Hendricks was born in Flatbush, Brooklyn, to Jamaican parents. He spent the majority of his childhood in Flatbush before moving to Alabama at age 13, where he says he experienced a significant amount of racism, later affecting his music. Hendricks moved to Louisiana and enlisted in the United States Air Force at age 18. He served a tour of duty in Iraq and also spent time in Kuwait, Germany, Japan, and North Africa before being honorably discharged. Though he previously claimed to have a master's degree in journalism, Hendricks has since clarified that, though having studied the subject while deployed, he was not officially awarded a degree. In April of 2021, Hendricks revealed through social media that he had "a sexually, verbally, and physically abusive childhood."
Hendricks developed an interest in music production at the age of 15, and he began producing after he learned how to sample. Describing his production, Hendricks says "When I was first making beats, no one liked the beats. To this day I give people beats and they're just confused." He says "I started rapping because no one liked my beats." Noting that he started producing before he started rapping, Hendricks said "I'm a producer first kind of, and then a rapper second but I take both of them seriously."
His music has mostly been described as experimental hip-hop but has been said to incorporate a wide range of genres into his music such as trap, R&B, and noise rap. In an interview with Cambridge Union, Hendricks noted that his biggest influence is Kanye West. He states that one of his earliest influences was the rock group Hanson. He has also cited Ol' Dirty Bastard, Throbbing Gristle, MF DOOM,Lil B, Chief Keef, Ice Cube, Rick Rubin, Cam'Ron, Björk, Janelle Monáe, Radiohead, The Backstreet Boys, and Arca as influences.
During his military stay in Japan, he was producing and writing music under the name Devon Hendryx. In 2015, after moving to Baltimore, he began to make music under his moniker JPEGMAFIA, under which he released his mixtape “Communist Slow Jams” in April of 2015. Only a month later, he released his mixtape “Darkskin Manson,” inspired by the Freddie Gray protests in Baltimore happening right as he had moved there.
Following a number of mixtapes, Hendricks released his debut studio album, “Black Ben Carson,” in February 2016 via Deathbomb Arc featuring a much harsher, distorted sound than his other projects. Four months later, he released a collaborative EP with fellow Baltimore-based rapper Freaky, titled "The 2nd Amendment.” After less than 3 years living there, Hendricks moved from Baltimore to Los Angeles to record his next studio album. In January 2018, he released his second studio album “Veteran.” In an article on Bandcamp, he said “I wanted to show I'm not just a one-trick pony. I always do weird shit. I usually just keep it to myself. This time, I just let the filter go." At the time of its release, “Veteran” was considered JPEGMAFIA's most experimental album to date, receiving widespread critical acclaim.
After the release of Veteran, Hendricks started working on his next album. He recorded 93 songs but whittled it down to only 18 tracks. He mixed and mastered it at the end of Vince Staples' tour, posting percentage updates frequently on his Instagram. Prior to the release, he would label the project as a "disappointment" in interviews and his social media. The first single from the album, "Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot," was released on August 13, 2019. He promoted the album by uploading a series of listening sessions to his YouTube channel where friends and artists such as Denzel Curry, Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), and Hannibal Buress discussed and reacted to cuts off of the album. “All My Heroes Are Cornballs” was released on September 13, 2019, to further critical acclaim, and was his first album to chart. In October 2019, he embarked on the JPEGMAFIA Type Tour to support his album.
In 2020, Hendricks released several singles across the span of the year, and compiled them into an EP, aptly titled EP!. It was released on Hendricks' Bandcamp page on November 6, and on streaming services with the addition of one extra single on December 10. On February 12, 2021, Hendricks released his second extended play, EP2!. On October 2, Hendricks announced his album, LP!, which was released on October 22, 2021, his birthday.
On January 15, 2023, Hendricks made a hint on his social media that he was working on a collaborative project with fellow rapper, Danny Brown. On January 20, 2023, Hendricks officially announced three albums will be dropping the same year. On February 10, 2023, Hendricks announced on his Twitter that the collaborative project with Danny Brown was finished, and is working on his second album for the year. On February 28, 2023, on The Danny Brown Show, both Hendricks and Brown announced that their collaborative project was named SCARING THE HOES, and played a sneak peek of the first single on the project.
On March 13, 2023, the first single of the project called “Lean Beef Patty“ was released to streaming services, and Hendricks announced that the collaborative project is set to release on March 24, 2023. The second single “SCARING THE HOES“ was released to streaming services three days before the release date of the album along with a music video. Three days later, the collaborative album "SCARING THE HOES"was released.
Rainbow Six
JPEGMAFIA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cunty, cunty, cunty, cun-
Cunty, cunty, cunty, cunty, cun-, cun-
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(You think you know me)
Boolin' on the block with the glock cocked
And you should know I got the straight drop
Boolin' on the block with the glock cocked
And you should know I got the straight drop
Boolin' on the block with the glock cocked
And you should know I got the straight drop
Boolin' on the block with the glock cocked
And you should know I got the straight drop
Pull up on yo' block with the pistol
Slap you up nigga, little boy, just dismiss you
I don't give a fuck, right punch you, it's official
I don't give a shit, lil' nigga, you need tissue
For your fucking face 'cause it's full of the blood
Blood, bloody, bloody, bloody, bloody, bloody, blood
Smack you fuckin' up, nigga, I take a stub
Grab you fuckin' up nigga, put you in the trunk
Fuck with me, nigga I take you to the dump
Me nigga, I-
What you niggas want? Huh
Got that thang in the trunk, huh
What you niggas need? (Yeah) huh
Pills, crack, coke, weed, huh
Pressure, pressure (Lord forgive me, I'm sorry)
I don't wanna hit 'em with the k
I don't wanna hit 'em with the k (hit 'em all in the body)
I'ma have to go and be the bad man
Baby I'ma put him in his place
I'ma have to do it to you baby (I just caught another body)
I'ma have to give him something 'mazing (hit 'em all in the body)
Tell 'em when I'm talking to my baby (Lord forgive me, I'm sorry)
Coolin' on the block with the glock cocked
And you know I got the straight drop (straight drop)
Coolin' on the block with the glock cocked
And you should know I got the straight drop (straight drop)
Coolin' on the block with the glock cocked
And you know I got the straight drop (straight drop)
Coolin' on the block with the glock cocked
And you know I got the straight drop (straight drop)
Look, it's the young alt-right menace
What's the pistol to a pennant?
Treat a writer like a cynic, nigga, huh
Surface level niggas never get it
Fuck a rating and a cynic (ooh)
Always talking, never livin', nigga, huh
I don't make no music for these niggas (ooh)
Say they wanna be a critic
But they cannot take no criticism, huh
Nigga, we the junkies, they the dealers
I be rappin', they be triggered
You be writin', I'm a killer, nigga what?
Fuck is this song? Fuck is my whip?
Fuck up your streams, I got the rips
Skinny and paid, I'm Taylor Swift
We at your job, catch you on shift
Nigga, you gone
I don't like you (nigga, I'm-)
Niggas don't want it (fuck, oh)
Lord forgive me, I'm sorry (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Hit 'em all in the body (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Lord forgive me, I'm sorry
I just caught another body
Hit 'em all in the body
I had to get some money (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I don't wanna be alone
It's so hard for me to trust you baby
I'm around you baby
I got so much on me
40 I'd drown you baby
I don't wanna drown you baby
I just wanna love you baby
I got too much for me
Oh my god I'm so weak
Holy fuck, I'm lonely
This song is by JPEGMAFIA and features Yung Midpack. The song can be interpreted as a battle cry of sorts. The two rappers are portraying themselves as tough guys who are not afraid to use guns and violence against their enemies. They are saying that they have the "straight drop," which means that they have the purest form of whatever they are selling. They are also using the N-word throughout the song, which is controversial, but could be seen as a way of reclaiming the word and using it in a way that feels empowering to them.
The chorus of the song features the repeated phrase "cunty, cunty, cunty," which could be seen as a way of mocking their enemies. They are saying that their opponents are acting like a bunch of cunts, and that they are not intimidated by them. The rest of the song features violent imagery and boasts about their toughness and ability to take down their enemies. At the end of the song, JPEGMAFIA reveals a vulnerability, saying that he doesn't want to be alone and that he's "so weak" and "lonely."
Overall, the song is a complex mix of posturing and vulnerability, with the rappers trying to project an image of toughness while also revealing their own insecurities and fears.
Line by Line Meaning
Cunty, cunty, cunty, cunty
The singer repeats the word "cunty" multiple times for emphasis.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The singer repeats the word "yeah" multiple times for emphasis.
(You think you know me)
The singer suggests that the listener doesn't really know them.
Boolin' on the block with the glock cocked
The singer is hanging out in the neighborhood with a loaded gun.
And you should know I got the straight drop
The singer wants everyone to know that they have something valuable to sell (drugs, perhaps).
Pull up on yo' block with the pistol
The singer drives to someone else's neighborhood with a gun.
Slap you up nigga, little boy, just dismiss you
The singer threatens to physically harm someone (calling them a little boy) and says they will ignore them afterwards.
I don't give a shit, lil' nigga, you need tissue
The singer insults someone and suggests they will need a tissue for their tears.
What you niggas need? (Yeah) huh
The singer asks what the listener wants to buy from them (another reference to drugs).
Pills, crack, coke, weed, huh
The singer lists different types of drugs they might have for sale.
Pressure, pressure (Lord forgive me, I'm sorry)
The singer seems to be under a lot of pressure and feels guilty for their violent behavior.
I'ma have to give him something 'mazing (hit 'em all in the body)
The singer plans to hurt someone (hit them) in a way that they will remember (making it 'mazing').
Coolin' on the block with the glock cocked
The singer is still hanging around their neighborhood with their gun.
Look, it's the young alt-right menace
The singer is describing themselves as a dangerous (menace) person with alt-right views.
What's the pistol to a pennant?
The singer is suggesting that their success is more important than having a gun.
Fuck a rating and a cynic (ooh)
The singer doesn't care what others think (about their music, perhaps) and is expressing disdain for critics (cynics).
I don't make no music for these niggas (ooh)
The singer believes that what they make is not meant for everyone.
Skinny and paid, I'm Taylor Swift
The singer compares themselves to Taylor Swift, saying they are skinny and have made money (like she has).
Nigga, you gone / I don't like you
The singer expresses dislike for someone and suggests they will hurt them ('gone' could mean dead or out of the picture).
Lord forgive me, I'm sorry
The singer feels guilty for their violent behavior and is asking for forgiveness.
I just caught another body
The singer has killed someone else.
I don't wanna be alone
The singer expresses their fear of being alone.
It's so hard for me to trust you baby
The singer has trouble trusting other people.
40 I'd drown you baby
The singer references a gun (40) and suggests they would use it to kill someone.
Oh my god I'm so weak / Holy fuck, I'm lonely
The singer expresses their emotional vulnerability and admits they feel lonely.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Barrington Hendricks, Yung Midpack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind