Hoopper re-introduces listeners to a unique alternative music journey in ‘MMAM Part 1’

R&B, as a genre, has undergone myriad changes since the 90s, when it shone brightly with stars like Joe andToni Braxton, ruling the airwaves. From the mid 2000s, the genre underwent a reconstructive change or deconstruction, if you will, with artists who broke from the norm and revamped the genre with a twist. The rise of modern alternative and dark R&B reshaped listening habits and music as a whole, with artists taking the reins and carving out a niche with their unmistakable style, ranging from the nocturnal elements of The Weeknd, the passionate, seductive drive of Jhené Aiko, to the unambiguously emotional, heartfelt songwriting of Brent Faiyaz. Many newer artists are emerging and forging their own paths, and one of them is the multi-talented musician Hoopper.

 Hoopper wears many hats in the musical sphere. Born in Brazil but now based in the fashion capital of the world, Milan, Italy, the singer has now embarked on a rebranding of the musical and artistic presentation layers. With two albums under his belt, his latest musical venture, MMAM Part 1, has now commenced, a multi-part project that will span the rest of 2026. MMAM Part 1 is a 2-track body of work with two main tracks and acapellas, which is short and concise. The tracks are built on a series of tension and release from beginning to end. From emotional trauma, self-healing, to confidence in his vulnerabilities.  Hooper’s musical approach is scenic, nocturnal, and forward-thinking, which adds to the world-building around his artistry. He takes listeners on an ever-expanding journey through a range of emotional experiences that highlight his thoughts, leaving them to draw their own conclusions or reinterpret the songs’ meanings. Far from leaving listeners in a daze or confusion, the project leans on pushing forward an open-ended narrative by refusing explicit clarity. Hoopper rides that uncertainty wave like a professional surfer, without being pretentious or incurring the overhead of mansplaining to his audience. It’s clear that the underlying message is emotional turbulence, similar to the crop of experimental R&B artists on the horizon, who have taken the uncertainty route as their style du jour. This approach taps into musical hesitation, loose narratives and repetition of emotional states without resolution or rigid framing. Instead of guiding the listener toward meaning, the music steps aside and lets the discomfort sit there. This is done not for the sake of it, but rather, a deliberate choice that is risky and to many, offbeat. Some listeners can be fickle and easily turned off, but the trick is seen between the often overlooked spaces in the songs, where tension doesn’t come from revelation, but from what never quite settles. Artists like Hoopper sit directly inside that tension. The work avoids explicit framing to avoid appearing mysterious, but to preserve certain emotional contradictions. For some listeners, this feels honest. For others, it feels evasive. That disagreement isn’t a side effect. It’s part of how the music functions.Clarity is comforting. Confusion is not.