Joey Bada$$ has aligned the release of his debut album with his 20th birthday and the title, B4.Da.$$, seems like an attempt to neatly encapsulate the teenage years that led up to this moment. In the two-and-a-half years since the release of Joey’s breakout mixtape, 1999, the Hip Hop collective he helped jumpstart as a high-schooler has thinned out. Beginning with the heartbreaking suicide of Pro Era rapper Capital STEEZ in 2012, even more sorrow came last month when Bada$$’s cousin and manager passed last month. The tragedies dot an otherwise uninterrupted rise for the group and the recent release of a picture of Malia Obama donning a Pro Era shirt on Instagram marks an unexpectedly full-out mainstream assimilation. However, Joey claimed he didn’t know who the first-daughter was before lapping up the publicity once he figured it out.
Despite his stage name, Bada$$ is now officially a young adult and he’s imbued his latest music with a somber, “Third Eye open” sense of self-important consciousness. If 1999 brimmed with a nostalgic enthusiasm, the years since have given reason for fans to become disillusioned with its artist’s increasingly boxed in tradition. Summer Knights, a mixtape-album released in 2013, by contrast was darker and grittier but neither as promising or fulfilling as the project it followed. To his credit, Bada$$ has been a magnet for and curator of strong production and this new album is a testament to that affinity. B4.Da.$$ rolls around and settles into a dusty, boom-bap driven vibe of yesteryear. Then again, the major issue is that the album harks back more than it pushes forward, and Bada$$ now faces his toughest hurdle in moving past his own best reference to the nineties. Like many third-wave Hip Hop traditionalists, Joey and his not-so-aptly named Progressive Era crew find their idea of perfection in classics that were released around the time he was born.
“This kid ain’t been the same since Biggie smacked me at my christening,” he raps on a top-tier and noticeably-nimble (for 2015) DJ Premier cut “”Paper Trail$.” A few songs later, he adds, “I got the blueprint to this shit, Jay to the Oh Vee;” and then, tributing his fallen friend, “I know he with Big Poppa / 2 Pacs, and the big L rolled proper / And that’s a big pun.” Joey Bada$$ himself sounds most like an Enta Da Stage-era Buckshot though, and there’s an irony apparently lost on him when he delivers lines like, “Some niggas bitin’ flows, yo, that’s burglary,” or puffing out his chest over the same repurposed-by-The Roots Dilla beat, “One of the last original emcees that’s left standing on the planet.” That song, “Like Me,” is actually one of the strongest on the album, providing further proof that Joey’s most captivating quality belongs to his husky baritone and ability to capture an essence: assured but laid-back, cocky but cool. The lyrics themselves never delve as deep as they purport to though: “My mind boggles when time toggles / In the ocean of stars it’s hard to find goggles.” Expanding on his years of quiet consistency, BJ The Chicago Kid offers yet another fitting vocal feature here, this time repurposing a melodic line he used first on a sultry track for Cali rapper Thurz almost three years ago.
“Escape 120” is the most otherly ambitious offering and yet manages to still belong. Chuck Strangers, who applauded his own work on the song in a recent interview with DX, builds up a fast but gloomy track propelled by a collage of running bass and sharply ambient sounds. The song, featuring Joey’s fellow Hip Hop wunderkind Raury, is rooted in jungle and hints at potential beyond boom-bap for the Brooklyn emcee down the line. “No. 99” is likely the record’s quintessential cut and its opening thumping bass and ensuing shoutiness sounds like an attempt at a dirtier and more menacing version of A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario.” On “Curry Chicken,” the most outrightly soulful number here, Bada$$ endearingly positions himself as an on-the-rise youngster inspired by and missing his mother’s home-cooking. That track is one of the few instances on the record were finds Joey opening up so personally. Here, intimacy suits him, the beat, and its placement at the end of the album.
As a whole, there’s very little that’s progressive about B4.Da.$$ but it’s a distinguished retread and the most polished project the young emcee has put out to date. In that way, it delivers on his ultimate promise. The real questions remain: what’s next? What else? Joey Bada$$ has proven entirely capable of keeping up tradition, his next accomplishment might be breaking it all down.
5 Stars. These reviews all skip over the best cuts from the album. The last 8 tracks are flawless. Please listen to the whole thing thru before passing judgement.
Hazues View, O.C.B., Belly Of The Beast, Run Up On Ya, Black Beetles
WOW. A debut for the ages. As good as Good Kid, College Dropout, Ready to Die, Illmatic, etc.
Joey’s so unique it takes a few spins to let what you are hearing sink in. I agree w the previous comment that the homestrech of the album is where he really shines.
you must be a stan..cause it’s definetly not a classic now & will never be a classic. y’all slobbin’ hard man. it’s a good album, but damn. illmatic & ready to die status foh. they were basically established flawless when they 1st came out
Shakey first half, but the last half is perfect. Best since GKMC. This kid is gonna be huge!
The hate is strong with this review…like Phonte said, “why they won’t just let the music just be what it is?/ If ya’ll feelin’ this, ya’ll ain’t gotta analyze it, this shit is dope and we ain’t changin’ up…”.
Here’s a penny for your thoughts another one another one
Eventually the dream was bought
Now that’s a real, real, real mind fuck
Might fuck up your mind if you’re lighting up
Make sure the take is tight enough, if you tough
Imma titan, like Zeus I enlighten them
Kick flows, till it’s kung-fu fighting them
Is it him, it is you who was nice as him?
I don’t see nobody no, no
I don’t see nobody no, no
Big Dusty is the video embedded in this review, and it’s about the 10th or 11th best track from the album. Do yourself a favor and actually cop this one.
The last nine or so tracks on the album, from Christ Conscious on (minus teach me), make up the best second half of a rap alum you will hear this decade.
Nobody said it yet?!?!? OCB is the best track. Come on people. The Only Child Blues OCB OCB, now im a rap star OMG OMG!! This reminds me of kendrick releasing section 80. You just know Joey will blow up world wide on the next one.
Not one mention of Hazeus View? DX is slippin
Loved 1999. Hated his new flow on Big Dusty, but I have warmed up to it after listening to this. I feel like I discovered the kid all over again. Clearly the class of Pro Era
Best rapper coming out of New York right now facts.
Not a fact. And you don’t know NYC very well, this ain’t Toronto. Joey is dope, but I can name 10 off the dome out of NYC better than Joey. Let him get started before you shower him with accolades he hasn’t earned yet.
This nigga has skillz but sounds like its 1994 but its 2015!
Everybody says that but… when i hear people like Joey that sound Old school, really sounds like New old school? You know. Best way i could explain. Still dope
so they want him to become mainstream?
imagine this nigga rapping over el-p beats
would be goat
Didn’t understand the 1999 hype but this is pretty dope
This dude is so cheesy and his rhymes are abc. If he was around in the 90’s, he would be the equivalent of Pras from The Fugees. But I guess hiphop is so bad right now, even Pras is considered dope. I’m not impressed
HHDX Trippin. 5/5 atleast or more. Else you trippin.
It’s ironic Joey was born the same year of 95′, which many believe is the best year of Hip-Hop. There’s a reason why he’s blessed with that nostalgic flow from early-mid 90’s. Maybe if I wasn’t an 80’s baby I wouldn’t like em, fortunately I am an 80’s baby lol…five stars EASY.
Sounds like Joey traveled back, created an album in his birth year and then brought it back and released it in 2015. Year just started and we got an easy 5.
Shame on you HHDX.its disrespectful to an artist if you review their album before it is officially released. Crazy album i give the album 4.5 stars. my Best track is Run Up On Ya
Lots of publications and sites get albums before hand to review, not to mention they leak a week or so early anyways. Quit complaining.
Joey Badass, Kendrick lamar, BIG K.R.I.T .. The holy trinity of hip hop right now
creme de la creme
Contains Joey’s best verses
Amazing. 5 stars. Best rap album since kendricks. If jay electronica drops his masterpiece and kendricks 2nd isn’t a letdown this might be the best year for rap since 96. Earl, asap, the ghostface doom colab too.
5 stars
why don’t i just listen to buckshot instead of this lame knockoff?
i don’t think they are that similar, … probably his music are influenced by 90s. joey gotta his own style
because Buckshot hasn’t been this good in a long time?
great review!
goat
Absolute fireee through start to end. #RIPSTEELO
Dope debut!
It’s i-ight for his first go around. Gotta give him time to find that sound that fits.
One of the best rappers ive listen to in a long time, now a days all rappers rap about is Weed,Money and Pussy. Good to see a young ass nigga fuck 90% of these trash rappers up
Like Wiz Khalifa. I bought 2 of his album to try to see what the hype is all about. If you find it let me know.
FUCK CANT WAIT HURRY UPPPPP
Real Hip-Hop
heaven
Amazing debut.
Joey Bada$$ debut album I had to buy this & support one of my favorite artist of this generation B4.DA.$$ modern day classic
amazing project
dope
Cla$$ic
“the years since have given reason for fans to become disillusioned with its artist’s increasingly boxed in tradition”, sorry but that’s BS. His fans are fans of REAL Hip-Hop and tight flows over real samples are all we ever wanted. That 90s sound with new flows and new concepts is exactly what we want, and if he wants to grow and change and do other stuff that’s fine but none of his real fans want him to stray away from that 90s sound as far as beat selection is concerned cos that’s real Hip-Hop and that’s why we’re his fans.
His lyrical content is already different from the 90s because he’s on the Indigo generation, christ consciousness, third eye and 7 chakra progressive subject matter but maybe that’s still over the heads of some. But the masses are catching up.
So no, we’re not bored of the 90s sound, we never wil be. Yes, I would love to hear Joey expand, maybe rhyme over grime, jungle, even a trap beat maybe. But I want an album of mainly real Hip-Hop with conscious lyrics and that’s exactly what he gave us.
If you want to hear turn-up music, superficial lyrics and digital beats there are other places to go – it’s all over the mainstream radio for the pat ten years and real Hip-Hop fans are sick of it.
Joey, change if and when you feel like it, but don’t change because critics don’t know real Hip-Hop when they hear it and don’t listen to the lyrics enough to realise why the Progressive Era is progressive.
disagree with the first 2-3 pararaphs of the review. Why does a progressive era have to be forward and radically new? The crew is in a progressive era, even if it is about reinstalling the golden era. Nothing wrong with building a foundation with what the legends have done and building upon it with new sounds, themes, flows and characteristics. IDK what these niggas are expecting in hip-hop. Beast coast is a revival of what was once so great, but in its own way. Like digging up an old artifact and refurbishing it with tweaks and changes, but the same foundation.
DX you reviews are getting weaker by the album, this only for 4 stars whatcha do just listen to the snippets.
(((Despite his stage name, Bada$$ is now officially a young adult))) what’s the point in that so called statement, okay okay all rappers remove lil & young from your names if your not short or young
I’m now a fan
In my opinion this album is a legitimate new CLASSIC
Theres no doubt that Joey Badass is a very talented mc. The problem with albums these days, however, is that they don’t have many great SONGS. I know that I can go down to the city and find 1,000 guys that can spit, but you need great production/hooks to round at a great song. Thats what hip hop missing. Mo Money Mo Problems is one of the best songs ever, with replay value at any and every event, and it wasn’t some lyrical masterpiece was it? You need to make great songs to make a classic album. This album has a great rapper but not many songs that stand out
As the Matrix of fakeness is collapsing.. the reviews are getting weaker and weaker. Let’s see what you guys have to say about Tetsuo & Youth.
b4da$
Why does Joey’s choice of beats have to be considered 90s? They are beats made now. A beat has to have a certain sound to be current? It’s stupid. He’s comparable to 90s rappers because that’s the style he likes. But its more because he likes to rap like that and likes his songs to sound like that. Doesn’t hurt him at all. Why does he have to rap to trap beats to be liked or respected or be “current.” He’s making music, it’s good, people like it. That’s enough.
What’s with the writer’s obsession with pop music? Every other mention is how Joey nods to his roots, but you keep wondering when he’s going to “Move forward” and how he’s not really “Progressive”. You sound like you want him on a Minaj or Drake track, no thank you. Just enjoy the Hip-Hop the way it was meant to be heard.
SWEG
This guy’s opinion should not be on a website waste of my time. Great album
This album is a 4.8/5.0 for me. Excellent! I will b copping this album, for sure. Support REAL hip-hop!
Wow… this review was cringe worthy. Not because I disagree with him, he gave the album a high review. But, Jay (author) seemed dead set on invalidating his opinion at every turn. Like he was struggling to say “Joey is good, but I rather listen to Drake.”
“Cause he’s still livin’ in the past tense, how sh*t was back then”
This kid’s got it.
This reviwer is wack, the new wave is here and beast coast gonna be eating wack rappers. This is the most relevant current Hiphop
This review is soooo off point, Joey is shattering the limits and is way beyond being stuck in tradition, I hate the last part of the review most. Have you even listened to his lyrics? You should be fired
bruh this shit was wack cuzzz and not wack good wak shit nigga geh real my nigga 4 realz
another amazing album from Joey
this reviewer is garbage, obviously some kid from Brussels who equates crappy electronica with “the new hiphop”. Hey dickface, real drums and dusty loops ARE hiphop.
No he ain’t from the enta da stage era. He is an artist that is real hip hop. This ain’t pop rap. Go and review drake or Kanye for that wackness.
New York has finally got a new rapper to represent.
Yeah this review sucks. This album was amazing front to back. Joey don’t need to try to be like all these other new rappers out, most of them suck. Let him do his thing.
It’s fire man, Joey goes hard!
BOMBBB
R.I.P Dilla
NYC STAND UP
I don’t get what progress they want from Joey. he sounds too 90’s, I guess, so he adapt with the times and rap to trap beats like everybody else and they mama does? how is that progressive? music and other forms of media entertainment always eventually have to go back, because they’ve all reached their respective peaks years ago, and there’s really nothing new under the sun.
Thank! You! Someone gets it.
Progress into making some of the lyrics stick. Sounds like he just rambles and jump topics with his best imitation of the 90s
From an amazing jazz rap artist he became an average boom bap head.
Shame.
3/5
Ayo, this reviewer crazy. The boy can spit, he legit, and he ain’t gonna quit. If you want that new sound why dont you go listen to souljaboy or drake or sum other shemale rapper whats so popular these days? This kid respects his elders, sumthing most of the new cats dont do. He from NY, the only city that matters as far as hiphop is concerned. And hes honoring that fact. You see Drake got a song called wu tang forever, but my boy rae would take a hippo sized dump on that song. Hell, even ugod can squeeze out a turd that sounds better than drake. joey got the streets and you dont. foh
I just got this album and its amazing!!!! Pro Era 4 Life!!! Proud of you Joey!
The score is a 4 but it reads like a 2.5 or 3 at most. Should Joey rap exclusively to trap beats and flow like Migos or grab the same sounding DJ Mustard beat in order to make you happy? Why is it that the East Coast boom bap sound always gets a bad rap nowadays? (No pun intended.) I think the sound is refreshing and is needed in today’s climate. It actually makes Joey stand out more than most of these other new rappers if you think about it. Great debut, Joey did his thing.
Fire
This is a shit review
hvv
ILLL
I am in love with this album!
FULLY SUPPORT JOEY BADA$$, continue the great work.
This reviewer probably listens to Lil B
Pretty solid album.I’m counting on Joey to save hip hop
Great
decent debut album
Woww, that was a terrible read .. Amazing album.
Shocking read, sick album, DX is fallin’ offfff
Amazing, yall niggas break down the music too much it should come down to if the albums good or not, Abd this was a great album
Good beats, dope lyrics….GREAT album!
This album is just dope. gotta give it 5 stars because it is pure quality, no filler.
It’s kind of easy to predict the scores in hddx review:
-underground artists respected by the media and fans will always get 3.5 if the album sucks, 4 if the album is decent, 4.5 if it’s good but never 5
-mainstream artists will always get 3.5 stars even if the album sucks big time, 4 if it’s good pop music and 4.5 if it’s just good
Agree with u completely.
Nice
Really amazing album tbh. True to Hip Hop feel
I swear this is one huge ode to 90s hiphop. At one point I thought I was going to hear verses from Buckshot or other members of the Boot Camp Click. Glad Joey’s around, and glad he’s a hip hop head.
Beautiful Music.
He’s gotten better, but there’s plenty of better throwback rap out there. The production is on snooze for most of the songs.
Idk wtf yall are on talking about he’s boxed himself in by keeping true to the hip hop tradition..I guess that’s what happens when your ear gets saturated with bullshit for too long.
Anyway,this album was amazing from start to finish.The smoothness makes it easily worth 5 stars.
the shit is dope…. there’s no over way around it. Great fuckin album
I prefer 1999 over this. The beats get a bit repetitive and nothing too memorable.
Great album, Joey still isn’t in his prime yet.
anyone else having trouble posting their own comment?
It wont let me comment if I try to submit my rating also. Kinda dumb.
fireeeee
great album!!!
Great lyricism and good production.
Dope
Cool album expected a bit more but def worth a listen.
CASH RUINED EVERYTHING AROUND ME, CASH RUINED EVERYTHING AROUND ME!
ITS THE DOLLA DOLLA BILL ITS THE DOLLA BILLS THAT KILL YALL
not bad. Not bad
at least this dude brings back that dope 90’s golden new york sound, we dont need a bunch of rae sremmurds. how many other 20 y/o rappers sound like Joey? maybe Bishop Neru? keep that boom bap golden shit alive youngins
1/5 stars
GO BUY HIS ALBUM AND SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE SHITTT!! IVE BEEN BREAKING NECK ALL DAY GOT MY NECK HURTING! LOL 5 STARS
ehh…it’s a pretty forgettable album.
a good album but didnt embress me at all
Mother fucker need to go listen to fa rap critic. gtfoh. You talk about it while he lives it
Save the children
a good album but i expected moore from joey
Solid but underwhelming with a sleepy feel. 3.5/5
Fantastic. stars
I give it a solid 4/5. Good album. Looking forward to see what he does next
I dont get what the style of beats he uses or his flow/sound has to do with your judgement on the albums quality? A good album is a good album even if it doesnt sound like every other song thats coming out today. People can make any type of music they want. Isnt the content more important than your personal preference?
album definitely deserves a few solid listens before being spoke on. Tracks semi-unfamiliar to his vibe grow on you quickly.
cosign took me a few spins now I fucks with it heavy
Album was dope to me. Got that classic hip-hop feel that I love. Great work. Refreshing to hear that sound over the garbage format everybody else seems to copycat.
Overrated album & movement. Like an east coast Odd Future thing that attracts hipsters.
I’m just here so I don’t get fined
congrats to joey great project from the yung boy.
It starts off solid with some 90s throw back & then it turns on the snooze button.
classic album
Dope as fuck
not impressed with this dude or this album…. This dude aint nothing but a kid trying to emulate what he thinks the 90s was like….GTFOH
People been brainwashed yo. Joey is keepin it real. He not tryna do this for chart topping.
Halfway through the album now and this sounds nothing like a dissapointment to me.
Unless the next half sucks I don’t get that “bad” Review, What do people want him to do?
Start makin pop Music to get a better Review?
This album is breath of fresh air, gives you that feeling Hip Hop did back in its golden era.
incredible! this is his ‘Illmatic’, I can’t wait to see what’s next.
damn even that track embedded here that most the comments say isnt very good was actually pretty nice, might have to check out the whole album
album is pretty decent, dude is one of the better new rappers out there
5/5
It’s straight. This kid is dope. He’s going to beast for the east eventually. Album overall was average for me. 2.6/5