I Lay Down My Life for You

"Either On or Off the Drugs"

The eleventh track on the album, it features a slowed-down sample of a soul-style AI cover of Future's song "Turn On the Lights"

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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 April 4, 2024, he posted on Twitter that his next solo studio album would be coming "very soon".^[2][3] On June 12, he announced the tour, called "Lay Down My Life", which begun on August 7, in Pomona, California, and ended on September 21, in Chicago, Illinois.^[2]

On June 17, he released the first single from the album, titled "Don't Rely on Other Men", featuring previous collaborator Freaky, marking as his first release since Scaring the Hoes and his contributions to Vultures 1 by ¥$; as well as his first solo release since the album, LP! (2021).^[4][5][6] On July 15, he released the album's second single, titled "Sin Miedo".^[7][8][9]

On July 29, 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] On January 20, 2025, he released the single, "Protect the Cross", as a single for a deluxe version of the album, titled I Lay Down My Life for You: Director's Cut.^[12][13][14]

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	78/100[15]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[16]
Clash	8/10[17]
Kerrang!	[18]
The Line of Best Fit	7/10[19]
The Observer	[20]
Pitchfork	6.9/10[21]
Sputnikmusic	4.0/5[22]
Tom Hull	B+ ()[23]

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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.^[15] 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…"".^[17]

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." He 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."^[16] The album was later selected by AllMusic's editors for inclusion in their 'Best of 2024' music releases list.^[24] 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."^[18]

In a more mixed review 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."^[21]

All tracks are produced by JPEGMafia, except where noted. Credits adapted from Bandcamp.^[25][26]

Credits were adapted from Bandcamp and Spotify.^[25][36][37]

• JPEGMafia – 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 (tracks 3), programming (tracks 1–3, 5–10), keyboard (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)