The Bapti$$ Unveils Debut LP "Pop Cult(Ure)" with Fierce and Unflinching Vision

LISTEN TO POP CULT(URE) HERE

Haida Gwaii based artist The Bapti$$, also known as Joseph LaPlante, announces his debut LP, Pop Cult(Ure), a bold and uncompromising project that strips away the façades of the music industry while digging deep into questions of authenticity, morality, and survival. The seven track album is a declaration of independence, marking a new chapter in LaPlante’s career following years of success in hip hop under the name Joey Stylez.

Created in collaboration with Saskatchewan producer Matt Stinn, Pop Cult(Ure) blends 808 driven indie pop, acoustic textures, alt pop hooks, and hip hop grit. The album is a cleansing and a reckoning, showcasing LaPlante’s uncompromising vision and personal journey. Its sound is both raw and polished, combining piercing lyricism with layered production and melodic sophistication.

“I wanted to do something real,” The Bapti$$ explains. “There are very few artists out there who are their authentic self. This project isn’t about chasing trends or selling out to fit into a machine that lacks morals. God made me into a man who wins, or loses, my way.” The title track and lead single, "Pop Cult(Ure)," lays out this mission statement. Written from years of observing how the industry distorts people’s characters and compromises integrity, the song fuses sharp lyricism with haunting melodies and atmospheric production.

“The music industry is a small group of puppet masters who all pat one another’s backs and give each other tummy rubs,” The Bapti$$ continues. “I’m cool on all that. I am a man with principles. Even in my past life, when I was active in a dark world that very few escape, I never lost track of who I truly am.” The track’s stripped back arrangement and mantra like lyrics make it feel like both a confession and a battle cry, reflecting LaPlante’s commitment to personal and spiritual truth.

“I lost track of how many crosses I’ve inked on my skin,” he adds. “Now with Christ my saviour leading the way, like a sword of fire and shield of lightning, I feel like I can take on the whole world myself.” Other highlights on Pop Cult(Ure) reveal the breadth of the album. “My Father’s Sins” wrestles with the weight of intergenerational curses, “Crosses” sees The Bapti$$ reflecting on his parents’ youth and offering comfort, while “Icebergs” and “Wear and Tear” deliver love ballads dedicated to his wife, artist Carsen Gray.

Despite the weight of spiritual themes and personal introspection, the album balances defiance with warmth. “Even though we can be serious and fight unseen battles, there still needs to be time for play and love,” The Bapti$$ notes. This balance underscores the album’s humanity, making it as relatable as it is uncompromising.

LaPlante brings a deep well of experience to this debut. As Joey Stylez, he shared stages with Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Billy Ray Cyrus, collaborated with Ty Dolla $ign and Dragonette, and inspired artists including The Weeknd. His music has appeared in Yellowstone, Reservation Dogs, Wind River, and more. With The Bapti$$, he channels those years of survival and artistic success into a project rooted in faith, integrity, and raw self expression.

“Pop Cult(Ure)” is not bubblegum music or a trend driven grab for attention. It is a body of work with moral backbone, a call to those navigating their own battles, seen and unseen. “I make the money, money don’t make me,” The Bapti$$ explains. “If I wear Louis or Gucci, it’s not popping because it’s designer. The clothing is popping because it’s on me.”

Pop Cult(Ure) introduces listeners to The Bapti$$’s new artistic identity, blending bold musicality with a philosophical and spiritual lens. Its seven tracks form a cohesive statement about staying true to oneself, confronting challenges, and celebrating personal victories in the face of pressure and expectation.

The Bapti$$’s debut LP is available now across streaming platforms, inviting audiences to experience a work of music that is as fearless as it is heartfelt.