Jpegmafia casts a wider net with his “LAY DOWN MY LIFE” tour

Graphic by Sofia Giarrusso

By Rachel Charles

Jpegmafia’s long-standing reputation as an underground gem is being tested with his “LAY DOWN MY LIFE” world tour, selling out venues like Boston’s Roadrunner– a vast space with a capacity of over 3,000 maxed out with patrons shoulder to shoulder.

The 2024 release of Jpeg’s I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU garnered worldwide attention in the alt-rap sphere. The album's sonic and dynamic production, and brash guitar samples attracted a diverse set of listeners. The crowd and their disposition at his Roadrunner show reflected the album's success–inhibiting a communal admiration and anticipation for Jpeg’s setlist. The crowd had an amalgamation of a few veteran fans, the college-aged alternative crowd, and an overwhelming amount of fervent teen boys repeatedly chanting the “big booty hoes” sample from Jpeg’s “SIN MIEDO.” Before Jpeg even arrived on stage, the hot air and unit-like movement of the crowd left no personal space for the inevitable moshing that would ensue.

To prequel Jpeg's performance, opener incoming indie artist Jane Remover warmed up the crowd with her hit single, “Flash in the Pan.” Remover’s indie electronic sound paired well thematically with I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU’s more electronically intense production. 

After Jane Remover’s 30-minute set, a rhythmic chanting begins erupting from the crowd– Peggy, Peggy, Peggy… the stage covered in a haze from the ongoing fog machine and the beaming red overhead lights. In true performer fashion, Jpegmafia let the crowd ruminate in their excitement, arriving half an hour late. Amid the anticipation, Jpeg arrived atop a podium, dressed in a cyberpunk-esque cowboy outfit– silver studded gloves with a large-rimmed black cowboy hat. 

“What’s up fam?,” Jpegmafia greeted his fans with a refreshing casualness. An ambient instrumental track lulled Jpeg into his opening song on the set list, a cult classic, “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A Thot” from his third studio album All My Heroes Are Cornballs. Immediately with the first beat of the track, the crowd erupted into vigorous movement–fans moshing so hard you are physically unable to escape the pit, the only solution joining the other hundreds of teen boys jumping with unadulterated passion. 

After his opening song, Jpeg left little time in between to move into his next track, “Lean Beef Patty”, a hit single from his Scaring the Hoes album with collaborator Danny Brown. The crowd continued with their fervor as Jpegmafia’s stage presence remained unwavering, continuously running back and forth from either end of the stage. The beginning portion of Jpeg’s set followed a kind of formula that always involved a break in the track for brash guitar or electronic sampling, incentivizing fans to match the intensity that Jpeg was bringing on stage. Between songs and even during some, Jpegmafia’s ability to engage with the expansive crowd was more than impressive, “I came all the way to Boston to show you guys some songs,” Jpeg said as he got ready to go into the second half of his set.

The setlist was a representation of Jpegmafia’s diverse discography spanning from a few tracks from his newest album to one of his fan favorites, his Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” cover. In between some standout songs, Jpeg narrated context including “Baby I’m Bleeding,” a track from his second studio album Veteran: “This song I’m about to play was really my breakthrough song, it's what got me here.” Jpeg also pays tribute to his hometown with his song “1539 N. Calvert," saying, “This is a song named after a street I used to live on in Baltimore,” Jpeg recounts. Throughout his set, Jpegmafia’s stage presence remained consistent up until his closing track, “it's dark and hell is hot,” a dance track that samples an upbeat Brazilian mix– a perfect coda for his powerhouse of a performance.

Whether Jpegmafia is still classified as an “underground rapper” (a title Jpeg makes digs at himself in multiple songs), there’s no denying that after the success of his “LAY DOWN MY LIFE” tour, a new and larger fanbase is being born. This performance and others throughout the tour shed light on some of Jpegmafia’s most notable works–and make for an unforgettable setlist.