JPEGMAFIA Lays Down the Law on ‘I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU (DIRECTOR’S CUT)’

Baltimore rapper and producer JPEGMAFIA, known for his violent and politically charged lyrics and production, released the long-awaited deluxe version of his 2024 album “I LAY MY LIFE DOWN FOR YOU” Feb. 3.

The director’s cut comes after a busy year for JPEGMAFIA — known by fans as Peggy — during which he toured the new album, performed at Pitchfork Music Festival Mexico City and worked with rapper Kanye West for his “VULTURES” album series.  

Unlike other deluxe albums that tack songs onto the end of the original, JPEGMAFIA said the “Director’s Cut” is actually the original version of the 2024 release.

“This Director’s Cut is my original vision for the album,” Peggy wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “When i started working with Ye I learned how to cut fat off an album by watching the master at work.”

The B-side contains previously unreleased and leaked songs, as well as demos and alternate versions of songs.

The “Director’s Cut” begins with “I.S. 231 (Intro),” an interlude with a father and child singing Bob Marley and the Wailers’ song “Rastaman Chant.” The title references the rapper’s old middle school in Queens, New York.

Following the original intro song, “i scream this in the mirror before i interact with anyone,” is the lead single for the deluxe version, “PROTECT THE CROSS.” Released Jan. 20, the day of Trump’s inauguration, the rapper vehemently voices his disdain for U.S. politics. 

“White bitches ain’t vote for Kamala / They lie,” JPEGMAFIA raps.

“Jordan Rules” is sonically reminiscent of his 2021 album “LP!,” with sparkling digital synths. JPEGMAFIA reprimands white rappers for appropriating Black culture and threatens an unnamed enemy with death, robbery and total destruction of their life.

An extension of his song “New Black History,” “CULT STATUS” sees Peggy rapping over the former’s outro, which sounds like the “Find My iPhone” alert ringing inside a metal-filled blender. While it seems like an impossible-to-rap-over beat, the track features bars that tout his expansive cultural knowledge, shouting out Whitney Houston’s drug habits and QWERTY keyboards.

“COKE OR DOPE?” is the original version of the released track “JIHAD JOE,” which was placed at the end of the tracklist on the “Director’s Cut,” according to JPEGMAFIA. Both songs share the same chorus, although “COKE OR DOPE?” offers new verses. 

On the calmer, more melodic title track, Peggy reflects on failed relationships, wondering when he’ll find the one. The dreamy, acoustic guitar-backed song concludes with vocalizations from Steven Spielberg’s daughter, Buzzy Lee.

The following track, “Boy You Should Know!,” is named after a line from Ciara’s “Body Party,” which is predominantly sampled. Although the song itself is lighter, its subject matter is not, making references to Luigi Mangione, the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and a list of every illicit substance Peggy has taken.

Closing out the A-side is “ALLAH,” an emotional meditation on not only his religious and mental state, but of the state of the world, referencing the War in Gaza.

“They been prayin’ for peace, ain’t no peace when you pay for that bombin,’” he raps. 

Side B opens with “What the hip hop hell is this?,” where he airs out his qualms the contemporary rap game, saying civil rights leaders — such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and more — didn’t die for an underwhelming rap scene. He condemns rappers who make music to win awards, achieve financial success or lie to bolster their egos.

“Come & Get Me” has an R&B-esque delivery from Peggy and takes aim at white people who try to adopt Black culture for their own benefit.

“White boys be copying slang and then thinkin’ this shit make ‘em black / White girls be copying slang and then thinkin,’ ‘This shit make me slay,’” he raps.

The track “Bloodline Freestyle (2022 Demo)” features a heavily autotuned JPEGMAFIA, although his scant lyrics make its classification as a freestyle clear even without the title. 

JPEGMAFIA isn’t on “HATE.” Instead, his frequent collaborator Freaky raps over an instrumental from Kenny Beats. His half-mumbled delivery pales in comparison to Peggy’s aggressive flow.

The final few tracks are composed of “TAKE AN (Instrumental),” a short demo of an incomplete song, as well as an alternative, barebones version of his song “don’t rely on other men.”

On “I LAY MY LIFE DOWN FOR YOUR (DIRECTOR’S CUT),” JPEGMAFIA proves even his songs left on the cutting room floor are as strong as those originally released. His anger is so strong it manifests in an almost exasperating way as Peggy airs out his grievances with politicians, rappers and the culture as a whole.

After over an hour of vicious lyrics, grimy beats, cacophonous instrumentals and frankly erratic deliveries, JPEGMAFIA remains a central figure in not only the underground rap scene, but in the rap game as a whole.

“I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU (DIRECTOR’S CUT)” is available on all major streaming platforms.