RAP

I Lay Down My Life For You
By JPEGMAFIA

JPEGMAFIA (aka Peggy) adopts the role of an agitator with relentless energy on his fifth solo studio album, I Lay Down My Life For You.
The 34-year-old Baltimore rapper opens with the aptly titled i scream this in the mirror before i interact with anyone. A barrage of distorted metal riffs sitting defiantly above huge kick drums and a focussed ride cymbal rhythm.
On personal favourite, Sin Miedo, the beats and synths pulse with frenetic vitality bouncing all over the place. A palpable mix of noise, rap and punk rock guitars (the unexpected guitar solo kicks everything over the top).
Things relax on I’ll Be Right There For You as Peggy harmonises smoothly with the twinkling production and striking sample of Don’t Walk Away by Jade. When you least expect it, JPEGMAFIA goes on to further showcase his skill and unpredictability with the high-tempo Brazilian funk beat on it’s dark and hell is hot with Brazilian funk producer DJ RaMeMes.
With features by Vince Staples, Denzel Curry and Buzzy Lee, the album is a punchy and varied listening experience reflecting JPEGMAFIA’s dynamic artistry and continually evolving sound.

ROCK

No Name
By Jack White

Jack White returns uncontrollably exuberant and at his boisterous best on his sixth studio album – No Name. And simply put, this is one of the best albums out this year!
Jack, a founding member of The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather (among many other exploits), has a highly accomplished career spanning more than 20 years. And him still having something to say with this much vicious ferocity in the latter half of his career, is far from the usual.
No Name sounds like an exemplary culmination of his best work from beloved previous projects but with a heavy (and much appreciated) emphasis on that undeniably colossal White Stripes sound of the early 2000s.
He kicks the door down with heavy distortion-tinged blues on opener – Old Scratch Blues. Then splintered fuzz-soaked riffs rain down like an unrelenting hail on Bless Yourself. Things abruptly switch gears to the sleek sounding That’s How I’m Feeling with an absolutely joyous punk-rock chorus. On following songs, Rough on Rats, Archbishop Harold Holmes and the anthemic glam rock banger Tonight (Was a Long Time Ago), things subsequently just keep getting better.
Do yourself a favour and give this record a spin.