MY BROTHER, THIS REVIEW WILL SCARE THE H*ES

Scaring the H*es is the new collaborative album from experimental hip-hop artists Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA, two of the most “out there” artists in the scene. Both artists have continually pushed hip-hop’s barrier beyond its wildest extent, with Brown creating albums XXX and Atrocity Exhibition and JPEGMAFIA producing albums Black Ben Carson and All My Heroes Are Cornballs. As their discographies progress, each new release becomes more and more experimental, all waiting to culminate to a head. Brown and JPEGMAFIA’s intense musical odysseys were bound to meet at some point, as both have collaborated in the past on Brown’s song "3 Tearz" and have expressed interest in producing one of the craziest, most experimental albums ever. They attracted the online world's attention, with avid Reddit and RateYourMusic users glued to their screens, waiting for two unstoppable forces to collide. 

Enter March 24, 2023, the release of Scaring the H*es. The climax of experimental hip-hop finally arrives, and the online world explodes. The name itself is an online term, meaning “striking fears into [normal people’s] hearts by doing socially abnormal actions,” according to Urban Dictionary. With a name such as this, Brown and JPEGMAFIA were obviously aware of their online presence and audience. Cheeky song titles like “Lean Beef Patty” and “Jack Harlow Combo Meal” solidify this, as both refer to prominent online influencers discussed fervently in online discourse. With its unorthodox marketing, Brown and JPEGMAFIA knew that their loyal fanbases of screen-dwellers would be the only people that would actually listen to this album.

And this comment isn’t entirely unjustified, as the album defines the phrase “it’s not for everybody.” Scaring the H*es is a monumental testament to Brown’s and JPEGMAFIA’s chaotic music styles and personalities, with each track crazier than the last. The lyrics reflect this progression to a tee, if you can even make them out behind Brown’s quick and nasally vocals. Constant internet references, disses against figures like Elon Musk, and hedonistic sentiments create an intense but highly humorous and self-aware atmosphere. The production highlights this atmosphere even more. Every single track is a boosted JPEGMAFIA production, with the tone shifting wildly between soulful in “Orange Juice Jones,” bombastic in “Burfict!” and scaringly intense in “Lean Beef Patty.” JPEGMAFIA also pulls all stops when it comes to obscure, weird samples. From a woman screaming “WHAT THE ***” in “Fentanyl Tester” to a clip from a 1983 Nintendo Famicom Sports Collection TV advertisement in “Garbage Pale Kids,” this album takes creativity and ingenuity to the next level. 

Brown and JPEGMAFIA throw out all hip-hop conventions and show off their full creative prowess. Even from listening to this album, you can tell making this album was extremely fun. The entire album gives off the vibe that they didn’t care about anybody's opinions and produced the craziest, most experimental album they could make. Scaring the H*es is a strong contender for the best album of the year and is a must-listen for anybody interested in experimental hip-hop. However, beware, it might scare you.