Album

JPEGMAFIA’s I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU is a masterclass in controlled chaos. While his previous collaboration with Danny Brown, SCARING THE HOES, was a frantic blast of energy, this solo effort feels more focused, trading some of the "meme-rap" aesthetics for a heavy, guitar-driven sound that borders on rap-metal. It’s easily his most professional-sounding project to date, yet it retains the abrasive edge that makes Peggy a cult icon.

After a three-year hiatus following the somewhat polarizing SMITHEREENS, Joji returns with Piss in the Wind. Released under his new independent label, Palace Creek, the album arrives with the heavy baggage of a 21-track list and the promise of a "return to roots." Unfortunately, instead of a refined homecoming, the project feels like a cluttered attic of half-baked ideas and "vibes" that never quite coalesce into a meaningful statement.