Pepper FM

Pepper FM is the fourth SoundCloud EP recorded and produced by KrabbyLama, which was released on November 23, 2021. Labeled constantly by Layne as "one of the most lyrically and musically distinctive projects to ever grace the platform," this EP is the very first to contain a chronical-structured theme. It pays homage to an underground hip-hop radio station with a cryptic-like twist entangled throughout. The radio-show targets present-day issues prevalent within society, including media brainwashing, innuendos of a corrupted world, generational misguidance, drug abuse, depression, etc. Several of Layne's fellow content creator friends made special appearances on this EP, including Tanner Link portraying the role of the EP's titular lead disc jockey, Dr. Charles Pepper. Connor Chase (Goldbroski) contributes to three separate songs on this EP. Those songs being the second single 'All These Stiches', a hypnotic tune called 'Insanity', and 'Tommy Gun Ballad', which also features his brother Tyler Chase (Vapor) during a funky vocal sample ("Delightfully Devilish").

Backstory
After Layne released the semi-rushed EP, Headin' Str8 2 Mars, and having it receive miniscule reception compared to his last two EP's, Layne firmly decided to put any music-related material "on hold" as he was in the starting process of developing his new plush-series, Yoshinator, and wrapping up a longtime mini-film series, Forward to the Past. Sometime during the month of June, Layne was playing an old NES game with Connor titled 'War Wolf' and it sparked an old idea Layne had for the third EP, where he sampled the first boss level theme of the game, but scraped it due to having little to no faith in the concept. Upon revisiting this game with Connor, Layne sprang back to the drawing board and worked out a new take on the rejected song. This song would eventually be known as 'Master of Destructive Rapture', releasing as a single on July 16, 2021.

After concluding production on the second season of Yoshinator, Layne had an urge to write another ballad similar to his first ever ballad, 'Before All Hope Departs.' This would later be known as 'Pigeons', the first ever KrabbyLama single to reach a stunning 3-minute mark. Releasing this single on September 3, 2021, and having it receive impressive feedback, Layne knew it would be appropriate to pull out another EP before the new year.

Layne suddenly had a vision for this next EP to follow a radio-esque structure, alluding to Casey Kasem's AT40 as inspiration. 'Insanity' would be the first major track that Layne would write and compose for this newer approach, but it went through the most changes as Layne thought it would be amusing to sprinkle a dose of "cryptic" vibes throughout the EP. '$20 Chronic' and 'Be a Pepper' would be the last two tracks Layne finalized, providing a more comical-tone.

Facts
- A cover of 'Oh Shelia' was considered, but Layne dropped it last minute in favor of '$20 Chronic.'

- On 'Insanity' at the 1:03 mark, Connor is reading the back label of a Electronic Compressed-Gas Duster. Layne knew this would be a strange, but fitting touch to the track, so he had Connor read it in one take.

- When coming up with the zany voice of Dr. Charles Pepper, Layne told Tanner to mimic an off-brand Wolfman Jack.

- Numerous comedic samples were used more than usual, including a few bits from George Carlin's stand-up acts on 'Pigeons', Snoop Dogg on '$20 Chronic', voice-clips from Toy Story on 'Be a Pepper', Spider-Man 3 on 'Tommy Gun Ballad' etc.

- For the entirety of this EP, Layne produced every beat pattern from scratch. The website he used is called Sampulator.


 * Gunshots and other sound gimmicks that are heard were also pulled from the website.

- Layne admittedly spent the most amount of time on this EP than any other one he's ever done (5 months) because he wanted to make sure that everything sounded

"perfect."

- An unnamed composition was produced with Dylan (FearMusic) in mind to collaborate on it. He was reportedly half-way done with his recording, but got caught up with his personal life and planning for College, so the song was scrapped. It's unclear if Layne will leave it for the fifth EP or not.

- The main radio-show slogan, "Be a Pepper", is solely taken from the old Dr. Pepper beverage jingle featuring David Naughton.

- Lyric inspiration for 'Cloaks of Conspiracy' derive from Layne's media teacher, as he recited a poem to the class that contained the phrase and lines, "people will see only what they want to see."

- In the music video for 'All These Stiches' (released October 29, 2021), Layne (KrabbyLama) is shot by an envious/depressed gunman (Connor/Goldbroski). On the EP, Layne had everything contrast into a three-act bit.


 * 'All These Stiches' = The character gets shot towards the end by a gunman.
 * '$20 Chronic' = Dream sequence directly from the mind of the character that was shot.
 * 'Insanity' = Conclusion of bit with the character dying in the hospital surrounded by confused nurses.

- On the EP cover art, Layne initially had Dr. Pepper's ear bleed out gushes of blood (full picture above), but it would soon be cropped out.

- 'Tommy Gun's Brutes' was the original title that would eventually be switched to "ballad."