Rest in Bass
| Rest in Bass | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 18, 2025 | |||
| Recorded | 2024–2025 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:24 | |||
| Label | 10K Projects | |||
| Producer |
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| Che chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Original Spotify cover | ||||
| Singles from Rest in Bass | ||||
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Rest in Bass is the second studio album by American rapper Che, released on July 18, 2025, through 10K Projects.[1] The album is a successor to his 2024 debut project Sayso Says and features a darker, grimmer musical aesthetic with heavy emphasis on distorted basslines and industrial synths. The album is hosted by DJ Rennessy and features guest appearances from OsamaSon, Xaviersobased and Chuckyy.
Rest in Bass marks a stylistic evolution for Che, fusing Southern rap, industrial noise, and experimental trap.
Background
Following the success of his 2024 debut Sayso Says, Che began teasing Rest in Bass in early 2025 through snippets on SoundCloud and social media. On July 15, 2025, he officially announced the release date of the project alongside the release of the lead single, "Hellraiser" featuring OsamaSon, with an accompanying music video.[2][3]
Release, promotion, marketing
Leading up to the release, Che teased various songs including "KISS" with CXO, "Pose for the Pic", "Love (MKB)", and "Green Day". A surprise pop-up listening event in Los Angeles—sponsored by Ksubi—was shut down by authorities just before midnight, adding to the underground buzz around the album.
The album also gained traction through platforms like TikTok and SoundCloud, where early leaks and fan speculation generated anticipation. A SoundCloud teaser reel uploaded in February 2025 hinted at the distorted sonic direction and several collaborations.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Needle Drop | 7/10 |
| Pitchfork | 8.3/10 |
Rest in Bass was widely praised by music critics, with praise for high-energy production, fuzzy sound, and innovative use of mixtape structure. Criticism fell in favor of its dedication to the lo-fi, rage-fueled sound and condemnation of its emotional depth and stylistic innovation. The album was heavily compared to the likes of Playboi Carti's Whole Lotta Red.
Pitchfork gave the album 8.3 out of 10 and rated it as Best New Music. Reviewer Rae-Aila Crumble described how Che "pushes his voice to extremes," and called the album "the platonic ideal of rage rap." She complimented production on the album for chaotic layering of redlined 808s, digital grittiness, and punk textures, and cited tracks such as "Doe Deer," "Dior Leopard," and "Mannequin" as highlights. Crumble further pointed out the dichotomy between Che's tough delivery and softer lyrics, particularly in the instance of "Dior Leopard," where Che reflects on drug use and dysfunctional family ties. The review ended by deeming Rest in Bass "purveys raw catharsis with both restraint and anarchy," as one of the most powerful underground releases of 2025.[4]
The Needle Drop's Anthony Fantano awarded the album a light 7, saying it was "one of the most fully realized rage projects in recent memory." He referenced the frantic energy and blown-out sound design of the album as he praised Xaviersobased and Chuckyy features for introducing contrast and energy. Fantano did berate the album for repetition in texture and disjointed sequencing, but then praised Che for possessing "rockstar-level energy" and trying stuff within a very oversaturated subgenre.[5]
Bryson Paul of HotNewHipHop described the album as "Che's most audacious work yet."[6] Elaina Bernstein of Hypebeast called the album the "epitome of rage-rap in the post-SoundCloud era."[7]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Chase Mitchell. "Hellraiser" written with Amari Middleton, "Mannequin" written with Xavier Lopez, "Never Too Young to Die" written with Charles Davis.
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Slam Punk" | Rok | 1:42 |
| 2. | "Rolling Stone" | Azure | 2:33 |
| 3. | "On Fleek" | CXO | 1:53 |
| 4. | "Lip Filler" | Rok | 2:02 |
| 5. | "Hood Famous" | Rok | 3:26 |
| 6. | "BossUpppp" |
| 2:56 |
| 7. | "Marceline" | Rok | 2:00 |
| 8. | "Die Young" | Gyro | 2:08 |
| 9. | "Hellraiser" (with OsamaSon) | CXO | 3:02 |
| 10. | "Dior Leopard" | Azure | 4:29 |
| 11. | "Mannequin" (with Xaviersobased) | CXO | 2:03 |
| 12. | "Black Swan" |
| 4:17 |
| 13. | "MDMA" | Warren Hunter | 2:42 |
| 14. | "Never Too Young to Die" (with Chuckyy) |
| 3:15 |
| 15. | "Eardrummer" |
| 3:18 |
| 16. | "Doe Deer" |
| 1:54 |
| 17. | "Stagedivin" | Azure | 2:04 |
| 18. | "Bass" | CXO | 2:33 |
| Total length: | 48:24 | ||
Sample credits
- "Bass", produced by CXO, contains a sample of "Lemon Glow", written by Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand, and performed by Beach House.
Notes
- All tracks are stylized in all caps.
- "Bass" is stylized as "BA$$".
References
- ^ REST IN BASS by Che on Apple Music, 2025-07-18, retrieved 2025-07-18
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (2025-07-15). "Che Confirms Rest in Bass Release Date, Taps OsamaSon for New Song and Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ Medithi, Vivian (July 3, 2025). "Che's ready to wake the dead". The Fader. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ^ Crumble, Rae-Aila. "Che: REST IN BASS". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ^ "Che - REST IN BASS". The Needle Drop. 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ^ Paul, Bryson "Boom" (2025-03-24). "Che Shows Is The Future Of The ATL Sound In Genre-Bending Album, "Rest in Bass"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ^ Bernstein, Elaina (2025-07-21). "Che Revels in the Rockstar Life on 'REST IN BASS'". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2025-07-29.