Half Blood (mixtape)
| Half Blood | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Mixtape by | ||||
| Released | November 5, 2025 | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 30:53 | |||
| Label | Columbia[a] | |||
| Producers |
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| Slayr chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Half Blood | ||||
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| BloodLuxe cover | ||||
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Half Blood is the seventh mixtape by the American rapper Slayr. It was self-released on November 5, 2025. The mixtape features production from several producers, including Slayr himself, and guest appearances from Ezcodylee and TJayy. The mixtape blends elements of trap, rage, digicore, and electronic music, while drawing influence from video game soundtracks and internet-based music scenes. According to Pitchfork, the mixtape developed an accessible form of the rage genre.
On March 6, 2026, the follow-up mixtape BloodLuxe was released. It features an additional guest appearance from Lucy Bedroque. Both projects are described for their genre-blending production and stylistic experimentation within contemporary underground rap. Slayr is currently embarking on the Half Blood Tour of North America in support of the mixtape.
Background and writing
[edit]Slayr grew up in North Philadelphia before later moving to nearby suburban areas. During his adolescence, he spent significant time online and had learned music production through internet communities and communication platforms such as Discord.[2] Before releasing Half Blood, Slayr had released several projects connected to a mythology-themed series, including Chaos [B4 Gaia], Gaia, and Gaia 2.[3] His interest in Greek mythology had developed through media such as the Percy Jackson book series and video games including God of War.[3] Half Blood was initially planned as a shorter extended play titled Gaia 2.5, and intended as an interim release to precede his future studio album. During development, the project expanded into a full-length mixtape. Slayr stated that "Demigod" was originally intended to serve as the opening track, but after writing "Love Blur" approximately one week before release, he replaced it as the opener because he wanted a more impactful introduction.[2]
Composition
[edit]Overview
[edit]Across Half Blood and BloodLuxe, Slayr combines elements of various genres, including trap, rage, digicore, and electronic trap, by frequently blending multiple genres within individual tracks, drawing influence from video game soundtracks and internet-based music scenes.[2][3] Critics have highlighted the influence of SoundCloud-era artists such as XXXTentacion, Lil Uzi Vert, and Juice Wrld, while identifying Lil Tecca as a particularly visible stylistic reference point.[3] The production often incorporates abrupt stylistic transitions and layered arrangements. Lyrically, the projects include themes common to underground rap, such as braggadocio, relationships, and references to fame and success.[3] Mano Sundaresan of Pitchfork highlighted the track "Brain Fog" from BloodLuxe for its shifting structure, which moves through segments including 8-bit-style melodies, rage passages, and electronic-pop elements.[3] Slayr's songwriting approach is influenced by video game soundtracks, which frequently change musical intensity in response to gameplay. Slayr has cited series such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts as important influences on his music.[2] The artwork for Half Blood was inspired by the Japanese horror game series Corpse Party, reflecting Slayr's broader interest in gaming culture.[3] Both projects are described for their genre-blending production and stylistic experimentation within contemporary underground rap.[3]
Songs
[edit]Half Blood opens with "Love Blur", which incorporates melodies that become "extra syrupy", reflecting the mixtape's video game–influenced aesthetic.[3] "Demigod" was highlighted for attempting to approximate the feeling of "side-scrolling madness" through its shifting musical structure.[3] "Sloppy Joe" was highlighted for its "irresistible singalong melodies", and Yannik Gölz of laut.de compared the song to Uzi's "Do What I Want" (2016).[3][4] On "Never Go Down", Sundaresan highlighted Slayr's "full-throttle" vocal performance.[3] "Power 4" emphasizes Slayr's songwriting, with its production and melodies highlighting his ability to make the underground sound more accessible.[5] "Holding" similarly emphasizes melody, with critics pointing to its prominent singalong hook; Gölz compared the track to Uzi's "You Was Right" (2016).[3][4] "The Sky" was described as a "dramatic Auto-Tune ballad" featuring keyboard lines compared to the style associated with producer Mike Dean.[3]
The reissue, BloodLuxe, opens with "Brain Fog", which features a multi-part structure that moves through several distinct sections. Sundaresan described the track as beginning with an 8-bit-style melody before shifting into a rage rap passage and later transitioning into a pop-oriented electronic segment.[3] "Hard Knock" includes humorous lyrical references delivered over an energetic instrumental. The song features lines such as "I'm getting fried like a Krabby Patty / Hard knock life, yeah, shoutout Annie", which were highlighted by reviewers as an example of Slayr's playful writing.[4] "Flashout Freestyle" was described by Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop as exemplifying the rage style through its energetic production and confident vocal delivery. He highlighted the song's incorporation of metal guitar riffs and double-bass drumming, and interpreted the repeated lyric "fuck the repetition" as reflecting Slayr's self-awareness and artistic direction.[6] On "Toxic", Fantano identified stylistic similarities to Future alongside video game–inspired synthesizer melodies.[6] "Eyesight" was compared to the melodic style of early Trippie Redd, with Fantano citing its synthesizer-driven production while praising Slayr's vocal performance as stronger and less abrasive.[6] "Paint a Picture" was described as introducing a stronger pop sensibility that provided contrast near the end of the mixtape.[6] On "Brand New", Slayr performs "dexterous, highly processed vocal runs" that Sundaresan described as skipping and fluttering around "kangarooing" 808 bass.[3] "Racks" was described by Sundaresan as a "perfectly constructed genre" example that emphasizes tight song structure and melodic hooks.[3] "Died but Came Back" features Slayr performing alongside a Kasane Teto vocaloid voice over a heavy bassline, creating a contrast between synthetic vocals and rap delivery, which Sundaresan likened to Uzi's Pink Tape (2023).[3]
Release and promotion
[edit]Half Blood was released on November 5, 2025. The mixtape gained attention through online reaction videos and viral sharing, which contributed to a significant increase in listeners and streaming activity.[2] In early 2026, Slayr announced BloodLuxe as a follow-up project. The release arrived amid online discussion surrounding deluxe albums, with Slayr indicating that the project would function as a new mixtape rather than a deluxe edition of Half Blood.[7] BloodLuxe was released on March 6, 2026, featuring an additional appearance from Lucy Bedroque. From August 1 to September 15, 2026, Slayr is embarking on the Half Blood Tour of North America in support of the mixtape, marking his first headlining tour.[8][9]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| laut.de |   [4] |
| Pitchfork | 6.7/10[3] |
| The Needle Drop | 8/10[6] |
Half Blood and its deluxe edition, BloodLuxe, were met with generally positive reviews. Critical commentary highlighted Slayr's emphasis on technical execution, including tightly structured songs, melodic hooks, and heavily processed vocals.[3] Sundaresan of Pitchfork reviewed the deluxe edition, rating it 6.7 out of 10, stating that Slayr showcased "tight song structure, soaring hooks, and expertly rapped verses", while also suggesting that the music's focus on production technique can sometimes overshadow emotional expression.[3] He also argued that the mixtape reflected a commercially accessible take on rage rap, stating that Slayr made "maximalist, crowd-pleasing rage rap that prioritizes craft over feeling".[3] In a review for laut.de, Gölz characterized Half Blood as part of a trend toward increasingly maximalist production in contemporary hip-hop but argued that Slayr distinguishes himself through an emphasis on songwriting and structure.[4] He highlighted the mixtape's stylistic diversity and melodic writing, comparing Slayr's approach to artists such as Lil Uzi Vert, XXXTentacion, and Travis Scott.[4]
Fantano of The Needle Drop was positive in his review of Half Blood, giving the mixtape an 8 out of 10. He wrote that the mixtape sounds "refreshing" compared to the usual rage rap produced in the underground rap scene. He praised Slayr's energy, catchy vocal delivery, and improved musical range and highlighted the mixtape's difference from the generic "Opium copycat" style, as well as its crossover appeal.[6] David Crone of AllMusic praised the mixtape, describing it as inventive, genre-bending, and refined.[10] Antonio Johri of Complex included Half Blood among the best rap albums of 2026 so far, praising Slayr's pop sensibilities.[11] Similarly, Alexander Cole of HotNewHipHop ranked Half Blood 22nd on the publication's "The 25 Best Rap Albums of 2026 So Far" list, praising the mixtape's accessibility, experimentation, melodic writing, and stylistic range and describing Slayr as an artist with potential for mainstream success.[12]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love Blur" |
|
| 2:46 |
| 2. | "Demigod" |
|
| 2:47 |
| 3. | "Sloppy Joe" |
|
| 2:26 |
| 4. | "Never Go Down" |
| Waera | 2:00 |
| 5. | "Wipe Yo Nose" (with Ezcodylee) |
|
| 3:08 |
| 6. | "24/7" | McDonald | Slayr | 2:06 |
| 7. | "Phone (Interlude)" (with TJayy) |
| Slayr | 2:08 |
| 8. | "Power 4" | McDonald | Slayr | 1:40 |
| 9. | "Holding" |
|
| 2:33 |
| 10. | "Death by MP3" |
|
| 2:35 |
| 11. | "The Sky" |
|
| 3:39 |
| 12. | "Set in Stone" |
|
| 2:03 |
| Total length: | 29:58 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "If I Ever" |
| Slayr | 0:55 |
| Total length: | 30:53 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Brain Fog" |
|
| 2:25 |
| 2. | "Hard Knock" |
|
| 2:41 |
| 3. | "Flashout Freestyle" |
|
| 2:54 |
| 4. | "Daytona" (with Lucy Bedroque) |
|
| 2:44 |
| 5. | "Toxic" |
|
| 4:29 |
| 6. | "Eyesight" |
|
| 2:25 |
| 7. | "Brand New" |
|
| 1:55 |
| 8. | "Racks" |
|
| 2:38 |
| 9. | "Paint a Picture" |
|
| 2:19 |
| 10. | "Died but Came Back" |
|
| 2:18 |
| Total length: | 26:48 | |||
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]
- Slayr - vocals, producer (all tracks except "Never Go Down"), engineering, mixing, mastering.
- 808toofly - producer (11)
- Bbysizzun - producer (2)
- Break64bit - producer (2)
- Casketz - producer (2)
- Chris Marek - producer (5)
- Dani Kiyoko - producer (2)
- Doxxmade - producer (9)
- Ezcodylee - vocals (5)
- Jackwya - producer (11)
- TJayy - vocals (7)
- Waera - producer (1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Half Blood was originally self-released by Slayr before being reissued by Columbia Records in January 2026, alongside BloodLuxe that March following his signing to the label, although streaming platforms attribute the phonographic copyright solely to Slayr.[1]
- ↑ "Power 4" was removed from the streaming re-release of Half Blood due to sample clearance and was later re-released as a standalone single.
References
[edit]- ↑ "Slayr Team Roster". ROSTR. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Medithi, Vivia (March 12, 2026). "Slayr doesn't care about aura". The Fader. Archived from the original on March 14, 2026. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Sundaresan, Mano (March 18, 2026). "Slayr: Half Blood (BloodLuxe)". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 18, 2026. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gölz, Yannik (n.d.). "Es kann so einfach sein, weird zu sein!" [It can be so easy to be weird!]. laut.de (in German). Archived from the original on March 19, 2026. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
- ↑ Cole, Alexander (April 29, 2026). "Power 4 - Song by Slayr". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on April 30, 2026. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Slayr - Half Blood (BloodLuxe)". The Needle Drop. March 23, 2026. Archived from the original on March 24, 2026. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
- ↑ Corcoran, Nina (March 6, 2026). "8 New Albums You Should Listen to Now". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 6, 2026. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
- ↑ Medithi, Vivian (June 24, 2026). "Slayr announces 23-date tour this summer". The Fader. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Corcoran, Nina (July 7, 2026). "Slayr Readies New Avant Nova EP". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- ↑ Crone, David. "Slayr Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | All..." AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 16, 2026. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
- ↑ Sanfiorenzo, Dimas; Rose, Jordan; Barlas, Jon; Johri, Antonio; Nagaiah, Aani (July 7, 2026). "The Best Rap Albums of 2026 So Far". Complex. Archived from the original on July 8, 2026. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
- ↑ Cole, Alexander; Bras Nevares, Gabriel; A, Aron; Tallie, Spencer; Marie, Erika (July 1, 2026). "The 25 Best Rap Albums Of 2026 So Far". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Listen to slayr - if i ever (Bonus) on SoundCloud". SoundCloud. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Credits / Half Blood / Slayr". Tidal. March 6, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.