LP!

by JPEGMAFIA

JPEGMAFIA - LP!

Ratings

Music: ★★★★☆ (4.0/5)

Sound: ☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5)

Review

**LP! by JPEGMAFIA: A Glitchy Love Letter to Chaos**

In the landscape of experimental hip-hop, few artists have managed to weaponize chaos quite like Barrington DeVaughn Hendricks, better known as JPEGMAFIA. His 2021 opus "LP!" stands as a testament to what happens when unbridled creativity meets meticulous production craft, resulting in an album that feels like being trapped inside a malfunctioning computer while simultaneously having your mind blown by its genius.

The album's current status in JPEGMAFIA's discography is that of a pivot point – a moment where Peggy fully embraced his role as hip-hop's premier sonic anarchist. While his previous works like "Veteran" established his reputation as a boundary-pusher, "LP!" cemented his legacy as an artist capable of making complete musical chaos feel not just listenable, but essential. The album has aged remarkably well in the streaming era, with tracks like "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" becoming fan favorites that showcase his ability to blend internet culture references with genuinely innovative production techniques.

Musically, "LP!" exists in its own universe – a place where drill beats collide with Nintendo samples, where Auto-Tuned vocals dissolve into static, and where traditional song structures go to die a beautiful death. JPEGMAFIA's approach here feels like witnessing a mad scientist at work, throwing every conceivable sound into a blender and somehow creating something cohesive. The production is dense, layered, and intentionally overwhelming at times, demanding multiple listens to unpack its complexity. It's experimental hip-hop in the truest sense, but never feels pretentious or inaccessible.

The album's standout tracks read like a masterclass in controlled chaos. "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" opens with what sounds like a computer having a nervous breakdown before morphing into one of Peggy's most infectious hooks. The track perfectly encapsulates his ability to find melody within madness. "DIRTY!" serves as perhaps the album's most straightforward banger, built around a hypnotic loop that somehow makes perfect sense despite sounding like it was constructed from spare parts found in a digital junkyard. Meanwhile, "THOTS PRAYER!" showcases his more introspective side, proving that beneath all the sonic experimentation lies genuine emotional depth.

"REBOUND!" demonstrates JPEGMAFIA's skill at flipping expectations, starting as what might pass for a conventional rap song before dissolving into glitchy abstraction. The genius lies in how these transitions never feel jarring – they're organic evolutions that reveal new layers with each listen. "DIKEMBE!" rounds out the essential tracks with its basketball references and crushing low-end, proving that Peggy can make even the most unconventional beats absolutely knock in the whip.

The origins of "LP!" can be traced to JPEGMAFIA's growing confidence as both producer and rapper. Following the critical acclaim of "All My Heroes Are Cornballs," Peggy seemed determined to push even further into uncharted territory. The album emerged during the pandemic era, and there's something appropriately disorienting about its sound that mirrors the collective mental state of 2021. It feels like the product of someone with unlimited time to experiment and the technical skills to turn those experiments into actual songs.

What makes "LP!" particularly impressive is how it manages to sound completely unhinged while revealing meticulous attention to detail upon closer inspection. Every glitch feels intentional, every jarring transition serves a purpose, and every seemingly random sample placement contributes to the album's overall aesthetic. It's the work of an artist who has mastered his tools so completely that he can make technical complexity sound effortless.

The album's legacy continues to grow as more listeners discover its rewards. In an era where experimental hip-hop often feels either too academic or too chaotic, "LP!" strikes the perfect balance between innovation and accessibility. It's weird enough to satisfy the most adventurous listeners while containing enough genuine bangers to work in more conventional settings.

"LP!" stands as JPEGMAFIA's most cohesive statement about what hip-hop can become when freed from traditional constraints. It's an album that rewards patience and punishes passive listening, demanding engagement while providing enough immediate gratification to keep you coming back. In short, it's essential listening for anyone interested in the future of hip-hop production and a perfect entry point into JPEGMAFIA's beautifully broken world.

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