I Lay Down My Life for You
| I Lay Down My Life for You | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1, 2024 | |||
| Genre | industrial hip hop, rap metal, experimental hip hop, avant-garde rap, punk rap, rap rock, noise rock, experimental rock | |||
| Length | 41:17 | |||
| Label | AWAL | |||
| Producer |
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| JPEGMafia chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
![Bandcamp cover[1]](/wiki/File:I_Lay_Down_My_Life_For_You_Alternate_Cover.jpeg) | ||||
| Singles from I Lay Down My Life for You | ||||
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I Lay Down My Life for You is the fifth studio album by the American rapper JPEGMafia, released on August 1, 2024, through AWAL. Two singles were released in promotion of the album: "Don't Rely on Other Men" featuring Freaky on June 17 and "Sin Miedo" on July 15. The album features guest appearances from Vince Staples, Freaky, Denzel Curry and Buzzy Lee. An accompanying tour in promotion of the album began on August 7.
I Lay Down My Life for You received positive reviews from critics.
Background and recording
[edit]Following the release of his collaborative album Scaring the Hoes with Danny Brown in March 2023, JPEGMafia began teasing his next album. On April 4, 2024, he posted on X/Twitter that the solo studio album would be coming "very soon."[2][3] On June 12, he announced the "Lay Down My Life" tour, scheduled to begin on August 7 in Pomona, California, and ending on September 21 in Chicago.[2]
On June 17, "Don't Rely on Other Men", featuring previous collaborator Freaky, was released as the first single from the album. It marked his first release since Scaring the Hoes and his contributions to Vultures 1 by ¥$, as well as his first solo release since the 2021 album LP!.[4][5][6] On July 15, "Sin Miedo" was released as the second single.[7][8][9]
On July 29, 2024, JPEGMafia announced the album's title—I Lay Down My Life for You—and released an album trailer. He initially stated it would be released "next week," later clarifying the release date as August 1.[10][11]
Reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 76/100[12] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [13] |
| Clash | 8/10[14] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5[15] |
| Pitchfork | 6.9/10[16] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, I Lay Down My Life for You received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 76 out of 100 from 7 critic scores.[12]
The album received an 8/10 from Clash, which said: "[c]ome for the headlines, but stay for the below-the-bar thrills. I Lay Down My Life For You is in turns earnest and surreal, confusing and pristine. Closing "i recovered from this" enthuses in its own rapture, the woozy sample pleading: "Funny how time flies when you’re having fun / Please stay…"".[14]
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Paul Simpson claimed that the album shared, "a lot of the sonic hallmarks common to Peggy's work, from abrasive, disjointed production to troll-ish lyrics and song titles. He leans a lot more into rock influences on this album, with metal guitars blaring on several tracks, usually popping up in well-timed bursts and providing a welcome release." and concluded that, "JPEGMAFIA's confrontational personality can be overbearing at times, especially to listeners who don't consider themselves to be chronically online, but his production is always stellar, and his sheer creativity is unparalleled."[13]
Concluding the review for Kerrang, Mischa Pearlman summarized that "those who are only after heavy guitars in their music won't be completely satisfied, especially in the mellow closing strains of "Don't Put Anything on the Bible" and the '60s psychedelia of ender i recovered from this. But that's on them. After all, you can't always get what you want. But this stunning, expansive collection of songs delivers exactly what this torrid world needs: a simultaneous celebration and indictment that will stand the test of time for decades to come."[15]
In a more muted response from Pitchfork, Matthew Ritchie stated that, "At times his extremely online subject matter takes the bloom off his writing. But his innate ability to shift between breakneck flows amid chaotic production buoys the album."[16]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Barrington Hendricks; "New Black History" and "JPEGUltra!" co-written with their respective guests, "Don't Put Anything on the Bible" co-written with Robert Hazard. All tracks are produced by JPEGMafia, unless otherwise noted.
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Scream This in the Mirror Before I Interact with Anyone" | 1:49 | |
| 2. | "Sin Miedo" | 2:47 | |
| 3. | "I'll Be Right There" | 2:48 | |
| 4. | "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" |
| 2:30 |
| 5. | "New Black History" (featuring Vince Staples) |
| 2:17 |
| 6. | "Don't Rely on Other Men" (album version; featuring Freaky) | 2:52 | |
| 7. | "Vulgar Display of Power" | 2:52 | |
| 8. | "Exmilitary" | 5:01 | |
| 9. | "Jihad Joe" |
| 2:14 |
| 10. | "JPEGUltra!" (featuring Denzel Curry) |
| 4:52 |
| 11. | "Either On or Off the Drugs" | 2:21 | |
| 12. | "Loop It and Leave It" | 2:01 | |
| 13. | "Don't Put Anything on the Bible" (featuring Buzzy Lee) | 4:05 | |
| 14. | "I Recovered from This" | 2:56 | |
| Total length: | 41:17 | ||
Notes
[edit]- "Sin Miedo" contains samples of "Hoochie Mama", as written and performed by 2 Live Crew.
- "I'll Be Right There" contains samples of "Don't Walk Away", written by Vassal Benford III and Ronald Spearman, as performed by Jade.
- "New Black History" contains a sample of "Covered N Money", written by Nayvadius Wilburn and Sonny Uwaezuoke, as performed by Future.
- "Don't Rely on Other Men" contains a sample of dialogue from episode 1 of season 1 of Succession, "Celebration", as spoken by Brian Cox.
- "Vulgar Display of Power" contains samples of "Bring the Pain", written by Clifford Smith and Robert Diggs, as performed by Method Man, and "Hit 'Em Up", written by Tupac Shakur, Bruce Washington, Yafeu Fula, Malcolm Greenidge, Duane Hitchings, Franne Golde, and Dennis Lambert, as performed by 2Pac featuring the Outlawz.
- "Exmilitary" contains samples of "Tearz", as written and performed by Wu-Tang Clan.
- "Jihad Joe" contains samples of "It's Your Thing", written by Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Jr., and Rudolph Isley, as performed by Cold Grits.
- "Either On or Off the Drugs" contains samples of an artificial intelligence cover of "Turn On the Lights", written by Nayvadius Wilburn, Marquel Middlebrooks, and Michael Williams, as performed by Future.
- "I Recovered from This" contains samples of "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)", written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, as performed by Jackson.
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[17] | 25 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[18] | 117 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[19] | 60 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20] | 33 |
| US Billboard 200[21] | 102 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[22] | 15 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[23] | 35 |
References
[edit]- ^ "I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU, by JPEGMAFIA". JPEGMAFIA. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ a b LaPierre, Megan (June 12, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA Plots North American Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ @jpegmafia (April 4, 2024). "soon very soon" (Tweet). Retrieved July 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (June 18, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA returns with "don't rely on other men"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Carter, Daisy (June 18, 2024). "JPEGMafia Confirms Next Solo Album with New Single '"Don't Rely on Other Men"". DIY. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (June 17, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA Releases New Single "don't rely on other men": Listen". Stereogum. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ TORT, Editorial (July 23, 2024). "Llegó "SIN MIEDO" lo más nuevo de JPEGMAFIA". TORT (in Spanish). Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (July 15, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA Shares New Single "Sin Miedo": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Carter, Daisy (July 17, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA defies predictability on new single 'SIN MIEDO'". DIY. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (July 29, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA Announces New Album 'I Lay Down My Life For You', Out This Week". Stereogum. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Bernstein, Elaina (July 29, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA Locks Down 'I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU' LP Release Date". Hypebeast. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU by JPEGMAFIA Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Simpson, Paul (August 1, 2024). "I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU - JPEGMAFIA". AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (August 1, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA – I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU | Reviews". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Pearlman, Mischa (August 2, 2024). "Album review: I Lay Down My Life for You". Kerrang!. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Ritchie, Matthew (August 8, 2024). "JPEGMAFIA: I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU". Pitchfork Magazine. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – JPEGMafia – I Lay Down My Life for You" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
- ^ "2024 32-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
- ^ "JPEGMafia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "JPEGMafia Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "JPEGMafia Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2024.