Bad Luck Brigade is bringing a refreshing, captivating style to hip-hop- and their latest album NOTHING continues to showcase it. The Salt Lake City six-piece operates as a true band, building their sound from the ground up with live drums, bass, guitar, keys, horns, and incisive lyricism at the center. The result is a sound that’s muscular, fluid, and deeply collaborative as a whole.
Formed in 2022 by Kilow and Ikaika Meatoga, the group quickly became known for performances that balance discipline with volatility- engaging, sharply-crafted arrangements that still leave space for risk. That tension fuels their new album, NOTHING, which captures the immediacy of their live show without sanding down its edges.
“A LITTLE” lands with precision and momentum, locking into a groove that feels both deliberate and urgent. “GET TOGETHER” expands the palette, weaving jazz phrasing and funk textures into a gritty, forward-driving framework. “SHARING” carries a natural lift, built on interplay that feels conversational rather than constructed, while “SHADED” offers a more restrained moment of clarity. By the time “JACKPOT!” swings into view, the Bad Luck Brigade leans fully into its improvisational instincts, embracing movement and unpredictability without losing cohesion.
On NOTHING, Bad Luck Brigade sound confident in who they are, raw, authentic, and uninterested in smoothing out the rougher textures that give their music character. NOTHING doesn’t overstate its ambition but rather delivers on it through a set of memorable, character-rich songs.
