Rest in Bass
2025 studio album by Che
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Rest in Bass (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album by American rapper Che, released on July 18, 2025, through 10K Projects.[1] The album is a successor to his 2024 debut project Sayso Says and features a darker, grimmer musical aesthetic with heavy emphasis on distorted basslines and industrial synths. The album is hosted by DJ Rennessy and features guest appearances from OsamaSon, Xaviersobased, and Chuckyy.
| Rest in Bass | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 18, 2025 | |||
| Recorded | 2024–2025 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:24 | |||
| Label | 10K Projects | |||
| Producer |
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| Che chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Original Spotify cover | ||||
| Singles from Rest in Bass | ||||
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On December 25, 2025, Che would release a deluxe edition of the album titled Rest in Bass: Encore, consisting of 14 additional tracks and another guest appearance from OsamaSon.
Rest in Bass marks a stylistic evolution for Che, fusing Southern rap and experimental trap.
Background
Following the success of his 2024 debut Sayso Says, Che announced the title of the album on February 7, 2025.[2] Following the announcement, Che then began teasing Rest in Bass in early 2025 through snippets on SoundCloud and social media. On July 15, 2025, he officially announced the release date of the project alongside the release of the lead single, "Hellraiser" featuring OsamaSon, with an accompanying music video.[3][4]
Release, promotion, and marketing
Leading up to the release, Che teased various songs including "KISS" with CXO, "Pose for the Pic", "Love (MKB)", and "Green Day". A surprise pop-up listening event in New York City—sponsored by Ksubi—was shut down by authorities before it could begin, adding to the underground buzz around the album.[5] Che also sent an iPod containing the album to popular streamer 42CEO days before its release.[6][7][8]
The album also gained traction through platforms like TikTok and SoundCloud, where early leaks and fan speculation generated anticipation. A teaser reel uploaded in February 2025 hinted at the distorted sonic direction and several collaborations.[9][10]
According to Che himself via Interview, he described his album as "Punk, raw, and bass".[11]
Critical reception
Rest in Bass received critical acclaim, with praise for high-energy production, fuzzy sound, and innovative use of mixtape structure. Criticism fell in favor of its dedication to the lo-fi, rage-fueled sound and condemnation of its emotional depth and stylistic innovation. The album was heavily compared to the likes of Playboi Carti's Whole Lotta Red.[14] It is regarded by fans as one of the greatest albums in the genre's history.[15][16]
Pitchfork gave the album a 8.3 out of 10 and rated it as Best New Music. Reviewer Rae-Aila Crumble described how Che "pushes his voice to extremes," and called the album "the platonic ideal of rage rap." She complimented production on the album for chaotic layering of redlined 808s, digital grittiness, and punk textures, and cited tracks such as "Doe Deer," "Dior Leopard," and "Mannequin" as highlights. Crumble further pointed out the dichotomy between Che's tough delivery and softer lyrics, particularly in the instance of "Dior Leopard," where Che reflects on drug use and dysfunctional family ties. The review ended by deeming Rest in Bass "purveys raw catharsis with both restraint and anarchy," as one of the most powerful underground releases of 2025.[14]
The Needle Drop's Anthony Fantano awarded the album a light 7, saying it was "one of the most fully realized rage projects in recent memory." He referenced the frantic energy and blown-out sound design of the album as he praised Xaviersobased and Chuckyy features for introducing contrast and energy. Fantano did berate the album for repetition in texture and disjointed sequencing, but then praised Che for possessing "rockstar-level energy" and experimenting within a very oversaturated subgenre of trap music.[13]
Bryson Paul of HotNewHipHop described the album as "Che's most audacious work yet."[17] Elaina Bernstein of Hypebeast called the album the "epitome of rage-rap in the post-SoundCloud era."[18]
The Fader's Vivian Medithi claimed that Rest in Bass is an album which pulls influence from "rainbow-y EDM and nightcore vocaloid", he also wrote how the album takes a turn as it's much more darker and sharper compared to his previous works, writing how "sawtooth synths grating against open hi-hats and hollowed-out 808s, degraded samples mired beneath sludgy basslines and plodding drums." Medithi also wrote how Che often raps about death in his music, but RIB sees him go "full kamikaze". During The Fader's weekly music roundup, RIB was a standout album, and was one of the top five albums that music listeners need to listen to.[19]
Eden Tizard of The Quietus wrote how Rest in Bass "is a dizzying rush of overstimulated beats and frazzled synths". He also wrote how the young rapper follows in the footsteps of "ATLien Playboi Carti in a chase for ever-escalating levels of extremity. He's a self professed rockstar, and a live wire hedonist."[20] Additionally, for the music of the month, Tizard has Rest in Bass as one of the albums of July.[21]
Additionally, Pitchfork had "Rest In Bass" ranked at number 39 on their Top 50 Best Albums of 2025.[22] Complex, on the other hand, had the album ranked at number 29 on its equivalent list.[23]
Song reception
According to Olivier Lafontant of Pitchfork, he claims that "Hellraiser" is a freakishly bubbly song, featuring staticky deliriums, scratchy chirrups, and elastic synths from CXO. Lafontant also claims how the song sees the duo "test their breaking points as if to see whose Auto-Tune plugins would crash first". Lafontant also humorously wrote how "Hellraiser" is "what happens when you give molly and FL to some kids raised on WLR leaks and Cartoon Network". Due to the track's individual success, it was nominated as one of the best new rap tracks by Pitchfork.[24]
The Quietus' finest, Eden Tizard wrote how "Slam Punk" sees Che give an appropriate shoutout to rapper and pioneer, Lil B, as well as Future, who is "the Atlanta elder statesman of psychedelic autotune", according to Tizard, lines from the track such as "I just fucked this bitch in some Gucci flip flops," is a "claim hard to take at face value when uttered from what appears to be the zig-zagging electric gremlin from Gremlins 2: A New Batch". Tizard also wrote how the track is filled with impish compulsion, and heavy-hitting ad-libs, which Tizard compared to as a game of ping-pong. Lastly, Tizard wrote how the line is a "far cry from Future's lean hiccup come synthetic sob – in that context the Gucci line sounded less like a brag and more like a brief moment of intoxicated clarity, perhaps a heart on sleeve confession."[20]
Year-end lists
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complex | The 50 Best Albums of 2025 | 23 | [25] |
| HotNewHipHop | The 40 Best Rap Albums of 2025 | 8 | [26] |
| Paste | The 25 best rap albums of 2025 | 15 | [27] |
| Pitchfork | The 50 Best Albums of 2025 | 39 | [28] |
| The 32 Best Rap Albums of 2025 | 25 | [29] | |
| Rolling Stone | The 25 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2025 | 9 | [30] |
| The Quietus | Albums of the Year 2025 | 63 | [31] |
| Stereogum | The 50 Best Albums Of 2025 | 41 | [32] |
Tour
Along with the album's release, Che also announced that the album would have its own designated tour,[33] which began on September 3 in Houston, Texas and ended on October 2, at Che's hometown, Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to US dates, there were two dates in Canada (Toronto and Montreal).[34]
According to Che in his interview with The Fader, he talked about how he wants the energy to be like at his tour:[35]
"I want the crowd to feel like they're at a ritual and they're just here to praise me [...] It's like a savior of music thing," he said. "I want people to hear my music and feel safe, like there's no struggles at all, nothing to worry about at all in the world."
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| September 3, 2025 | Houston, TX | House of Blues Bronze Peacock |
| September 4, 2025 | Dallas, TX | House of Blues Dallas (Cambridge Room) |
| September 7, 2025 | Phoenix, AZ | Crescent Ballroom |
| September 9, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA | El Rey Theatre |
| September 12, 2025 | Portland, OR | Star Theater |
| September 14, 2025 | Seattle, WA | Neumos |
| September 17, 2025 | Denver, CO | Cervantes' Other Side |
| September 19, 2025 | Chicago, IL | The Vic Theater |
| September 21, 2025 | Toronto, ON | The Opera House |
| September 22, 2025 | Montreal, QC | Théâtre Fairmount |
| September 23, 2025 | Brooklyn, NY | Warsaw Concerts |
| September 26, 2025 | Boston, MA | Paradise Rock Club (Music Hall) |
| September 27, 2025 | Philadelphia, PA | Theatre of Living Arts |
| September 28, 2025 | Washington, D.C. | Union Stage |
| October 1, 2025 | Charlotte, NC | The Fillmore Charlotte (The Underground) |
| October 2, 2025 | Atlanta, GA | Center Stage |
Che is set to go back on the road to promote the Encore edition of the album. The new leg will begin on March 31 in Santa Ana, California and will end in San Antonio, Texas on May 14.[36]
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2026 | Santa Ana, CA | The Observatory |
| April 1, 2026 | San Diego, CA | House of Blues (San Diego) |
| April 20, 2026 | Cleveland, OH | House of Blues (Cleveland) |
| April 25, 2026 | New Haven, CT | Toad's Place |
| April 28, 2026 | Boston, MA | Big Night Live |
| April 29, 2026 | Huntington, NY | The Paramount |
| April 30, 2026 | Montclair, NJ | The Wellmont Theater |
| May 2, 2026 | Allentown, PA | Archer Music Hall |
| May 3, 2026 | Baltimore, MD | Nevermore Hall |
| May 6, 2026 | Raleigh, NC | The Ritz |
| May 8, 2026 | Nashville, TN | Mainstage At Cannery Hall |
| May 9, 2026 | Atlanta, GA | Tabernacle |
| May 10, 2026 | Orlando, FL | Rolling Loud 2026 |
| May 13, 2026 | Austin, TX | Emo's |
| May 14, 2026 | San Antonio, TX | Paper Tiger |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Chase Mitchell. "Hellraiser" written with Amari Middleton, "Mannequin" written with Xavier Lopez, "Never Too Young to Die" written with Charles Davis.[37]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Slam Punk" | Rok | 1:42 |
| 2. | "Rolling Stone" | Azure | 2:33 |
| 3. | "On Fleek" | CXO | 1:53 |
| 4. | "Lip Filler" | Rok | 2:02 |
| 5. | "Hood Famous" | Rok | 3:26 |
| 6. | "BossUpppp" |
| 2:56 |
| 7. | "Marceline" | Rok | 2:00 |
| 8. | "Die Young" | Gyro | 2:08 |
| 9. | "Hellraiser" (with OsamaSon) | CXO | 3:02 |
| 10. | "Dior Leopard" | Azure | 4:29 |
| 11. | "Mannequin" (with Xaviersobased) | CXO | 2:03 |
| 12. | "Black Swan" |
| 4:17 |
| 13. | "MDMA" | Warren Hunter | 2:42 |
| 14. | "Never Too Young to Die" (with Chuckyy) |
| 3:15 |
| 15. | "Eardrummer" |
| 3:18 |
| 16. | "Doe Deer" |
| 1:54 |
| 17. | "Stagedivin" | Azure | 2:04 |
| 18. | "Bass" | CXO | 2:33 |
| Total length: | 48:24 | ||
Sample credits
- "Bass" contains an uncredited sample of "Lemon Glow", written by Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand, and performed by Beach House.
- "Hellraiser" contains an uncredited sample of "Spur", written and performed by Greenhouse.
Notes
- All tracks are stylized in all caps.
- "Bass" is stylized as "BA$$".
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[38]
- Che – vocals, engineering
- CXO – mixing, mastering (all tracks); programming (tracks 3, 9, 12, 16, 18)
- Rok – programming (1, 4–7, 16)
- Azure – programming (2, 6, 10, 17)
- Gyro – programming (6, 8)
- OsamaSon – vocals (9)
- Moustafa Moustafa – engineering (9)
- Xaviersobased – vocals, engineering (11)
- Legion – programming (12, 15)
- Skai – programming (12)
- Warren Hunter – programming (13)
- David Meiners – engineering (14)
- Lucid – programming (14)
- Repglick – programming (14)
- Chuckyy – vocals (14)
- Ginseng – programming (15)
- Love&Peace – programming (15)
Rest in Bass: Encore
On December 25, 2025, the day of Christmas, Che released the deluxe edition of Rest in Bass, titled Rest in Bass: Encore (stylized in all caps), which consisted of 14 new tracks, as well as an additional feature from OsamaSon.[39][40][41]
Background
Before the deluxe edition's release, Che would take to his Instagram page to announce its release, stating that it would be released on Christmas Day, with the caption of his post being: "FUCKIT IM STEALIN XMAS."[39]
Composition
On the song "Make Out with My Choppa", Alexander Cole of HotNewHipHop wrote how the beat production for the track is the most outlandish piece of work that someone will hear, citing how it aligns with the underground rap philosophy, by making "everything as loud and as glitched out as humanly possible."[42]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Chase Mitchell. "Whippin" written with Amari Middleton.[43]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "King of Rock" | CXO | 2:01 |
| 2. | "Make Out with My Choppa" | Che | 2:00 |
| 3. | "Holy Moly" |
| 2:00 |
| 4. | "Die Hard" | Legion | 4:35 |
| 5. | "Cutthroat" | Gyro | 1:55 |
| 6. | "Monster" | Che | 3:53 |
| 7. | "Dirty Sprite" |
| 3:43 |
| 8. | "Serve Da Bass" |
| 1:51 |
| 9. | "Riri" | Gyro | 1:45 |
| 10. | "Whippin" (with OsamaSon) | Gyro | 1:56 |
| 11. | "What's Love" | Azure | 2:11 |
| 12. | "Freak Neek" | Azure | 2:12 |
| 13. | "UAV" |
| 2:16 |
| 14. | "I'm Sorry" |
| 2:09 |
| Total length: | 1:23:02 | ||
Notes
- All tracks are stylized in all caps.
- "Serve da Bass" is stylized as "SERVE DA BA$$".
- "What's Love" and "I'm Sorry" are stylized without their apostrophes.
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[44]
- Che – vocals, engineering; programming (tracks 2, 6-7)
- CXO – mixing, mastering (all tracks), programming (tracks 1, 7, 13)
- Rok – programming (3, 8, 14)
- Azure – programming (11-12)
- Gyro – programming (3, 5, 8-10, 14)
- OsamaSon – vocals (10)
- Moustafa Moustafa – engineering (10)
- Legion – programming (3-4)
- Warren Hunter – programming (13)