Brady Lasher ‘26

COLUMNIST

Since his 2018 release Veteran, JPEGMAFIA, known by his fans as Peggy, has been one of the most forward-thinking hip-hop artists of this era. His 2023 album with Danny Brown was fiercely experimental and wholly unique, but instead of settling into this sound, he continued to progress with I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU. The album surpasses expectations, melding hard rock and rap perfectly.

From the first track, “i scream this in the mirror before i interact with anyone,” the rock influences are evident, with the cymbals’ pitter-patter immediately transitioning into a brutal wall of guitar. Peggy’s vocal inflections are raw and vicious, sounding straight out of an 80s punk track. The eclectic vocal sample on “SIN MIEDO” repeats throughout the instrumental, providing unparalleled energy along with the guitars that lead into the abrasive verses.

His vocal performances definitely stand out on the album; for instance, the vocal sample on “I’ll Be Right There” is hauntingly gorgeous, and the weird, spacey beat complements Peggy's infectious flow. “it’s dark and hell is hot” is a track creatively centered on a Brazilian funk sample; the track really picks up in the second half, with an interesting instrumental progression. Vince Staples provides a great feature on the following song, “New Black History,” with a smooth flow over the hectic instrumental, highlighted by the Future sample on the chorus. “don’t rely on other men,” the album’s lead single, showcases some heavy influence from the experimental rap group Death Grips, specifically with the abrasive bass drum. The next song, “vulgar display of power,” features the most metal influence on the album, with ferocious guitars and vocals. “Exmilitary” is arguably the best song on the album. The tension is masterfully executed and builds incredibly over the first two minutes, after which it breaks down into a straight wall of sound.

In an age of simple looped beats, Peggy continues to fight against conventions with songs like “JIHAD JOE,” which is full of little vocal quirks in the production. Next up, Denzel Curry’s feature on “JPEGULTRA” pairs well with the triumphant horns and transcendent outro. Another song, “either on or off the drugs,” is built around an A.I. soul cover of “Turn Off The Lights” by Future – surprisingly, it’s executed flawlessly; it is definitely one of the most out-there beats he’s released, but it’s fun and catchy. “loop it or leave it” is a hidden gem on the tracklist, but it’s still a great one, with hypnotic keys and chord progressions.

Buzzy Lee, Steven Speilberg’s daughter, joins in on the penultimate track, and her performance is stellar; the guitar strumming is subdued and lowkey but still phenomenally executed. “i recovered from this” ends the album on a beautiful note; on the track, Peggy opens up with a raw honesty that is new to his albums. Along with the writing, the larger-than-life Janet Jackson sample mixes with the instrumental quirks in an almost emotional way. The lyrics are painfully honest, and it’s surreal to hear Peggy so exposed and introspective. The impressive song finishes the album beautifully.

Overall, I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU is beyond anything JPEGMAFIA has put out previously, continuing to push the barriers of the rap genre and music as a whole.