Record of the Year 2018: JPEGMAFIA’S “Veteran”
With impeccable wit, innovative production and an ever present dose of cynicism, JPEGMAFIA delivers an experimental rap masterpiece.
Baltimore Rapper Barrington Vaughn Hendricks also known as JPEGMAFIA is not your average rapper. His past releases from Label Deathbomb Arc were made up of yelping rap verses, off kilter hip hop instrumentals, and plenty of shade being thrown at anyone in earshot (including his label mates at the time, Death Grips). but Veteran feels like the next chapter in this artists discography.
Right off the bat, the track“1539 N. Calvert” has a hard hitting beat, with pumping bass drums and a trap flavored groove. Peggy as he’s affectionately nicknamed talks and sings in the back ground before beginning his first verse with “I need all my b**ches same color as Drake.” His metaphors, similes and references are wide ranging, from anticipating the death of singer Morrissey to saying his gun is built like actress Lena Dunham. Everyone is fair game for his criticism, simultaneously saying he’ll be the Stalin to the new Alt Right, and devoting an entire song to making fun of “Libtards.” Peggy seems facetious about the world and his outcast attitude projects all over this record.
Hendricks handled the album from front to back, with all production, mixing, and mastering done by him, which contributes to the feeling of isolation present in the album. The lone wolf attitude in his lyrics (“Peggy been a solo act since Loony Tunes and Goofy Troupe”) fits perfectly with the jagged, sample heavy style of production. “Thug Tears” has Peggy singing responses to his bars, with a distorted click of percussion moving in around the heavy bass. His live sample of Ol’ Dirty Bastard on “Real Nega” is supremely weird, opening with a throat singing piece before the blistering drums come in, and JPEG’s creaky, intense vocals come in full force. The song he sampled in this track is so strange, that very few artists would think to touch it, let alone make it the basis for them to rap over. The instrumental of “Baby I’m Bleeding” begins with a glitchy looped intro, a vocal sample surrounded by noisy percussion swirling in and out. Occasionally, Peggy yells something but the 50 seconds leading up to the verse builds tension. This tension is released when he performs some of his best lyrics on the entire record. He is both violent and aggressive (“looking like a slave when I’m gunning for my master”) but socially aware, calling out abusers of women, and potentially his label mate (“It’s ironic you hang with a n***a that beat women and have the nerve to call yourself a girl pusher”).
There is a sense on the record that Hendricks has a strong dislike for inauthenticity. “Veteran” makes a statement by presenting exactly who he is, with heavy noise and aggression surrounding it. However, there are also moments where the production is experimental to the point of self indulgence, moments like “Dayum” where the track is long winded despite its short run time. Similarly, “My thoughts on Neogaf Dying” is repetitive but still includes some off kilter vocal ad-libs to keep the track from feeling stale. Despite the few low points, the record has a great flow to it, ending as strange and in your face as it began, closing with “Curb Stomp,” which sounds like the walk out song for Hendrick’s alternate career as a wrestler. He sounds victorious and alive yelling “Superman Peggy making hits!”.
JPEGMAFIA has a sound so unique it could only be born of a lifetime of making and consuming music. His spastic beats, sharp lyrics and rebellious attitude are refreshing and inventive. He is what he says is, a Veteran. This record has received plenty of critical acclaim which is quite appropriate considering Peggy himself said ,
“I don’t make no music for these n***as, say they wanna be a critic but they cannot take no criticism” — Rainbow Six
