Hive Mind

The Internet has never been easy to categorize. Formed out of the ashes of Odd Future, The Internet’s music encompasses the freshest hip-hop, soul, funk, and R&B. Their 2015 album, Ego Death, was a critical success, even earning the group a Grammy nomination. Their newest album, Hive Mind, continues to defy labels and is packed with funky and sensual tracks. While it doesn’t quite measure up to Ego Death’s hypnotic energy, Hive Mind nonetheless allows The Internet to explore the boundaries of their genre and experiment with inventive beats — the most memorable tracks being “Roll (Burbank Funk),” “La Di Da,” and “Stay the Night.”

“Roll (Burbank Funk),” while not the most lyrically complex, is one of the standout songs of the album. Over a funky bass line, Steve Lacy and Syd tha Kyd craft a laid back and catchy track. Involving Lacy on lead vocals marks a departure from The Internet’s earlier music, in which Syd is the primary singer. Steve Lacy’s recent solo successes on “Some” and “Dark Red,” as well as his work producing Kendrick Lamar’s “Pride,” have proven him to be a valuable collaborator, and Hive Mind reflects that. Throughout Hive Mind, you can detect Lacy’s increased presence, especially in vocals and guitar riffs on songs like “Come Over.”

“La Di Da” exemplifies the experimental attitude of Hive Mind. Its jazzy beat brings a more layered and complex sound compared to Ego Death’s more streamlined, simple tone. Syd’s vocals, however — smooth, smoky, and sexy, as always — maintain the Internet’s old vibe and hark back to classic R&B. It is this fusion of R&B with funk, soul, and hip-hop that embodies The Internet’s unique style.

“Stay the Night” explains why people love Syd tha Kyd. The pure sensuality of Syd’s voice, which hooked fans on older tracks like “Girl” and “Special Affair,” is at full force. One unique element of The Internet’s personality is Syd’s unapologetic queerness; in a straight- and male-dominated genre, Syd’s voice rises above the others. Refusing to play down her sexuality, Syd sings “Come Over” and “Stay the Night” to win over her female lovers.

The rest of Hive Mind also incorporates elements of R&B and trippy hip-hop, but the tracks become difficult to distinguish from one another. The breathy vocals and easygoing beats don’t quite do justice to the group’s talent. Though much of the album may be better suited as background music, Hive Mind is no exception to what fans have always loved about The Internet: their dynamic genre-bending and undeniable technical musical skill.