I Lay Down My Life for You
2024 studio album by JPEGMafia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I Lay Down My Life for You (stylized in all caps) is the fifth studio album by American rapper and record producer JPEGMafia. It was released on August 1, 2024, through AWAL. It features guest appearances from Vince Staples, Denzel Curry, and Buzzy Lee, with additional contributions from frequent collaborator FreakyMafiaCult. A deluxe version, the Director's Cut, was released on February 3, 2025, adding fourteen additional tracks.
| I Lay Down My Life for You | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 1, 2024 | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 41:24 (standard) 74:25 (Director's Cut) | |||
| Label | AWAL | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| JPEGMafia chronology | ||||
| ||||
 Director's Cut cover | ||||
| Singles from I Lay Down My Life for You | ||||
| ||||
An experimental hip-hop, industrial hip-hop, and rap rock album, I Lay Down My Life for You sonically blends various genres including boom bap, electronic, jazz, metal, and punk. It is mostly self-produced by JPEGMafia, with involvement from other producers such as Flume and Kenny Beats on several tracks. Themed on capitalism, conscription, the war on drugs, patriotism, and politics, the album emphasizes a boastful nature and an eclectic use of sampling. It later evolves towards introspection and vulnerability by third of the album, focusing on JPEGMafia's career, depression, romantic flaws, past struggles, and traumatic experiences.
In promotion of I Lay Down My Life for You, JPEGMafia released the singles "Don't Rely on Other Men" and "Sin Miedo" with their accompanying music videos, a visual trailer, and a music video for "JPEGUltra!" (with Denzel Curry). He embarked on the Lay Down My Life Tour from August 2024 to March 2025, with Jane Remover as an opening act on the North American leg of the tour. Following JPEGMafia's main tour, he serves as one of the supporting acts for Linkin Park on their From Zero World Tour from June to September 2025. In addition to the initial promotion, JPEGMafia released the single "Protect the Cross" in promotion of the Director's Cut version.
I Lay Down My Life for You received generally positive reviews from music critics, received praise for its eclectic instrumentals, use of sampling, and introspective material, though JPEGMafia's lyrical content was divisive. The album was featured in year-end lists for the best albums of 2024, with it notably ranked at number two on the Guardian and number three on Time. Commercially, the album charted on the US Billboard 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and Independent Albums charts, with it peaking at number fifteen on the latter chart. I Lay Down My Life for You appeared in five UK charts, peaking at the top ten on the Independent Album Breakers, Record Store Albums, and R&B Albums charts. The album additionally appeared on the North American College and Community Radio Chart (NACC) and album charts from five other countries.
Background
Following the release of his collaborative album Scaring the Hoes with Danny Brown in March 2023, JPEGMafia began teasing his next solo studio album. On January 1, 2024, he announced that a fifth studio album was still in production when his promise to drop another in 2023 failed.[1] On April 4, 2024, he posted on Twitter that his next solo studio album would be coming "very soon".[2][3] Between Scaring the Hoes and I Lay Down My Life for You, JPEGMafia collaborated with Redveil on "Black Enuff" (2023) and Raveena on "Junebug" (2024),[4][5] and produced for Armand Hammer on We Buy Diabetic Test Strips (2023) and ¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign) on Vultures 1 (2024).[6][7]
Production and composition
Overview
I Lay Down My Life for You is an experimental hip-hop,[8][9] industrial hip-hop,[10] and rap rock album[11][12][10] with elements of boom bap,[9] electronic,[10] jazz,[13] metal,[9][14] and punk.[15] It contains fourteen tracks in a running time of forty-one minutes and twenty-four seconds.[16] Being JPEGMafia's first solo album since leaving Republic Records,[9][17] the album features guest appearances from Vince Staples, Denzel Curry, and Buzzy Lee, and is generally themed on capitalism, conscription, the war on drugs, patriotism,[18] and politics.[19] It is mostly self-produced by JPEGMafia, with several co-producers including Flume and Kenny Beats being involved.[10] The title serves as a reference to JPEGMafia's experience in the air force, where he was honorably discharged after reporting his superiors for abuse.[14]
Similar to JPEGMafia's previous albums, I Lay Down My Life for You emphasizes "frantic and experimental" production, but is distinct with the use of "metal guitar riffs, uptemo blog-house beats, and classic-rap samples."[8] Robin Murray of Clash described the album as "moving from chirruping electronics that recall Sophie's work through to crushing mosh pit igniting guitar riffs".[20] Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan described its production as ranging from "'60s psychedelic pop to RZA-style hip-hop beats to Daft Punk-worthy stadium electronics to plenty of shit that sounds futuristic by today's standards."[10] Only a few tracks use a typical looping beat.[10]
The album shows an eclectic approach to sampling, where some tracks use a sample that gets chopped up to "form the backbone of a beat", while other tracks used an electric guitar solo in the second half.[9] NPR writer Shelden Pearce described I Lay Down My Life for You as resembling a sonic collage, including Logan Roy's dialogue, NBA footage, 1970s Japanese jazz, contemporary baile funk, and repurposed soul drums reminiscent of Sly and the Family Stone.[21] By a third of the album, I Lay Down My Life for You leans into introspection, where JPEGMafia tones down his performance and raps tenderly, in occasion to being "reduced to whispers", about his career, depression, romantic flaws, past struggles, and traumatic experiences.[9] Despite containing some of his boastful nature, the production leans into classical music and folk rather than industrial rock and boom bap.[9]
Tracks 1–6
On the opener, "I Scream This in the Mirror Before I Interact with Anyone", JPEGMafia likens himself to NBA player Dillon Brooks,[15] referencing the player's reputation for getting under people's skin.[14] The track amplifies through "ear-bleeding electronics" before progressing into a metal riff,[20] with JPEGMafia's delivery sounding like a punk frontman than a conventional rapper.[12] With the beat reliant on a vocal sample of 2 Live Crew's "Hoochie Mama" (1994),[22][23] "Sin Miedo" merges metal guitars with rock, hip-hop, electronic, and dance.[22]
"I'll Be Right There" warps a sample[24] of "Don't Walk Away" (1992)[25] by R&B girl group Jade[24] with pitched-up harmonies reminiscent of a "sinister gospel choir". Through steady percussion and shimmering strings, JPEGMafia raps warning shots to his haters as the sample is flipped from "classic new jack swing romance into a bone-chilling warning straight from the roots of gangsta rap."[24] "It's Dark and Hell is Hot", referencing DMX,[23] prominently uses a sample of "Upa Upa Pocoto x 170Bpm" (2023) by DJ RaMeMes (O Destruidor do Funk).[23][26] Lyrically, JPEGMafia raps aggressive, fast-paced verses based on hypocrisy and internet hate, using social media discourse as personal insults.[21] He also presents the idea of turning to faith in the chorus, with the sense of pleading to God while not being faithful.[23]
"New Black History" blends a sample of Future's "Covered N Money" (2014) with a "persistent whirring sound"[15] and synths.[23] The track features Vince Staples with a "cold-blooded and low-key"[12] verse described as "combining violence with rap prowess".[23] During JPEGMafia's verse, he disses Drake with the line "Specially when y'all cashing out for PDFs and rapers (No Drizzy)".[27][28] "Don't Rely On Other Men" contains a sample of Logan Roy's dialogue[29] from a Succession episode[30] as the production fuses boom bap,[29] noise music, and industrial metal.[31] Lyrically, JPEGMafia criticizes the current lack of authenticity in hip-hop.[32][12]
Tracks 7–14
"Vulgar Display of Power", referencing Pantera,[19] highlights the "subversive aspects of alt culture",[20] where JPEGMafia's chants and growls are worn by a blistering rock backdrop.[15] He visualizes his mental clarity in the lyrics, including as if he "take[s] Klonopin and mix it with the Nodoz", combining a sedative with a stimulant to refer to being conflicted and rugged-out from his surroundings.[23] JPEGMafia interpolates "Bring the Pain" (1994) by Method Man in the hook.[23][33] "Exmilitary", named after the Death Grips mixtape of the same name,[19] takes an autobiographical tone with a soulful Wendy Rene sample previously used on Wu-Tang Clan albums.[20] Influenced from JPEGMafia's military experience, he raps from the perspective of a veteran's violent self-annihilation, depicting violence as the only method of confrontation he is aware of. The sample builds up before a string-based climax, "occasionally bubbling over into manic outbursts on its way there."[23]
"Jihad Joe" makes a sonic shift from "breakbeat bliss into a ripping metal mash".[21] "JPEGUltra!", a triumphant and "horn-fueled"[10] track reliant on a jazz-funk sample, is a collaborative approach with Denzel Curry,[9] whose "much suaver kind of arrogance" compliments JPEGMafia's "unhinged confidence". The latter's verse describes the act of praying to God as one to save himself, showcasing his self-assumed glory of running a cult.[23] "Either On or Off the Drugs", sampling a 1970s soul-esque AI-generated version[23] of Future's "Turn on the Lights" (2012)[34], highlights JPEGMafia's vulnerability, with themes based on his depression, stresses and feelings.[23]
"Loop It and Leave It" emphasizes a glittery, string-heavy instrumental.[19] Through mellow closing strains,[14] "Don't Put Anything On the Bible" features Buzzy Lee, being a chamber folk-style track[9] before evolving into guitar riifs.[21] The line "I'm a loner, I'm a loner" helps reveal the song's conversation after its beat switch, where JPEGMafia opens about repressed struggles for himself and other men through a "smoot and relatively calming rap beat".[23] JPEGMafia is not present within two-thirds of the track.[20] "I Recovered from This", a psychedelia-esque track,[14] pleads with the line "Funny how time flies when you're having fun".[20] The song sonically features acoustic guitar, "haunting vocals harmonies", and strings, with JPEGMafia concluding his themes of mental health, romantic failures, and healing himself.[12]
Director's Cut
The Director's Cut version of the album significantly alters its track list,[11] as some tracks are edited and others are added on this version,[35] including an intro and outro.[11] For example, "New Black History" is extended with an additional coda that shows a similar sound to the newer song "Cult Status".[35] On "Protect the Cross", JPEGMafia lyrically jabs at American voters, Drake, Freddie Gibbs, Eminem, and white underground rappers.[36] "Jordan Rules" contains a reference to JPEGMafia's comparison to Dillon Brooks from "I Scream This in the Mirror Before I Interact with Anyone".[35]
The self-titled track carries its impact from "Either On or Off the Drugs", being based on failed romantic affairs while seeking to end the cycle.[35] "Boy You Should Know!" showcases JPEGMafia's smooth vocals through a beat with "very jumpy female vocal chops", being akin to pop music unlike other tracks from the album.[11] "Allah" closes the Side A section with its themes of spirituality with production that Anthony Fantano described as "one of the most chill productions Peggy has ever put together and thrown onto an album."[11]
Side B begins[16] with "What the Hip-Hop Hell is This?", serving as a callback to "What Kinda Rappin' is This?" (2021). "Come & Get Me" emphasizes guitars in the first half before containing "smooth melodic vocal lines" and various strings. "Bloodline Freestyle" is a demo track recorded in 2022.[11] "Hate", which features FreakyMafiaCult,[16] is described by Fantano as his attempt on rage music. "Take An" is a short breakbeat-based instrumental containing sample of The Notorious B.I.G..[11]
Promotion and release
On June 17, 2024, JPEGMafia released "Don't Rely On Other Men" to streaming services,[37] as the lead single for I Lay Down My Life for You.[30][32] It is also considered his first solo single release since 2021.[30] A music video for the single was released the same day, which is structured as a "gritty, black-and-white aestheticized visual"[30] and "dystopian horror short".[31] The music video stars model Brooks Ginnan as a "lonely misift gamer captivated by Peggy's cult of personality".[31] On July 15,[38] JPEGMafia released "Sin Miedo" as the album's second single to streaming services along with an accompanying music video. The music video features him driving around while sporting a cowboy hat and performing under a highway overpass, filmed in a "disorienting, glitchy style."[22]
On July 29, 2024, following the release of two singles, JPEGMafia announced an upcoming album, under the name I Lay Down My Life for You, with a visual trailer. Directed by Logan Fields with the background music set to "delicate psychedelia", it is shot in "ecstatic slo-mo" with a "Wicker Man folk-horror vibe", and stars JPEGMafia and Brooks Ginnan, with the latter resembling a cult leader.[39] On August 1, I Lay Down My Life for You was released[18] on a Thursday morning, through AWAL.[8][15]
On August 12, 2024, JPEGMafia released the music video for "JPEGUltra!", which also features Denzel Curry. Filmed with handheld cameras, the two are depicted in the streets in a way that's "gritty and stylish as the song that accompanies it." Curry raps his verse in three different settings, and various clips are overlapped in the frame to be viewed simultaneously. Experimenting with different aesthetics, the music video uses VHS grain, black-and-white film stock, and footage shot through a fisheye lens.[40] The music video was directed by Curry himself and shot by three different people.[41]
Director's Cut
On January 20, 2025, JPEGMafia announced a deluxe version of I Lay Down My Life for You, under the title Director's Cut. On the same day, he released the single "Protect the Cross" with an accompanied music video directed by Logan Fields.[42] On February 3, JPEGMafia released the Director's Cut edition of I Lay Down My Life for You, with fourteen additional tracks. At its release, he revealed that he learned about trimming out filler from an album after his experience of working with Kanye West[43] on Vultures 1.[7]
During a interview with Billboard in June 2025, JPEGMafia revealed that he was inspired to make a deluxe version of the album after searching up "directors cut" and finding a similar title in the film Justice League (2017). He described his involvement in producing and mixing his albums as a director's approach, and added that he was inspired by SZA's Lana (2024),[44] the deluxe edition of SOS (2022).[45]
Conceptualized as a two-disc set up, the first disc explores deeply into JPEGMafia's artistic perspective from the album's period, while the second disc shows bonus tracks that fit "within the project's sonic universe".[46] The first disc includes a Bob Marley-credited intro and seven additional tracks, including one featuring Buzzy Lee. The second disc includes two more additional tracks recorded by JPEGMafia, a song by FreakyMafiaCult, a freestyle demo recorded in 2022, an instrumental, and the single version of "Don't Rely on Other Men".[16]
Tour
Announced on June 12, 2024, JPEGMafia announced the North American leg of the Lay Down My Life Tour,[2] and subsequently announced the European/Oceanic leg of the tour on July 4.[47] The North American leg began on August 7, in Pomona and concluded on September 21, in Chicago, with Jane Remover[48] as an opening act, as well as RXKNephew in a few dates.[39] The tour's European leg began on January 30, 2025, in Dublin and concluded on March 8, in Fremantle.[47] Following the tour, JPEGMafia was listed as one of the opening acts for Linkin Park's From Zero World Tour (2024–26), alongside AFI, the Architects, Grandson, Jean Dawson, Pvris, and Spiritbox. JPEGMafia appeared on nine dates in 2025, with one in June, two in July, and three in September.[49]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 78/100[50] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [51] |
| The AU Review | [23] |
| Clash | 8/10[20] |
| The Guardian | [33] |
| Kerrang! | [14] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 7/10[9] |
| The Needle Drop | 8/10[a] |
| Pitchfork | 6.9/10[15] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.0/5[13] |
| Tom Hull | B+ ( )[52] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, I Lay Down My Life for You received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 from 8 critic scores.[50] Robin Murray of Clash described the album as "earnest and surreal, confusing and pristine", complimenting JPEGMafia's diverse production and punk-like defiance.[20] Mischa Pearlman of Kerrang! considered it to be a "stunning, expansive collection of songs" that detail a "simultaneous celebration and indictment" that stands the test of time.[14] AllMusic's Paul Simpson wrote that while album's confrontation can be overbearing at times, he compliments its production as stellar and that his "sheer creativity is unparalleled", pairing it with LP! (2021) as JPEGMafia's most accessible work at its release.[51]
Hip Hop Golden Age praised I Lay Down My Life for You as being JPEGMafia's most versatile work that blends genres and emotions, recommending it to experimental music fans as a "thrilling, unpredictable ride."[19] Anthony Fantano of the Needle Drop saw the project as proving JPEGMafia's consistent creativity and honesty while also experimenting with his sound.[12] Fantano gave another review for the album's Director's Cut version, in which he considered to have enjoyed and said that "there are at least several tracks on it I will most definitely be coming back to."[11]
Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan included I Lay Down My Life for You as one of the seven best rap albums of August 2024, in which he stated it was worth the wait since LP! and described it as "one of his most jaw-dropping pieces of work yet."[10] Hamza Ali Khan of the AU Review gave insight into most of the album's tracks and praised JPEGMafia's more introspective, personal work with its emphasis on emotions rather than music.[23] Sputnikmusic writer Emeritus considered that while the album isn't "brilliant for the ways in which it's bonkers, but brilliant for the ways in which it's not", being a well-realized statement that retains its eclecticism, sense of humor, and sample-based approach.[13]
NPR's Sheldon Pearce compared JPEGMafia's approach on I Lay Down My Life for You to Kanye West's older work, with its maximalism sound being more "integrated and harmonious."[21] Kitty Empire of the Guardian wrote that the "rapper-producer's polemical, lane swerving bent lasts all the way to the end", eventually moving to a calmer, more reflective tone that she considered to expand JPEGMafia's range.[33] Matthew Ritchie of Pitchfork complimented many tracks on I Lay Down My Life for You, while he described it as trying to manage "30 directions at once, incorporating a dizzying mix of genres seemingly at random".[15] Though The Line of Best Fit writer Matthew Kim praised the album's production and JPEGMafia's introspective tracks, he considered the album to feel underwhelming and full of lyrical cliches, describing the rapper's approach as "running at cruise control".[9]
Year-end list rankings
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllMusic | Best Albums of 2024 | N/a | [53] |
| Clash | Albums of the Year 2024 | 54 | [54] |
| The Guardian | 10 Best Albums of 2024 | 2 | [55] |
| The Needle Drop | Top 50 Albums of 2024 | 13 | [56] |
| NPR | The 50 Best Albums of 2024 | N/a | [57] |
| Slant | The 50 Best Albums of 2024 | 41 | [58] |
| Time | The 50 Best Albums Of 2025 | 15 | [59] |
| Vogue | The 10 Best Albums of 2024 | 3 | [60] |
Commercial performance
I Lay Down My Life for You appeared in various charts throughout 2024. On the week of August 17, 2024, the album debuted and peaked at number 102, number 35, and number fifteen on the US Billboard 200, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and Independent Albums charts, retrospectively.[61][62][63] It also peaked at number 115 on the North American College and Community Radio Chart (NACC), dated August 20; as well as number thirteen on its Top 30 Hip Hop chart, dated October 1.[64][65]
In the United Kingdom, I Lay Down My Life for You appeared on five album charts on the week of December 4, 2024: Independent Album Breakers at number two,[66] Record Store Albums at number seven,[67] R&B Albums at number nine,[68] number 30 on Independent Albums,[69] and number 97 on Physical Albums.[70] Additionally, the album peaked at number 25 on the Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums chart.[71] Elsewhere, I Lay Down My Life for You appeared on album charts from Belgium,[72] Lithuania,[73] New Zealand,[74] and Scotland.[75]
Track listing
All tracks are produced by JPEGMafia, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Scream This in the Mirror Before I Interact with Anyone" | 1:48 | ||
| 2. | "Sin Miedo" |
| 2:46 | |
| 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) |
| 2:16 | |
| 6. | "Don't Rely On Other Men" |
| 2:51 | |
| 7. | "Vulgar Display of Power" |
| 2:52 | |
| 8. | "Exmilitary" |
| 5:01 | |
| 9. | "Jihad Joe" |
|
| 2:14 |
| 10. | "JPEGUltra!" (featuring Denzel Curry) |
|
| 4:51 |
| 11. | "Either On or Off the Drugs" |
| 2:20 | |
| 12. | "Loop It and Leave It" |
| 2:00 | |
| 13. | "Don't Put Anything On the Bible" (featuring Buzzy Lee) |
| 4:04 | |
| 14. | "I Recovered from This" |
| 2:55 | |
| Total length: | 41:24 | |||
I Lay Down My Life for You: Director's Cut
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I.S. 231" (intro) | Bob Marley and the Wailers | 0:49 | |
| 3. | "Protect the Cross" |
| 2:49 | |
| 6. | "Jordan Rules" | 3:00 | ||
| 9. | "Cult Status" |
| 3:12 | |
| 11. | "Coke or Dope?" |
| 2:55 | |
| 15. | "I Lay Down My Life for You" (featuring Buzzy Lee) |
| 2:36 | |
| 16. | "Boy You Should Know!" | 3:45 | ||
| 21. | "Allah" | 3:00 | ||
| Total length: | 61:18 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "What the Hip Hop Hell Is This?" | 2:32 | ||
| 2. | "Come & Get Me" | 2:45 | ||
| 3. | "Bloodline Freestyle" (2022 demo) |
| 2:18 | |
| 4. | "Hate" (featuring FreakyMafiaCult) | FreakyMafiaCult | Kenny Beats | 1:39 |
| 5. | "Take An" (instrumental) | 0:35 | ||
| 6. | "Don't Rely On Other Men" (single version) | 3:14 | ||
| Total length: | 13:06 74:25 (full) 2:14 | |||
Notes
- ^[a] indicates an additional producer
- "Don't Rely on Other Men" features additional vocals from FreakyMafiaCult.
- "I Scream This in the Mirror Before I Interact with Anyone", "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot", "Don't Rely on Other Men", "Vulgar Display of Power", "Either On or Off the Drugs", "Loop It and Leave It", "I Recovered from This", "I Lay Down My Life For You", and "Tour Idea Feb 1st 2025" are stylized in all lowercase.
- "Sin Miedo", "Jihad Joe", "JPEGUltra!", "Protect the Cross", "Cult Status", "Coke or Dope?", "Allah", "Hate", and "Take An" are stylized in all caps.
- "What the Hip Hop Hell is This?" is stylised as "What the hip hop hell is this ?"
- All Director's Cut tracks push the standard tracks one spot down, except for "Jihad Joe", which is track 7 on side B.
- The versions of "I Scream This in the Mirror Before I Interact with Anyone" and "Jordan Rules" present on the Bandcamp version of the Director's Cut feature extended instrumentals, extending their length to 2:37 and 3:30, respectively.
- The version of "Cult Status" present on the Bandcamp version features an additional verse, extending its length to 3:35.
Sample credits
- "Sin Miedo" contains samples of "Hoochie Mama", as written and performed by 2 Live Crew.[22]
- "I'll Be Right There" contains samples of "Don't Walk Away",[24] written by Vassal Benford and Ronald Spearman, as performed by Jade.[25]
- "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" contains a sample of "Upa Upa Pocoto x 170Bpm",[23] produced by DJ RaMeMes (O Destruidor do Funk).[26]
- "New Black History" contains a sample of "Covered N Money",[27] written by Nayvadius Wilburn and Sonny Uwaezuoke, as performed by Future.[76]
- "Don't Rely on Other Men" contains a sample of dialogue from an episode from the Succession, "Celebration", as spoken by Logan Roy.[31]
- "Vulgar Display of Power" contains an interpolation of "Bring the Pain",[23][33] written by Clifford Smith and Robert Diggs, and performed by Method Man.[77]
- "Exmilitary" contains a sample of "After Laughter (Comes Tears)" as performed by Wendy Rene.[23]
- "Either On or Off the Drugs" contains samples of an artificial intelligence cover of "Turn On the Lights",[23] written by Nayvadius Wilburn, Marquel Middlebrooks, and Michael Williams, as performed by Future.[34]
- "I Recovered from This" contains samples of "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)",[20] written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, as performed by Jackson.[78]
Personnel
Credits were adapted from Bandcamp[79] and Spotify.[16]
- JPEGMafia – vocals, writing, production, arrangement, mixing (all tracks), guitar (tracks 1, 7–9, 14), bass (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7–9, 12–14), drums (tracks 1–2, 5, 7–10), synthesizer (tracks 3, 5–6, 12–13), piano (track 3), programming (tracks 1–3, 5–10), keyboards (track 7), string arrangements (track 8), vocal arrangements (track 13), additional guitar (track 6, 10, 13), additional guitar programming (track 2), additional drums (track 4), additional synths (track 11)
- Jeff Ellis – assistant mixing engineer
- Dale Becker – mastering (all tracks)
- Kenny Beats – production (tracks 9–10),, drums (track 10)
- Alex Goldblatt – production (track 10), guitar (tracks 2, 4, 6–7, 10–11, 13–14), bass (track 10)
- Aver Ray (Billy Ray Schlag) – production (track 10), string arrangements (tracks 3, 6, 8, 10–14)
- Nick Lee – production (track 10), bass (track 10), piano (track 10), horns (track 10)
- Flume – additional production (track 5)
- Denzel Curry – additional vocals (track 4)
- Buzzy Lee – vocal arrangements (track 13)
- Members of the Mafia – vocal arrangements (track 14)
- FreakyMafiaCult – additional vocals (track 6)
- Director's Cut
Credits were adapted from Bandcamp[80] and Spotify.[81]
- JPEGMafia – mixing (all tracks), vocals, writing (tracks A3–B3, B7), production (tracks A3–B3, B6–B7), guitar, drums (tracks A3–A6, A11, A16, B7), bass (tracks A3–A6, A11–B2, B7), keyboards (tracks A3–A6, A16–B1), piano (track A6, A16), tambourine (track A6), programming (tracks A9–A11, A16–B3, B7), vocal arrangements (track A15), synths (track A15, A21), flute, mono synth (track A16), additional guitar (track A21), mastering, string arrangement (track B2), additional bass programming (track B3)
- Dale Becker – mastering (tracks A1–B1; B3–B7)
- Bob Marley and the Wailers – writing (track A1)
- DatPiffMafia – writing (tracks A3, A11)
- Alex Goldblatt – additional guitar (track A3), guitar (track A15, A21, B2–B3), production, bass (track B3)
- Flume – production (track A9)
- Buzzy Lee – writing, vocal arrangements (track A15)
- Aver Ray (Billy Ray Schlag) – string arrangements (track A15)
- Kenny Beats – production, programming (tracks B4, B7)
- FreakyMafiaCult – vocals, writing (track B4)
Charts
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[71] | 25 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[72] | 117 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[73] | 60 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[74] | 33 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[75] | 61 |
| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[69] | 30 |
| UK Independent Album Breakers (OCC)[66] | 2 |
| UK Physical Albums (OCC)[70] | 97 |
| UK R&B Albums (Official Charts)[68] | 9 |
| UK Record Store Albums (OCC)[67] | 7 |
| US Billboard 200[61] | 102 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[63] | 15 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[62] | 35 |
| US & Canadian College Radio Top 200 (NACC)[64] | 115 |
| US & Canadian College Radio Top 30 Hip Hop (NACC)[65] | 13 |