| LP! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
"Offline" cover | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 22, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2021 | |||
| Studio | JPEGMafia's home studio | |||
| Genre | Avant-garde rap[1][2] | |||
| Length | 49:02 (Online) 56:50 (Offline) | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer | ||||
| JPEGMafia chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from LP! | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
"Online" cover | ||||
| Remaster cover | ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 82/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 9/10[4] |
| HipHopDX | 3.7/5[5] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 9/10[6] |
| NME | |
| Pitchfork | 7.3/10[8] |
LP! is the fourth studio album by American rapper JPEGMafia. Released on October 22, 2021, his 32nd birthday, LP! is JPEGMafia's final studio album released with Republic Records and EQT Recordings.[9] LP! has two versions: an "online" version which was the version released on streaming services, and an "offline" version which was released on YouTube, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp, featuring a slightly different tracklist due to sample-related issues. The album includes guest appearances from DatPiffMafia, Kimbra, Tkay Maidza, and Denzel Curry (online version only).
Upon release, LP! received acclaim among music critics and publications, with some critics naming the "offline" version of the album as JPEGMafia's best album.
Background
[edit]On September 13, 2019, JPEGMafia released his third studio album All My Heroes Are Cornballs to widespread critical acclaim from music critics,[10] and ventured on the JPEGMafia Type Tour to support the album.[11] On February 20, 2020, he released "Bald!" as a single with an accompanying music video.[12] On May 5, 2020, a remix version of the album was released with an accompanying music video featuring rapper Denzel Curry, who previously collaborated on "Vengeance" from the latter's 2018 studio album Ta13oo.[13] Nineteen days later, JPEGMafia released "Cutie Pie!" with an accompanying music video.[14]
After months of silence, JPEGMafia released the extended play EP! to streaming services with no prior announcement on December 10, 2020, with nine songs in its track list, including its three previous singles.[15] In an interview with Zack Lowe, JPEGMafia discussed his plans for the following year, explaining that he carefully considers his actions in advance and had already begun working on new material.[15] He noted that, although he had not released a project that year, he intended to be very active in 2021.[15] On February 21, 2021, he released EP2!, with seven songs in its track list.[16]
Promotion
[edit]On August 31, 2021, JPEGMafia released "Trust!" to streaming services and announced his upcoming fourth studio album and tour.[17] The tour took place throughout October and December 2021 on its North American leg, and throughout March and April on its European leg.[17]
Release
[edit]LP! was released as two separate versions, being the "online" and "offline" versions. This was done due to issues regarding sample clearances with multiple songs planned for the album, most notably "Hazard Duty Pay!".[18][19] The "offline" version is how JPEGMafia had intended to release the album, with multiple cuts and changes being made for the "online" streaming version.[18][20] In an interview with Office Magazine, JPEGMafia gave his reasoning behind releasing the "offline" version of LP!:
I was like, even if I can't clear this, I wanted people to hear it.... I just didn't want people to think that the version of streaming was my fully formed like vision, because my personal vision would not be to put three songs in there, that were already out. My full vision was the offline one. So for the hardcore fans, they can listen to that if they want. And the version online is comparable, but like the if you want to see the true one, you know what I mean, just for the nerds, it's there. It’s out there if you want to go get it.[20]
Reissues
[edit]On December 22, 2022, JPEGMafia released a remaster of the "offline" version on vinyl, CD, and USB stick. This version came with new cover art, a lyric book, and instrumentals for each song.[21] This version was released to streaming platforms on May 23, 2023.
Reception
[edit]My fans seem to really like it and as long as they like it, I’m satisfied. Everything els is a bonus. Because when I released EP2!, they didn’t really like that too much. So I felt terrible. I don’t really care what anybody else said about it. But this one, they seem to be enjoying it. I think they expected me to be on cruise control but it’s just like, I don’t even know what that is. If I’m working on something, I’m going to put my whole everything into it, and this is the best I could do, in one of the worst periods of time in my life, mentally. So I’m just glad that they like it.
LP! received critical acclaim. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, LP! received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from five critic scores.[23]
Robin Murray of Clash praises the album and considers it "even by his own standards, emphatically broad. 18 tracks with nary a second wasted, his intense, finessed approach to creativity seizes upon each idea, pushes it to the very outermost, and then moves on."[4]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks written, produced, mixed, and mastered by JPEGMAFIA, except "Nemo!", produced by JPEGMAFIA and Buzzy Lee.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Trust!" | 2:15 | |
| 2. | "Dirty!" | 2:07 | |
| 3. | "Nemo!" | 2:07 | |
| 4. | "End Credits!" | 1:48 | |
| 5. | "Hazard Duty Pay!" | 2:37 | |
| 6. | "God Don't Like Ugly!" | 1:19 | |
| 7. | "What Kinda Rappin' Is This?" | 3:09 | |
| 8. | "Thots Prayer!" | 3:13 | |
| 9. | "Are U Happy?" | 3:05 | |
| 10. | "Rebound!" (featuring DatPiffMafia) | 3:35 | |
| 11. | "💯" | 2:00 | |
| 12. | "OG!" | 1:34 | |
| 13. | "Dikembe!" | 3:02 | |
| 14. | "Tired, Nervous & Broke!" (featuring Kimbra) | 5:36 | |
| 15. | "🔥" | 3:19 | |
| 16. | "Nice!" | 2:56 | |
| 17. | "BMT!" | 2:18 | |
| 18. | "The Ghost of Ranking Dread!" (featuring Tkay Maidza) |
| 3:26 |
| 19. | "Dam! Dam! Dam!" | 3:33 | |
| 20. | "Untitled" | 2:44 | |
| Total length: | 56:50 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Trust!" | 2:14 | |
| 2. | "Dirty!" | 2:00 | |
| 3. | "Nemo!" | 2:07 | |
| 4. | "End Credits!" | 1:55 | |
| 5. | "What Kind of Rappin' Is This?" | 1:52 | |
| 6. | "Thot's Prayer!" |
| 3:07 |
| 7. | "Are U Happy?" | 3:05 | |
| 8. | "Rebound!" (featuring DatPiffMafia) | 3:44 | |
| 9. | "OG!" | 1:35 | |
| 10. | "Dam! Dam! Dam!" | 3:29 | |
| 11. | "Sick, Nervous & Broke!" | 5:24 | |
| 12. | "Kissy Face Emoji!" | 3:25 | |
| 13. | "Nice!" | 1:36 | |
| 14. | "BMT!" | 2:22 | |
| 15. | "The Ghost of Ranking Dread!" (featuring Tkay Maidza) |
| 3:27 |
| 16. | "Cutie Pie!" | 2:26 | |
| 17. | "Bald!" | 2:32 | |
| 18. | "Bald! Remix" (featuring Denzel Curry) |
| 2:33 |
| Total length: | 49:02 | ||
Notes
- All track names are stylized in uppercase.
- On the offline version, the following things are different from the online release on streaming services:
- "Bald!", "Bald! Remix" and "Cutie Pie!" are excluded from the track listing.
- "Hazard Duty Pay!", "God Don't Like Ugly!", "💯", "Dikembe!", "Untitled" are added to the track listing.
- "Kissy Face Emoji!" is listed as "🔥", "What Kind of Rappin' Is This?" is listed as "What Kinda Rappin' Is This?", and "Sick, Nervous & Broke!" is listed as "Tired, Nervous & Broke!".
- "End Credits!" has been sped up, changing its length from 1:55 to 1:47.
- "What Kinda Rappin' Is This?" has been extended, changing its length from 1:52 to 3:08.
- "End Credits!" contains a sample of retired professional wrestler Arn Anderson cutting a promo on Cody Rhodes during an episode of AEW Dynamite on September 29, 2021.[24]
- "Thot's Prayer" contains an interpolation of "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears.[25]
- On SoundCloud, the following songs have been extended or shortened:
- "Dirty!" has been shortened, changing its length from 2:07 to 2:03.
- "Tired, Nervous & Broke!" has been extended, changing its length from 5:36 to 6:15.
- "Kissy Face Emoji!" has been shortened, changing its length from 3:19 to 3:16.
- "Dam! Dam! Dam!" has been shortened, changing its length from 3:33 to 3:28.
- On the Bandcamp and SoundCloud version of Offline!, "100 Emoji!" has been extended to 2:34.
Offline!
[edit]The tracks included on the "offline" version were officially added to streaming services in the form of an EP, titled Offline! on February 24, 2022.[26] As of June 2023, the EP's title has been changed to Offline to distinguish it from the "offline" version of the album, as its official streaming upload uses the exclamation mark.[27]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks written and produced by JPEGMafia.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hazard Duty Pay!" | 2:37 |
| 2. | "Dikembe!" | 3:02 |
| 3. | "God Don't Like Ugly!" | 1:09 |
| 4. | "Untitled" | 2:48 |
| 5. | "100 Emoji!" | 1:59 |
| Total length: | 11:36 | |
Notes
- "💯" is listed as "100 Emoji!"
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the digital booklet.[28]
- JPEGMafia – production, songwriting, mixing, mastering (all tracks), piano ("Tired, Nervous & Broke!")
- DatPiffMafia – featured vocals, songwriting ("Rebound!")
- Tkay Maidza – featured vocals, songwriting ("The Ghost of Ranking Dread!")
- Denzel Curry – featured vocals, songwriting ("Bald! Remix")
- Alex Goose – sample replay ("Hazard Duty Pay!")
- Buzzy Lee – additional production ("Nemo!")
- Kimbra – additional vocals ("Tired, Nervous & Broke!")
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[29] | 9 |
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums Breakers (OCC)[30] | 17 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[31] | 15 |
| UK Record Store (OCC)[32] | 35 |
References
[edit]- ^ Boev, Martin (October 28, 2021). "LP! proves to be JPEGMafia's most experimental, eclectic and detailed album to date". InSeachofMedia. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Bruce, Lucas (October 22, 2021). "JPEGMafia Releases His Highly Experimental Fourth Project LP! Featuring Denzel Curry". Respect My Region. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "LP! by JPEGMAFIA Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (October 22, 2021). "JPEGmafia - LP!". Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Malone, Anthony (December 11, 2021). "Review - JPEGMAFIA 'LP!' Is a Creative Sayonara to Major Labels". Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ Kohner, Kyle. "In spite of all the hindering red tape LP! (Offline Version) is JPEGMAFIA at his best". Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (October 22, 2021). "JPEGMafia – 'LP!' album review". NME. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Green, Dylan. "JPEGMAFIA LP!". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^ "JPEGMAFIA's new album LP! to be released this week". NME. October 18, 2021. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ Maicki, Salvatore (August 28, 2019). "JPEGMAFIA announces new album All My Heroes Are Cornballs". The Fader. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- ^ Klein, Jeremy (August 14, 2019). "JPEGMAFIA hikes five hours to film video for "Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A Thot," shares tour dates". Tiny Mix Tapes. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- ^ Rettig, James (February 20, 2020). "JPEGMAFIA Shares New Track "BALD!": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Richards, Will (May 6, 2020). "JPEGMAFIA recruits Denzel Curry for thunderous new 'BALD!' remix". NME. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (May 25, 2020). "Watch JPEGMAFIA's Video for New Song "CUTIE PIE!"". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c Caraan, Sophie (December 11, 2020). "JPEGMAFIA Compiles Fan Favorites on New Project 'EP!'". Hypebeast. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Interviews, Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews &; Murray, Robin (February 12, 2021). "JPEGMAFIA - EP2!". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "JPEGMAFIA announces new album and world tour". DIY Magazine. August 31, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "JPEGMAFIA's New Album Has "Online" and "Offline" Versions │ Exclaim!". JPEGMAFIA's New Album Has "Online" and "Offline" Versions │ Exclaim!. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "JPEGMAFIA Releases New Album 'LP!': Stream". Stereogum. October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "Breaking Down JPEGMafia's "LP!"". Office Magazine. November 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "LP! Offline Remastered + Instrumentals 4XLP". jpegmafiamerch. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "JPEGMAFIA LP new album Brooklyn Steel Interview | Hypebeast". February 21, 2022. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ LP! by JPEGMAFIA, archived from the original on November 29, 2021, retrieved May 26, 2025
- ^ Thomas, Jeremy. "Arn Anderson's 'Glock' Promo Sampled For JPEGMAFIA Track". 411Mania. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "LP!, by JPEGMAFIA". JPEGMAFIA. Archived from the original on May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Offline! - EP by JPEGMAFIA on Apple Music, February 24, 2022, archived from the original on May 26, 2025, retrieved May 26, 2025
- ^ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ JPEGMAFIA. "LP! Lyrics & Credits". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ^ "JPEGMafia Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ "Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ "Official Record Store Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
Background
Development
JPEGMAFIA began developing LP! in early 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, compiling a collection of one-off tracks he had been creating during isolation.[6] The project, which took approximately 1.5 years to complete, served as his final album under EQT Recordings and Republic Records, following ongoing disputes with the label over creative control and sample clearances that limited the final tracklist for streaming platforms.[7][8] The rapper, born Barrington Hendricks, handled all aspects of the album's creation himself, including writing, production, recording, mixing, and mastering, continuing his tradition of self-sufficient artistry seen in prior works like Veteran (2018) and All My Heroes Are Cornballs (2019).[3] To maintain freshness in his workflow, he employed three separate computers running different digital audio workstations (DAWs), producing beats in various rooms of his home and incorporating elements from random sample packs—for instance, the beat for "NEMO!" originated from such a source.[7] Drawing inspiration from 1990s boom-bap production, Hendricks layered heavy samples, dueling drum patterns, and eclectic textures to create a collage-like sound, as he described: "I like to kind of harness that approach… it’s like a collage of genius."[7] Some tracks, such as those on the earlier EP2! (2021), were repurposed and refined for LP!, reflecting an iterative process where weaker songs were replaced up until the final weeks, including additions like a cover of Britney Spears' "THOT'S PRAYER!"[6][7] Label constraints forced a dual-release strategy: the "Online" version for streaming services omitted tracks due to uncleared samples, while the "Offline" edition, available on YouTube and Bandcamp, included extras like "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" and reordered tracks for a more complete vision.[6][8] Collaborations emerged organically, such as Denzel Curry's unsolicited verse on the "BALD! (REMIX!)," which Hendricks integrated to enhance the project's experimental edge.[7] Throughout development, he emphasized rigorous self-editing, stating, "I spent the entire year, down to the last two weeks, trying to get this album to not be bullshit," ensuring the final product aligned with his uncompromised artistic standards at "3000% effort."[7]Recording
LP! was entirely self-produced by JPEGMAFIA, who handled all aspects of the album's beats, mixing, and arrangement using multiple computers equipped with various digital audio workstations (DAWs) set up in separate rooms to maintain creative freshness during the process.[7] The project spanned approximately 1.5 years, during which JPEGMAFIA meticulously edited tracks, removed and added songs, and refined elements to eliminate any perceived weaknesses, contrasting with the more unedited approach of his prior release, All My Heroes Are Cornballs.[9][7] The recording occurred amid significant personal and professional stress, including emotional challenges and the loss of friendships due to intense focus on the craft, which JPEGMAFIA described as requiring "3000% effort" to avoid subpar output.[7] Tracks were developed individually, often as if intended for standalone projects, incorporating experimental techniques such as layered samples in a "new-age boom-bap" style for beats like "NEMO!".[9] Sample clearance issues with his label, EQT/Republic, led to the release of two versions: an "online" edition for streaming platforms with 18 tracks, and an "offline" version available on Bandcamp and YouTube featuring additional songs, extended mixes, and an altered tracklist, which JPEGMAFIA considered his definitive artistic vision.[2]Release and promotion
Singles
Prior to the release of LP!, JPEGMAFIA released several standalone singles in 2020 that built anticipation for his fourth studio album, with some tracks later incorporated into the project's evolving tracklist. The lead single "Bald!" was released on February 20, 2020, featuring aggressive, cloud rap production and lyrics addressing personal resilience.[10] This was followed by the "Bald! Remix" featuring Denzel Curry on May 5, 2020, which expanded the original's intensity through Curry's rapid-fire verse and shared thematic elements of defiance.[11] On May 24, 2020, "Cutie Pie!" arrived as a shorter, boom bap-infused track with playful yet confrontational bars, marking a shift toward more experimental sounds in JPEGMAFIA's output.[12] As the album's announcement approached, "Trust!" served as the official lead single on August 31, 2021, introducing the LP! era with its self-reflective lyrics on trust and vulnerability over glitchy, industrial beats; the track also heralded JPEGMAFIA's world tour dates.[13] Just one day before the album's drop, "Dirty!" was issued on October 21, 2021, as a high-energy opener track with raw, distorted production emphasizing themes of excess and street life, accompanied by a music video directed by Anthony Sylvester.[14] Post-release, "Hazard Duty Pay!" was formally released as a single on February 23, 2022, coinciding with the streaming debut of the album's "Offline!" EP version; originally previewed via music video on October 1, 2021, the track's inclusion was delayed due to sample clearance issues but ultimately added to the expanded edition, featuring hardcore hip-hop aggression and critiques of labor exploitation.[15]| Single | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| "Bald!" | February 20, 2020 | Standalone single; cloud rap style.[10] |
| "Bald! Remix" (ft. Denzel Curry) | May 5, 2020 | Remix of lead track; collaborative feature.[11] |
| "Cutie Pie!" | May 24, 2020 | Promotional single; boom bap influences.[12] |
| "Trust!" | August 31, 2021 | Album lead single; announced LP! and tour.[13] |
| "Dirty!" | October 21, 2021 | Pre-album single; album opener with video.[14] |
| "Hazard Duty Pay!" | February 23, 2022 | Post-album single; added to Offline! EP.[15] |
Versions and reissues
Upon its initial release on October 22, 2021, LP! was made available in two distinct versions: the "Offline" edition exclusively on Bandcamp and the "Online" edition on major streaming platforms. The Offline version features the original tracklist with uncleared samples intact, preserving JPEGMAFIA's intended raw production, including interpolations like Britney Spears' "Hit Me Baby One More Time" in "THOT’s Prayer!" and a sample replay by Alex Goose in "HAZARD DUTY PAY!".[3] In contrast, the Online version replaces or mutes uncleared samples to comply with streaming service policies, resulting in altered mixes for tracks such as "NEMO!" and "GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY!".[16] The Offline version remained Bandcamp-exclusive until May 2023, when it was officially released on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music with all samples cleared, allowing fans access to the complete 20-track original without platform restrictions.[17] This update aligned the digital availability while maintaining the album's core structure, produced, written, mixed, and mastered entirely by JPEGMAFIA, with additional production by Buzzy Lee on "NEMO!". In April 2024, LP! received its first vinyl reissue as a limited-edition double LP on yellow-colored pressing, remastered and repressed for improved audio fidelity.[18] This self-released edition, distributed through retailers like Rough Trade, features the Online tracklist in a gatefold sleeve and marks part of a broader 2024 vinyl reissue campaign for JPEGMAFIA's catalog, emphasizing physical formats for his independent era post-Republic Records.[19] No further reissues or variant editions have been announced as of November 2025.Music and lyrics
Style and production
LP! exemplifies JPEGMAFIA's signature experimental hip-hop style, often categorized as noise rap, which fuses aggressive rap delivery with punk-infused energy, distorted electronics, and eclectic sampling. The album draws from a wide array of influences, including early 2000s pop (such as interpolations of Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" on "💯"), boom-bap traditions (evident in the Just-Ice and Human DMX-sampled "OG!"), and southern hip-hop elements (like the crunk-inspired chants on "DIRTY!"). This results in a playful yet confrontational sound that bridges internet meme culture with raw, unpolished aggression, featuring hazy synths, warped vocal samples, and abrupt shifts between intimate vulnerability and chaotic intensity.[2][20] The production, entirely handled by JPEGMAFIA himself, emphasizes dense, layered arrangements that prioritize texture and surprise over conventional polish. Tracks like "REBOUND!" showcase thundering basslines paired with ghostly wails and minimal beats, while "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" incorporates old-school funk and soul samples flipped into gritty loops. Techniques such as beatboxing over mortar-like drums ("OG!"), autotune-infused singing ("THOT’S PRAYER!"), and shapeshifting rhythms ("DIRTY!") create a sense of constant evolution, with soft synths and rattling percussion providing contrast to the rapper's fiery flows. The album exists in two versions—the "online" edition for streaming platforms and the extended "offline" version on YouTube and Bandcamp—which differ in track sequencing, lengths, and inclusions, allowing for varied production tweaks that enhance its improvisational feel.[2][20][21]Themes
The lyrics on LP! explore JPEGMAFIA's frustration with the music industry, marked by themes of disrespect and exhaustion from commercial pressures, as evident in tracks like "TIRED, NERVOUS, & BROKE!" where he vents about personal and professional fatigue.[2] This sentiment aligns with his broader critique of industry norms, including subtle commentary on racism and exploitation, continuing motifs from earlier works like Veteran and All My Heroes Are Cornballs.[2] Personal reflection and self-empowerment recur prominently, with songs such as "TRUST!" emphasizing self-love and resilience amid adversity, portraying a sense of peace and defiance against external judgments.[22] Anger and contempt towards rivals and societal figures infuse the album, exemplified in "REBOUND!" with lines like "Why would I pray for your health? / Baby, I pray for myself," delivering venomous disses and threats rooted in betrayal and self-preservation.[2] A passionate fandom for rap history and pop culture permeates the record, blending references to artists like MF DOOM, Bad Bunny, and Terror Squad in "OG!" to celebrate eclectic influences from wrestling to early 2000s pop, reflecting JPEGMAFIA's unapologetic love for the genre's evolution.[2] Social commentary extends to critiques of "Black capitalist rappers" who prioritize business over cultural authenticity, as dissected in analyses of the album's confrontational bars that highlight performative activism in hip-hop.[23] Overall, LP! weaves these elements into a chaotic yet intentional narrative of defiance, humor, and cultural homage, using abrasive delivery to underscore JPEGMAFIA's position as an outsider challenging hip-hop's status quo.[2]Critical reception
Initial response
Upon its release on October 22, 2021, JPEGMAFIA's album LP! received widespread critical acclaim for its bold experimental approach, blending abrasive hip-hop with eclectic samples and confrontational lyricism. Critics highlighted the project's uninhibited energy and JPEGMAFIA's (also known as Peggy) ability to fuse influences ranging from punk and noise to pop and classic rap, marking it as a significant evolution in his discography. The album's dual-format release—an "Online" version for streaming platforms and an expanded "Offline" version available on Bandcamp and YouTube—drew particular attention, with reviewers noting how the latter offered a more complete artistic vision uncompromised by label constraints.[2][24] Publications praised the production's innovative sampling, such as the haunting reinterpretation of Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" on "THOTS PRAYER!" and the glitchy intensity of tracks like "DIKEMBE!" and "HAZARD DUTY PAY!," which showcased Peggy's technical prowess and humorous edge. The Line of Best Fit awarded it 9/10, calling the Offline version "JPEGMAFIA at his best," emphasizing its masterful splicing of sounds and raw display of anger and self-assurance amid industry red tape. Similarly, Clash described it as "emphatically broad" and a triumph of creative vision, applauding its refusal to conform to rap norms. NME gave it 4/5 stars, lauding the "wacky free-for-all" of genre-blending experiments that maintained Peggy's otherworldly rap style. However, some critiques pointed to inconsistencies, with Pitchfork assigning a 7.3/10 and critiquing the disjointed sequencing between versions that occasionally disrupted momentum.[24][25][26][2] The initial response underscored LP!'s role as a defiant statement following Peggy's departure from a major label, with reviewers appreciating its accessibility relative to his prior work while retaining experimental edge. Aggregated scores reflected this positivity, earning an 82/100 on Metacritic based on early reviews, positioning it as one of 2021's standout hip-hop releases. Influential YouTuber Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop echoed the sentiment in his October 28 review, declaring JPEGMAFIA "still undefeated" for delivering a cohesive yet boundary-pushing project. Overall, the album was celebrated for capturing the chaos of modern digital culture through its structure and sound, solidifying Peggy's reputation as a genre innovator.[27]Retrospective reviews
In subsequent years, LP! has solidified its reputation as a cornerstone of JPEGMAFIA's catalog, praised for balancing experimental hip-hop's abrasiveness with relative accessibility and sharp wit. Music critic Anthony Fantano, reviewing JPEGMAFIA's 2024 album I Lay Down My Life for You, reflected on LP! as "one of his more accessible projects" that ranked highly in his estimation, emphasizing its role in broadening the artist's reach without diluting his chaotic energy.[28] By 2025, the album's influence endured, earning inclusion in Fantano's list of the 50 best albums of the 2020s so far, where it was celebrated for its genre-defying production and cultural commentary amid a decade of innovative rap releases.[29] Similarly, in assessing JPEGMAFIA's I Lay Down My Life for You (Director's Cut), Australian outlet The AU Review positioned LP! within the artist's "LP! era," crediting it with establishing his signature versatility in sampling and thematic irreverence that carried into later works.[30] Retrospective assessments often highlight the offline version's expanded tracklist and unfiltered aggression as superior, viewing it as JPEGMAFIA's most cohesive statement on independence from major labels, a theme that resonated more deeply post-release amid his EQT Recordings output.[31]Commercial performance
Chart performance
LP! did not enter the Billboard 200 chart upon its release, marking a departure from the commercial trajectory of JPEGMAFIA's previous album All My Heroes Are Cornballs, which debuted at number 105.[32] The album also failed to chart on the UK Official Albums Chart.[33] This limited traditional chart success can be attributed to its dual-release strategy, with the full "offline" version exclusively available on Bandcamp and YouTube to avoid sample clearance issues on mainstream streaming platforms, thereby prioritizing artistic integrity over broad commercial accessibility.[2] Despite this, the album has amassed over 190 million streams on Spotify as of November 2025, underscoring its enduring popularity within niche hip-hop audiences.[34]Sales and reissues impact
The release of LP! adopted an independent commercial model through EQT Recordings, with the offline version made available on Bandcamp for a name-your-price download starting at $5 USD, allowing direct financial support from fans and emphasizing the artist's autonomy after his final label-affiliated project.[3] This approach addressed sample clearance challenges that limited the streaming version, enabling the complete "director's cut" to reach dedicated listeners via non-streaming platforms like YouTube and Bandcamp, thereby broadening accessibility beyond traditional digital services.[2] Subsequent reissues in physical formats have extended the album's commercial footprint, particularly among collectors and analog media enthusiasts. A 2022 special edition on orange translucent 2xLP vinyl was followed by 2023 releases including a remastered 4xLP set on clear vinyl featuring original tracks plus instrumentals, alongside 2xCD editions, colored cassette variants (red, blue, green), and a memory stick format.[35] In 2024, a remastered yellow 2xLP repress was issued, distributed through retailers like Rough Trade.[19][35] These reissues underscore sustained interest in physical collectibles, as evidenced by active secondary market listings.[36]Track listings
LP! (Online version)
The online version of LP!, released on major streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music on October 22, 2021, features 18 tracks curated to comply with sample clearance requirements, distinguishing it from the offline counterpart available on YouTube and Bandcamp.[37] This version omits certain uncleared samples and includes a specific sequencing without additional bonus material from prior EPs.[37] The track listing is as follows:- "TRUST!" – 2:15
- "DIRTY!" – 2:00
- "NEMO!" – 2:07
- "END CREDITS!" – 1:48
- "WHAT KINDA RAPPIN' IS THIS?" – 1:53
- "THOT'S PRAYER!" – 2:45
- "ARE U HAPPY?" – 2:53
- "REBOUND! (featuring Danny Brown and JID)" – 2:48
- "2021!" – 1:46
- "O K" – 2:43
- "HAJDUK SPLIT" – 3:02
- "NEW ORLEANS!" – 2:36
- "DO BETTER" – 2:41
- "BMT!" – 3:32
- "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" – 2:38
- "GDFR (featuring Gucci Mane)" – 2:26
- "THE GHOST OF RANKING DREAD!" – 2:38
- "UNTITLED" – 2:37
LP! (Offline version)
The offline version of LP!, released on October 22, 2021, via Bandcamp and YouTube, comprises 20 tracks that preserve uncleared samples, alternative mixes, and the artist's original sequencing, distinguishing it from the censored online edition available on streaming platforms.[3] This iteration totals approximately 57 minutes and emphasizes JPEGMAFIA's experimental hip hop style, incorporating features, interpolations, and emoji-titled interludes.[38]| No. | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRUST! | Lead single |
| 2 | DIRTY! | |
| 3 | NEMO! | Additional production by Buzzy Lee |
| 4 | END CREDITS! | |
| 5 | HAZARD DUTY PAY! | Sample replay by Alex Goose |
| 6 | GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY! | |
| 7 | WHAT KINDA RAPPIN' IS THIS? | |
| 8 | THOT'S PRAYER! | Interpolates "Hit Me Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears |
| 9 | ARE U HAPPY? | |
| 10 | REBOUND! | Featuring DATPIFFMAFIA |
| 11 | 2024! | |
| 12 | THE GHOST OF RANKING DREAD! | |
| 13 | DIKEMBE! | |
| 14 | 1539 N. CALVERT | |
| 15 | 🔥 | |
| 16 | BMT! | |
| 17 | 💯 | |
| 18 | OG! | |
| 19 | NICE! | |
| 20 | UNTITLED |
Offline! EP
Overview
The Offline! EP is a five-track extended play by American rapper and producer JPEGMAFIA, self-released on February 24, 2022.[39] It consists of songs originally composed for his 2021 album LP!, but excluded from both the streaming ("online") and initial Bandcamp/YouTube ("offline") versions due to unresolved sample clearance issues.[40] Following successful clearance negotiations, the EP was distributed on major digital platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, allowing fans access to these tracks as a standalone release that completes the artist's envisioned full project.[41][42] The EP's tracks maintain JPEGMAFIA's signature experimental hip-hop style, characterized by glitchy production, heavy sampling, and aggressive lyricism. Key songs include "HAZARD DUTY PAY!", a basketball-themed cut with rapid-fire flows over distorted beats; "DIKEMBE!", referencing NBA player Dikembe Mutombo with playful yet intense delivery; the brief, abrasive "GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY!"; the instrumental-leaning "UNTITLED"; and "100 EMOJI!", which incorporates emoji motifs in its chaotic energy.[42] All production, writing, mixing, and mastering were handled by JPEGMAFIA himself, consistent with his DIY approach evident in the broader LP! rollout.[40] The release totals approximately 11 minutes and 36 seconds, emphasizing brevity and impact over extended runtime.[41] This EP serves as a companion to LP!, bridging the gap between its dual versions and highlighting JPEGMAFIA's ongoing experimentation with release formats amid industry constraints like sample licensing. Initially teased as bonus content on non-streaming platforms in late 2021, its 2022 streaming debut underscored the artist's commitment to accessibility while navigating contractual limitations with his former label EQT Recordings.[40]Track listing
The Offline! EP features five tracks, with production handled entirely by JPEGMAFIA. The release emphasizes experimental hip hop elements, blending aggressive beats, samples, and abstract lyricism across its runtime of approximately 11 minutes and 36 seconds.[5][41]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HAZARD DUTY PAY! | 2:37 |
| 2 | DIKEMBE! | 3:02 |
| 3 | GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY! | 1:09 |
| 4 | UNTITLED | 2:48 |
| 5 | 100 EMOJI! | 1:59 |