| Half Blood | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixtape by | ||||
| Released | November 5, 2025 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
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| Label | Self-released | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Slayr chronology | ||||
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| Singles from 7rucify/sandbox3 | ||||
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| BloodLuxe cover | ||||
Half Blood is the seventh mixtape by the American rapper Slayr. It was self-released on November 5, 2025. The mixtape was produced by several producers including Slayr himself and features guest appearances from Ezcodylee and Tjayy. The mixtape blends elements of trap, rage, digicore, and electronic music, drawing influence from video game soundtracks and internet-based music scenes.[1][2] It marked a significant rise in the artist's profile following viral online attention and increased streaming numbers.[1] A follow-up project, BloodLuxe, was released on March 6, 2026. The ten-track mixtape was presented as a separate project rather than a deluxe edition of Half Blood and includes a guest appearance from experimental musician Lucy Bedroque.[3] Both projects are described for their genre-blending production and stylistic experimentation within contemporary underground rap.[2]
Background and release
editSlayr grew up in North Philadelphia before later moving to suburban areas. During his adolescence he spent significant time online, where he learned music production through internet communities and communication platforms such as Discord.[1] Before releasing Half Blood, Slayr had released several projects connected to a mythology-themed series, including Chaos [B4 Gaia], Gaia, and Gaia 2.[2] His interest in Greek mythology developed through media such as the Percy Jackson book series and video games including God of War.[2] Half Blood was initially planned as a shorter project titled Gaia 2.5, intended as an interim release before a future album. During its development, the project expanded into a full-length mixtape.[1]
Half Blood was released on November 5, 2025. The project gained attention through online reaction videos and viral sharing, which contributed to a significant increase in listeners and streaming activity.[1] 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.[3]
Composition and themes
editAcross Half Blood and BloodLuxe, Slayr's music combines elements of trap, rage, digicore, and electronic trap, frequently blending multiple genres within individual tracks.[1][2] 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.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2] Slayr's songwriting approach is influenced by video game soundtracks, which frequently change musical intensity in response to gameplay. The artist has cited series such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts as important influences on his music.[1]
The deluxe edition opens with "Brain Fog", which features a multi-part structure that moves through several distinct sections. Sundaresan described the track as beginning with "8-bit snow globe music" before shifting into a rage rap passage and later transitioning into a pop-oriented electronic segment.[2] "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] On "Brand New", Slayr performs "dexterous, highly processed vocal runs" that Sundaresan described as skipping and fluttering around "kangarooing" 808 bass.[2] "Racks" was described by Sundaresan as a "perfectly constructed genre" example that emphasizes tight song structure and melodic hooks.[2] "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.[2] The original Half Blood tracklist begins with "Love Blur", which incorporates melodies that become "extra syrupy", reflecting the project's video game–influenced aesthetic.[2] "Demigod" was highlighted for attempting to approximate the feeling of "side-scrolling madness" through its shifting musical structure.[2] "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).[2][4] On "Never Go Down", Sundaresan highlighted Slayr's "full-throttle" vocal performance.[2] "Holding" similarly emphasizes melody, with critics pointing to its prominent singalong hook; Gölz compared the track to Uzi's "You Was Right" (2016).[2][4] "The Sky" was described as a "dramatic Auto-Tune ballad" featuring keyboard lines compared to the style associated with producer Mike Dean.[2]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| laut.de |   [4] |
| Pitchfork | 6.7/10[2] |
Critical commentary highlighted Slayr's emphasis on technical execution, including tightly structured songs, melodic hooks, and heavily processed vocals.[2] Sundaresan of Pitchfork described his work as prioritizing "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.[2] At the same time, critics acknowledged the ambition of the projects and their willingness to experiment with multiple genres and sonic textures within the underground rap scene.[2] In a review for laut.de, Gölz characterized Half Blood as part of a broader trend in contemporary hip-hop in which artists compete through increasingly maximalist production styles, often prioritizing intensity and sonic impact over restraint.[4] He argued that Slayr distinguishes himself within this environment by emphasizing songwriting and structure rather than relying on gimmick-driven approaches commonly associated with rage and Carti-influenced styles. Gölz wrote that tracks such as "Brain Fog" demonstrate a multi-phase composition style, shifting between melodic and electronically driven sections in a way that builds momentum and variation.[4] He further highlighted the project's stylistic diversity and consistent use of strong melodic ideas, noting that Slayr's approach aligns more closely with artists such as Lil Uzi Vert, XXXTentacion, and Travis Scott than with more fragmented, loop-based contemporaries.[4]
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" |
|
| 2:00 |
| 5. | "Wipe Yo Nose" (with Ezcodylee) |
|
| 3:08 |
| 6. | "24/7" |
|
| 2:06 |
| 7. | "Phone (Interlude)" (with TJayy) |
|
| 2:08 |
| 8. | "Power 4" |
|
| 1:40 |
| 9. | "Holding" |
|
| 2:33 |
| 10. | "Death by MP3" |
|
| 2:35 |
| 11. | "The Sky" |
|
| 3:39 |
| 12. | "Set in Stone" |
|
| 2:03 |
| 13. | "If I Ever (Bonus)" |
|
| 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 | |||
Notes
edit- "Power 4" was removed from the streaming service re-release due to sample clearence.
- "If I Ever (Bonus)" was exclusively released on SoundCloud.
Sample credits
edit- "Love Blur" contains samples from "純恋愛のインゴット (Pure Love Ingot)", written and performed by Tuki.
- "Phone (Interlude)" contains samples from "Homeswitcher", written and performed by Jane Remover and Kmoe.
- "Power 4" contains samples from "What I Believe", written and performed by John and Korey Cooper.
- "If I Ever Was (Bonus)" is a remix of the song "If I Ever Fall in Love", performed by Shai.
- The chorus of "Hard Knock" contains interpolations from the chorus of "On That Time", written by F1lthy and Ojivolta, as performed by Playboi Carti.
- "Paint a Picture" contains samples from "Places", written and performed by Micheal Huang as the soundtrack for the series Battle for Dream Island.
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Label(s) | Format(s) | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | November 5, 2025 | Half Blood | ||
| January 20, 2026 | Half Blood streaming servivce re-release | |||
| March 6, 2026 | BloodLuxe |
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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 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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gölz, Yannik (n.d.). "Es kann so einfach sein, weird zu sein!" [It can be so easy to be weird!]. laut.de (in German). Retrieved April 11, 2026.