I Lay Down My Life for You

I Lay Down My Life for You is the fifth studio album by the American rapper JPEGMafia, released on August 1, 2024, through AWAL. It features guest appearances from Vince Staples, Denzel Curry and Buzzy Lee, with additional contributions from frequent collaborator FreakyMafiaCult. A deluxe version, subtitled the Director's Cut, was released on February 3, 2025, adding 14 new tracks. The album was released to positive critical reception.
"Don't Rely on Other Men", "Sin Miedo", and "Protect the Cross" were released as singles in promotion of the album. JPEGMafia has additionally embarked on the Lay Down My Life tour through August and September 2024, and will support Linkin Park on their From Zero World Tour from June to September 2025.
Following the release of his collaborative album Scaring the Hoes with Danny Brown in March 2023, JPEGMafia began teasing his next album. On April 4, 2024, he posted on Twitter that the solo studio album would be coming "very soon." On June 12, he announced the "Lay Down My Life" tour, scheduled to begin on August 7 in Pomona, California, and ending on September 21 in Chicago.
On June 17, "Don't Rely on Other Men", featuring previous collaborator Freaky, was released as the first single from the album. It marked his first release since Scaring the Hoes and his contributions to Vultures 1 by ¥$, as well as his first solo release since the 2021 album LP!. On July 15, "Sin Miedo" was released as the second single.
On July 29, 2024, JPEGMafia announced the album's title—I Lay Down My Life for You—and released an album trailer. He initially stated it would be released "next week," later clarifying the release date as August 1.
On January 20, 2025, he released the single "Protect the Cross", as a single for a deluxe version of the album titled I Lay Down My Life for You (Director's Cut).
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, I Lay Down My Life for You received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 from 8 critic scores. The album received an 8/10 from Clash, which said: "[c]ome for the headlines, but stay for the below-the-bar thrills. I Lay Down My Life For You is in turns earnest and surreal, confusing and pristine. Closing "i recovered from this" enthuses in its own rapture, the woozy sample pleading: "Funny how time flies when you’re having fun / Please stay…"".
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Paul Simpson claimed that the album shared, "a lot of the sonic hallmarks common to Peggy's work, from abrasive, disjointed production to troll-ish lyrics and song titles. He leans a lot more into rock influences on this album, with metal guitars blaring on several tracks, usually popping up in well-timed bursts and providing a welcome release." and concluded that, "JPEGMAFIA's confrontational personality can be overbearing at times, especially to listeners who don't consider themselves to be chronically online, but his production is always stellar, and his sheer creativity is unparalleled." The album was later selected by AllMusic's editors for inclusion in their 'Best of 2024' music releases list.
Concluding the review for Kerrang, Mischa Pearlman summarized that "those who are only after heavy guitars in their music won't be completely satisfied, especially in the mellow closing strains of "Don't Put Anything on the Bible" and the '60s psychedelia of ender i recovered from this. But that's on them. After all, you can't always get what you want. But this stunning, expansive collection of songs delivers exactly what this torrid world needs: a simultaneous celebration and indictment that will stand the test of time for decades to come."
In a more muted response from Pitchfork, Matthew Ritchie stated that, "At times his extremely online subject matter takes the bloom off his writing. But his innate ability to shift between breakneck flows amid chaotic production buoys the album."
All tracks are produced by JPEGMafia, except where noted. Credits adapted from Bandcamp.
Credits adapted from Bandcamp and Spotify.