At this point, JPEGMAFIA has solidified his stance as a prominent music figure — 2018's critically acclaimed Veteran was a warped and glitchy blend of experimental and industrial hip-hop, and since then Barrington Hendricks (known as Peggy by fans) has been refining his unique style into a form of expression unhindered by boundaries, both musically and socialized. With his latest release, All My Heroes Are Cornballs, Hendricks is crafting songs to scroll through the deep web to.
All My Heroes Are Cornballs stands in tandem with the culture built upon an internet-based society; Hendricks understands the communities that gather around Twitter, Instagram, and the more obscure recesses of the web, and caters to the self-aware and overtly ironic mindset of this age. The album is glitchy and sporadic at moments, maintaining the same industrial sound that made Veteran so initially jarring, but JPEGMAFIA moves beyond this with ideas that teeter on the edge of experimental pop.
The production is smooth and warm, yet at times unsettling, with the industrial influence and random samples that maintain Hendricks' signature style. Songs like "Kenan Vs. Kel" and "PRONE!" are great examples of how Hendricks can keep his sound raw and unfiltered through the less abrasive moments on the album, even if the former begins with a notably softer production style. "Free The Frail," featuring Montreal based-artist Helena Deland, is melodic and captivating, pushing the boundaries of JPEGMAFIA's sound.
With All My Heroes Are Cornballs, JPEGMAFIA captures the feelings of existing in an era fuelled by mindless scrolling and compulsive tweeting, positioning himself as both a participant and vocal critic of the happenings of the current millennia.
(EQT Recordings)All My Heroes Are Cornballs stands in tandem with the culture built upon an internet-based society; Hendricks understands the communities that gather around Twitter, Instagram, and the more obscure recesses of the web, and caters to the self-aware and overtly ironic mindset of this age. The album is glitchy and sporadic at moments, maintaining the same industrial sound that made Veteran so initially jarring, but JPEGMAFIA moves beyond this with ideas that teeter on the edge of experimental pop.
The production is smooth and warm, yet at times unsettling, with the industrial influence and random samples that maintain Hendricks' signature style. Songs like "Kenan Vs. Kel" and "PRONE!" are great examples of how Hendricks can keep his sound raw and unfiltered through the less abrasive moments on the album, even if the former begins with a notably softer production style. "Free The Frail," featuring Montreal based-artist Helena Deland, is melodic and captivating, pushing the boundaries of JPEGMAFIA's sound.
With All My Heroes Are Cornballs, JPEGMAFIA captures the feelings of existing in an era fuelled by mindless scrolling and compulsive tweeting, positioning himself as both a participant and vocal critic of the happenings of the current millennia.