‘Cool’ – Verdine White  
  15. ‘Born To Be Alive’ – Jackson Wang
  16. ‘Cecilia’ – The Minions 
  17. ‘Bang Bang’ – G.E.M. 
  18. ‘Kung Fu Suite’ – RZA
  19. ‘Minions: The Rise Of Gru Score Suite’ – Heitor Pereira