A Breath of Fresh Air: WHATMORE – Self-Titled Debut

In a time when so much music feels recycled or formulaic, New York’s multi-genre collective WHATMORE just delivered a breath of fresh air with their self-titled debut via Alta Music Group — and we can’t get enough of it. The project feels like a messy, heartfelt mix of triumph, nostalgia, and late-night honesty — the kind of energy that reminds you why you fell in love with music in the first place.

What makes WHATMORE so special is how playful and cinematic it feels. Even if you’ve never seen the group before, you can picture them through the music — a crew of friends trading verses, experimenting with ideas, and telling stories that pull you right into their world. You can feel how real their friendship is, how close they probably are, regardless of where they come from or what their upbringings were like. It feels less like a group and more like a family, channeling that bond into sound.

If BROCKHAMPTON was born in New York, this would be it — a cooler, more creative version with that raw, city-street edge and a chemistry that feels straight out of early Odd Future, back when Frank Ocean was still rapping and the crew was making magic just for the love of it.

The opener “never let go.” sets the tone with introspective verses from Cisco Swank and Yoshi T, while Elijah Judah’s production keeps everything grounded and soulful. By the time “hit it” rolls around, the group’s camaraderie takes center stage — celebrating their come-up like a well-earned victory lap.

WHATMORE is playful, cinematic, and full of heart — a perfect blend of experimentation and emotion from a young collective that’s creating something truly original. New York’s got something special on its hands.