Baltimore, Maryland emcee, singer, producer & visionary JPEGMAFIA releasing his 5th solo album & the first in 3 years. Breaking out 2016 with the release of his full-length debut Black Ben Carson, it wouldn’t be until the man’s next 2 albums Veteran & All My Heroes are Cornballs where he would reveal himself as one of the most creative minds in hip hop today. The 8-track EP, it’s follow-up with almost all newly recorded material, LP!, the Danny Brown collab effort Scaring the Hoes & Peggy’s production credits on ¥$’ debut album Vultures earlier this year all further solidified that so much I had nothing to worry about ahead of I Lay Down My Life for You.
“I scream this in the mirror before i interact with anyone” begins with a rap rock sound saying Peggy would be a worse version of Dillon Brooks if he was a basketball player whereas “Sin Miedo” works in elements of experimental hip hop, hardcore hip hop, rap rock, industrial hip hop, deconstructed club, ghettotech & Baltimore club telling all the big booty hoes to touch the ground. “I’ll Be Right There” gives off a gospel/boom bap flare to the beat coming back outside to take the game by surprise while the experimental “it’s dark & hell’s hot” fires shots at Drake.
Vince Staples joins JPEGMAFIA for the synth-driven “New Black History” co-produced by Flume flexing they hit the lottery earning money like current Monday Night RAW superstar, former 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time AEW World Champion, inaugural ROH Hall of Fame inductee, ROH World Champion & 2-time ROH World Tag Team Champion CM Punk who later albeit unsuccessfully competed in the UFC division of the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings & dissing Drizzy again with the line “cashing out for PDF’s & rapers” just before “don’t rely on other men” blends industrial hardcore hip hop & industrial rap rap reflecting on Peggy’s unflinching authenticity & his status as a paragon within the experimental hip hop scene. “vulgar display of power” further embraces the rap rock vibes talking about bringing the pain leading into “Exmilitary” sampling “After Laughter (Comes Tears)” by Wendy Rene paying homage to Death Grips’ debut mixtape of the same name.
“JIHAD JOE” flips “It’s Your Thing” by Cold Grits thanks to Kenny Beats dissing those who think they know him while “JPEGULTRA!” featuring Denzel Curry keeps the rock samples going getting on their hardcore shit. “either on or off drugs” soulfully talks about feelin’ like an accident while the lavish boom bap hybrid “loop it & leave it” laughs off anyone who still thinks he’s a joke. “Don’t Put Anything on the Bible” featuring Buzzy Lee psychedelically tackles religion & “i recovered from this” hops over a sample of “Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)” by Janet Jackson to break over a bitch.
After the “I.S. 231” intro, “Protect the Cross” gets the deluxe run going by fusing rap metal, hardcore hip hop, nu metal, political hip hop & experimental hip hop calling one’s political beliefs being your gang sign in 2025 taking a couple more shots at Drake while “Jordan Rules” maintains a hardcore rap rock approach talking about the game being tender & soft. “Cult Status” is a sequel to “New Black History” keeping the same beat with all new lyrics dealin’ with known addicts while “Coke or Dope?” goes rap rock again talking about never being normal again.
The drumless title track featuring Buzzy Lee speaks from his heart that both of them want to find someone with a true connection in the midst of looking back on some of their past relationships & after “Boy You Should Know!” sampling “Body Party” by Ciara lights this bitch on fire, “Allah” cloudily flips “Pelle Coat” by Lil Durk showing a religious side to Peggy praying to the God of Islam while “What in the Hip Hop Hell?” returns to his usually aggressive & experimental style proclaiming Malcolm X didn’t die for this referencing WWE’s 2nd flagship program SmackDown followed by WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion The Iron Sheik.
“Come & Get Me” samples “Weak Ass Bitch” by the Three 6 Mafia flexing that he’s too legit while the guitar-based “Bloodline” wants everyone to acknowledge him as if he’s former 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion & the Only Tribal Chief Roman Reigns who had the honor of inducting his wiseman in former ECW owner Paul Heyman as a WWE Hall of Famer this past spring. “Hate” by FREAKY stakes his claim as being one of the best rappers alive & Kenny Beats giving it a dark trap sound while the final bonus track “Take An” concludes with an instrumental outro.
6 & a half years since I’ve been introduced to him through his sophomore effort Veteran, Peggy has always been ahead of the curve as far as modern experimental hip hop goes & I Lay Down My Life for You reaffirms that notion serving as the 4th consecutive classic in his discography already. The themes of religion are more prominent in contrast to JPEGMAFIA’s earlier material as he pushes his experimental hardcore hip hop sound beyond industrial hip hop, rap rock, boom bap, deconstructed club, ghettotech & Baltimore club with a couple stronger guests than LP!.
Score: 4.5/5
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