JPEGMafia
A sonic anarchist who shreds hip-hop's rulebook with glitchy, confrontational beats and razor-sharp critiques of modern culture.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American rapper, singer, song writter, and record producer·Birthday: October 22·Millennials
Biography
Born Barrington Hendricks in Brooklyn and shaped by a childhood split between there and the American South, JPEGMAFIA's music is a direct product of his restless, disruptive journey. After a stint in the U.S. Air Force, he began crafting a defiantly independent path, self-releasing projects that fused the raw energy of punk with the fractured textures of digital noise. His 2018 album 'Veteran' was a watershed, its chaotic production and sardonic wit establishing him as a singular voice unwilling to placate mainstream tastes. He doubled down on this aesthetic with 'All My Heroes Are Cornballs,' weaving melodic fragments into his abrasive soundscapes. Operating largely outside the traditional industry machine, JPEGMAFIA builds a visceral, unpredictable world where political fury and surreal humor collide, challenging listeners to find beauty in the breakdown.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
JPEGMafia was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When JPEGMafia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
JPEGMafia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 2018 album 'Veteran' was named one of the best albums of the year by numerous major publications, including Pitchfork and The Guardian.
- He independently produced, mixed, and mastered much of his early catalog, maintaining complete creative control.
- His 2023 collaborative album 'Scaring the Hoes' with Danny Brown debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Rap Albums chart.
- He founded his own record label, PEGGY, to release his music and support other artists.
Did You Know?
He served in the United States Air Force and was deployed to Iraq.
He was born in Flatbush, Brooklyn, but spent much of his teenage years in Alabama and Louisiana.
His stage name is a combination of the JPEG image format and the militant group MOVE, reflecting his themes of digital decay and revolution.
He is an avid user of the music production software FL Studio.
“I'm not here to make you comfortable. I'm here to make good music.”
