One of the Greatest Underrated Album

Over the years there’s been millions and millions of albums created. So many albums that are either mainstream or underground. They would play under a specific genre, or multiple genres. And there’s some albums that pioneer new genres many have never heard from. Which brings focus to this album called THE GHOST~POP TAPES.

THE GHOST~TAPES album was released on October 22, 2013 by Devon Hendryx. Devon Hendryx, now renamed & known as popular rapper JPEGMAFIA, made music before this album. He was inspired by Japanese music when he was in the Air Force being stationed at Japan. Since then, he has made different albums with different names like JoeChillWorld, GenY, and mostly at the time Devon Hendryx. Only making music well basically being unknown and with personal issues going on, Devon was depress when the album was conceived. When asked about rereleasing a remastered version of the album, JPEGMAFIA said via Twitter, “I won’t lie… some of my old shit is hard to hear now… especially the ghost pop tape. I was very close to death when I made this. but for y’all I will.” So with much context in mind, let’s finally review the album that seems like little amount of people only knows.

The album has 18 tracks, with 7 bonus tracks added later on. For the sake of this review, let’s talk about the main 18 tracks to get a better understanding of the music project. Also, Peggy will be address as Devon, since this was the name he used in the album.

The opening track called A Ballad of a Poor Man set up like we’re about to listen to a tape of some sort. This follows up with sound of whistling and some television playing echoing in the background before slow drum beat, bass and an eerie synth plays. This is also accompanied with Devon’s vocals stating how he’s in pain and wants it to end. This is set the tone how he’s mentally weaken by his lack of wealth, and love in his life.

The second track called ❤️ has a cut sound effect in the first millisecond of the song to represent to next part of the tape. There’s large sirens playing with bass noise booming. To add to this instrumental track, echoing ambience can be heard. Meanwhile, Devon is heard just making noises with melody. So on, this seems to be a brief set up to the next song.

The third track is titled HBK, which is a cover of Shawn Michaels’ WWE theme song. If you know Shawn Michaels, HBK stands for heart break kid. This song keeps the echoing ambience from ❤️, except there’s new drum notes and beats playing. This also includes Devon saddening cover of the verse and hook from the original song With this cover, this makes you feel dread to see how deeply Devon feels being used. Also, this is the first song we hear Devon sing. With that, this is an excellent cover song with a new outlook of the song.

Next song, “Violent fighting to come again,” is a short song with the beats from HBK fading into a short arcade like sounds. Then that fades to the line, “Violent fighting to come again.” The line is from the game The King of Fighters ‘96 from the original track “In 1996.” Overall, just a brief song that was included to add on to the aesthetics of the album.

In the next track, Behold! A Pale Horse, is one of the few where Devon raps with a verse and hook in the album. It has a steady beat with bass, and an echoing synth used to make this track paranormal. The lyrics Devon uses on the song displays a sense of unfair and struggle he’s been through and seen. This also reveal how he hates rich people not paying for rent, and people culture appropriation of being black. The name also refers to a book of conspiracy theories. To sum up, this is all Devon frustration against the social and economic situation he dealt with.

Next, we have M.U.G.E.N. This track is instrumental, but it’s accompanied by a sound of a shrieking woman. This is also has tapping noise before it’s shifting to a fast tempo rhythm. Afterwards, it fades into ambience. The name itself referenced a game that is also a fighting game. A short, but alarmingly track.

Then we have the track Porn with Percussion. This song has a low volume percussion, but it’s attached with a woman moaning. Meanwhile, Devon is singing about wanting to be taken out with a girl. Still, he feels empty with the obsession with companionship. All in all, this comfirm how he feels like he’s in purgatory.

Next track, Untitled 1 is a track that’s also an instrumental. This time, it includes a sound of Devon and a woman chatting to was sounds like a recording from a recording camera. Then comes the instrumental with slow tiempo. While short, it a great transitional for the next track coming.

After that, we have the track God Bless My Homegirls. This song shows more of Devon vocal performance with great bass guitar, and bells ringing in a steady pace. The song is about Devon wanting his friends to be blessed by Jesus. Seems self explanatory, but in the second half of the song switches a bit from a slow song to more of a his sexual frustration fully out, which affects his social life with his friends. Overall, a catchy song.

Then we have [Missing image file_maladaptivedsydreaming.gif]. Yeah that’s the name of this track. This doesn’t have much to offer other than being a short song of wanting to be with someone. All in all, the weakest song of the album.

The next track after this one is Untitled 2. This is a sequel song for Untiled 1, but it’s longer and doesn’t fades in or out. It’s has a longer instrumental segment to the track, but it’s only synth heavy. So it’s alright as a instrumental track.

Then we have the track Neon Kitchen 4. This track is more lively and vibrant. It’s another track that Devon raps, which he makes many mentions of Neon as an alternative reality and emotion. This shows Devon skills to use many similes and punchlines in this out of this world song. In general, a great track to listen to for a more bright and color feeling.

After that track, we have what is considered the best track of the album. Here’s Call Me Maybe, which is another cover track. This one covers Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. What makes this track unique & different than the original is not only this one focus a male’s version to get someone’s attention & asking them out, but it’s Devon missing his significant other and he’s all alone now. This makes the most sense as this one has a heavy synth that’s mellow and slowly with no beat. There’s also a wrestling match playing in the background before it cuts to a woman moaning. This shows Devon going back to porn to heal his sorrow. All in all, the best track and a great cover song.

This perfectly cuts to the next track Pu$$y #3. While Call Me Maybe was slow and sad, this track is fast pace with a quick beat following up moaning from the ending of the previous track. Although it’s almost two minutes, it doesn’t drag on and the beats is really great. So, it’s a great beat track.

Then we have the track Bubblegum Crisis. This is the track that establishes that Devon is back to seeking someone in lust. He doesn’t care what happens as long as he gets to who he wants. And it a good beat with a echo synth notes. Overall a good song that shows Devon back in a lustful cycle.

On to the next track LIARA, which is named after a character in the Mass Effect games. This track is a love song, but it refers to two friends loving each other instead of their partners. Devon shows his vocal performance in a deep and loving way. Also, this friend is mentioned to a male, which makes Devon question his sexuality. The song ends with a tape being reversed. To sum up, it’s a catchy song but with a deeper meaning than it appears to be.

Onto the second to last track, we have O Superman. This track is a personal favorite. This has the same melody as LIARA, as the tape stops and plays a reversed version of the previous song. It focus on Superman, which in the comics is known to be a everyday hero who saves people no matter of the situation. Devon is singing to Superman, wanting the hero to take him down. This could add to the meaning of his sexuality or it could be his depression has taken a toll on him and he needs Superman to save him. After he stops singing, the tape starts to finish and it moved to the last song.

The finally track called Untitled 3 starts with a beating monitor being heard. As it plays, Devon raps how he has a bullet ready for himself and he describes how hard it is to write anything for his songs. After he’s done, a loud synth is play that sounds other worldly. Then Devon prays for Jesus before it cuts back to the beating monitor. It plays a bit longer before silence. And it stay silence for the rest of the song. This implies that Devon committed suicide and has died. Overall, a daunting final track to end the album.

So why is this album a underrrated great. For one thing, it sticks to it’s name as a ghost pop tape. With sounds of the tape being reminded, inserted in a VCR, and being heard throughout the album, with the tracks exploring a disturbed & depressing individual. It’s creative and unique, while at the same time raw and depressing. It’s hip hop, pop, electronic, lofi, & experimental all roll together. This gives this album feelings of sadness, comedy, anger, disgust, & satisfaction. To add to it’s unique, it’s can’t be found on any music streaming services except for SoundCloud & YouTube by fans of JPEGMAFIA. So it gives off a mysterious vibe for any newcomer to listen. In conclusion, this is a one of a kind album that should be recommended.