American rapper, singer, and record producer JPEGMafia has officially released his single, “Hazard Duty Pay!.”
Born Barrington DeVaughn Hendricks, the rapper’s 2018 album Veteran, released through Deathbomb Arc, received widespread critical acclaim and was featured on many year-end lists. It was followed by 2019’s All My Heroes Are Cornballs, released to further critical acclaim.
Hendricks developed an interest in music production at the age of 15, and he began producing after he learned how to sample.
During the rapper’s military stay in Japan, he was producing and writing music under the name Devon Hendryx.
In 2015, JPEGMafia moved to Baltimore, where he began to make music under his moniker JPEGMafia, under which he released his mixtape Communist Slow Jams in April 2015. Only a month later, he released his mixtape Darkskin Manson which was inspired by the Freddie Gray protests in Baltimore that were 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.
In 2020, JPEGMafia 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 the album LP! , which was released on October 22, 2021, his birthday.
JPEGMafia’s 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, JPEGMafia noted that his biggest influence is Kanye West. He states that one of his earliest influences was the rock group Hanson.
JPEGMafia has also cited Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Throbbing Gristle, Skinny Puppy, MF DOOM, Lil B, Chief Keef, Ice Cube, Rick Rubin, Cam’Ron, Björk, Janelle Monáe, Radiohead, The Backstreet Boys and Arca as influences.
