Who Is JPEGMAFIA?

Barrington Hendricks, also known as JPEGMAFIA, is a rapper and producer. He spends his time in an old office building near Los Angeles' MacArthur Park. We sit near a big window, and a recording studio awaits him. His music combines hip-hop and noise, and he tackles important social and political issues.

Hendricks grew up in Brooklyn and other places in the South. He recently moved to Los Angeles from Baltimore, where he made a name for himself in the underground music scene. His album, "Veteran," gained critical acclaim for its cool beats and lyrics that talked about racism, homophobia, and politics.

Sometimes, people find his lyrics offensive, but Hendricks believes he is challenging offensive ideas. He doesn't care about shallow diversity. Instead, he focuses on the real problems faced by marginalized groups. The album's title refers to his time in the Air Force and questions the strict ideals of the military. In the military, he spoke up against sexism and toxic views, even if it got him in trouble.

Hendricks understands how internet trolls think and talks like them to expose their bad arguments. He knows it's hard to change their minds with facts, so he confronts them instead. He uses their own tactics against them to show how flawed their thinking is.

Re-appropriation is a big theme in his music. He takes symbols and ideas and gives them new meanings. He wants to challenge racism and disrupt harmful beliefs. He believes America can be better than it is now, and he wants to provoke discussions and broaden people's perspectives.

Life in the military was tough for him. It was slow and stressful, even without being in combat. He found comfort in making music and writing songs during his service.

Hendricks wants people to think about his album title, "Veteran." He believes white veterans are treated differently than black veterans. He believes if he was a white country artist he would be viewed differently. He sees racism and unfair treatment, and he wants to bring attention to these issues.

JPEGMAFIA is an artist who isn't afraid to speak his mind and challenge the status quo. His music encourages us to think critically about important topics like race and politics. He wants to inspire positive change and promote genuine intentions in the world.