Joey Bada$$ – Summer Knights (Mixtape Review) DX Consensus: “Free Album” (the highest possible praise for a mixtape)
In March, XXL magazine released their annual Freshman Class, recognizing the hottest new artists in Hip Hop. One emcee on the list was Joey Bada$$ out of Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. A fast-rising “Beast Coast” star, he dropped his debut mixtape 1999 in June 2012 to rave reviews, and on July 1, he treated his fans to Summer Knights, his third free project in just over a year.
Joey is only 18 years old, but he sounds smarter and more provocative than many of his peers. His lyrics and beat selection are reminiscent of DOOM, and true to his Flatbush roots, he embodies a genuine Golden-Era style. He actually touched on both of these notions in a 2012 interview with HipHopDX, stating, among other things, “I want to bring the golden-age back [to Hip Hop]”, and it shows within his music. But his tracks also benefit from a touch of contemporary flare. Ultimately, Joey is looking to carry the torch from the Golden Era through the 2010 decade.
One of Joey’s most noticeable traits is his wit; he displays an impressive maturity for the young man that he is. On “Reign” he ponders aloud, “But what can I say, everything happens for a reason / Time will tell ‘cause even Fall lasts for a season / So keep on believing, you live and learn, die and you teach / Another piece of the pie and it’s finally sweet…” His lyrics emphasize a palpable wisdom that far surpasses the average 18-year-old. But also, like Jay-Z, Biggie and his other notable Brooklyn predecessors, Joey raps under the veil of the intelligent hustler. That is, for every rhyme about weed or the police, he balances out the verse with a dash of introspect.
Inevitably, his foresight and lyrical acrobatics enable him to remain hopelessly endearing. On “Sit N’ Prey,” he shouts out his deceased, Pro Era comrade Capital STEEZ with the line: “STEEZ taught me how to store it in my ball shorts / So when we stop by the D we never get caught.” Intelligent, basketball-inspired wordplay, coupled with a spacy, Trip Hop beat makes this track worthwhile. And well constructed verses, like this one, enable Joey to separate himself from many of today’s burgeoning Hip Hop acts.
As previously stated, his stylistic authenticity and good conscience channel Hip Hop from the 1990s, exemplified on numerous tracks like “Sweet Dreams” and “Word Is Bond.” He urges fans to think literally about the phrase “You Only Live Once” on his commendable track “Death Of YOLO.” It takes real moxie to challenge a star like Drake, but Joey is only legitimized by the fact that the last track on the mixtape, “Unorthodox” is produced by none other than the legendary DJ Premier.
Summer Knights is an excellent follow-up its predecessors 1999 and Rejex. Joey Bada$$ is fast becoming a force in Hip Hop, and on this outing, he has succeeded in making another great mixtape while outdoing previous efforts.
RELATED: Joey Bada$$ “Summer Knights” Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, Download & Mixtape Stream
Bada$$ is bringin fire. He’s maturing so his style is changing a lot from 1999 but it’s still tight as shit
That real!
pretty good imo
I think Joey made strides with this mixtape. I don’t believe its in the top 10 in the year but he is slowly making me a fan of his music
DX just flat-out didn’t rate?
The rating’s at the top.
New Jay Z Magna Carta Holy Grail go get it www. hiphopgood .com
joey is the future of hip hop
The rating is at the top.
Year of B.Hudson. New Eps every month July out now. www. bhudsonmusic .com
This shit is good. Reminds me of some Black Moon.
shit is refreshing. a ton of projects have come out recently but all of them are taking a trip to the back burner because of this.
the beats are great but Joey can do better than this
you can feel the pain hes in. 5 stars for joey.
Didn’t really feel 1999 like that, the first half of the tape, the dilla track and the posse cut were good. Rejex was some bullshit.
Summer Knights, on the other hand, is fucking dope. The beats are more different and original instead of the straight 90’s shit he’s rhymed on before. They’re refreshing.
The biggest improvement, however, has happened on the lyrical side. He spit some dope shit on PEEP: The aPROcalypse but now he’s really blossomed (no homo). Whether he’s on some punchline rapper shit or tackling a more serious topic (like the tribute to STEEZ or YOLO) he comes with great bars and smooth flows.
I’m also glad he stopped using the monotone flow and started putting more emotion behind his delivery. It somehow hits you in your soul when young Joseph damn near cries out “In the sky behind enemy lines” on 95 Til’ Infinity, one of the projects stand out tracks.
All in all, on Summer Knights, we saw a more matured Joey Bada$$ who has found the right artistic path to travel. He delivers rhymes with a great confidence and in places shows wisdom beyond his years, without forgetting to balance it out with typical rap shit.
The Pro Era emcee put out one of the best hip-hop albums (I can’t call this a mixtape) this year. Shit is dope.
P.S. Also glad to hear T’Nah Apex is back down.
nice beats but rapping was just subpar.
This shit go hard 5 stars mixtape of the year
I wish for a Joey vs Drake beef
you don’t wish for beef
what Jeffrey explained I am stunned that people can profit ($)9411 in a few weeks on the computer. have you read this site link… http://www.ca99com
fuck your opinion. get this mixtape. download it now. people are so nitpicky. dude is 18 years old and brings hunger to the rap game. this is a gift. thank you joey!
better than Yeezus and Born Sinner combined
Not at all.
actually it is Yeezus sucked balls so did Jay-Z new album
dude’s voice is annoying
and so are you bitch
awww did i hurt your feelings? pussy.
Finally someone agrees with my I thought I was the only who found his voice kinda annoying. Dude is decent overall but still nowhere close to amazing. If you want to listen to a amazing artist that is still dropping shit check out K Rino
Wild overrated.
dfjfkljsdf
5 stars, one of the best mixtapes of the year, entertaining from beginning to end. Too real for candy swag rap fans.
co signed
ill
The beats were better but the raps compared to 1999 were under what Joey’s capable of.
1999 was better imo. Songs sounded too similar in this tape, and the production was alright. It’s starting to get harder to understand what the kid is saying. But overall it’s an aigh tape
Word this shit was a free album and I barely fuck with Joey
JAY-Z MAGNA CARTA HOLY GRAIL DOWNLOAD AT WWW. HIPHOPGOOD .COM
Loved this shit. Especially the dedication to Capital Steez. In my opinion Steez was a better lyricist than Joey not saying Joey is bad because he’s straight fire. I had started to think niggas his age was all on some dumb fruity swag bullshit but the whole ProEra crew is on a whole ‘nother level. They motivate me to be a better rapper and thinker. Hip-Hop need niggas like them. Fuck that garbage rap idiots love.
Lyrically I prefer the Underachievers, but Pro Era are alright.
Y’all normally have amazing reviews, this is easily the worst I’ve seen on the site. just robotic as fuck
Dope!
joey is a mush mouthed poser geek.
cant even talk. in alternative music, musicians that strive to sound like someone else are called cover bands. they usually suck. this is joey in rap.
these kids raised off of retard rappers think hes nice, but ppl raised off good rap know he fucking stinks. his flow is trash. his voice sucks. his delivery is garbage. hes a marble mouthed wannabe that sounds like he raps with food in his mouth. he cant pick a decent beat to save his life. he goes for minimalistic sample based production that stinks because production today is wack.
old niggas like o.c., masta ace, killah priest, canibus, etc. that wont get 1/10 of the acclaim of this wannabe today will still decimate him on the microphone without breaking a sweat. this kid got baited into a battle with lil b through a twitter exchange. LMAO
Damn son, you are hatin’ rrreeeallll hard.
your a dummy even comparing Joey to old heads, different generation, different society! the beats on the album are outstanding and the lyrical content is second to none at times! you sir should stick to dusting off the cds you use to bump 20 years ago and keep going to gigs……stop hatin
damn b you be posting this in every section about joey
Kizman you too old to be spending you’re time goading/trolling younger people on a hip hop blog . Come on Kizman, deep down you know it’s not a good look !!
he’s only 18..Ace,Bus or any other 90’s era MC had the time to mature..let the boy breathe and develop,I lived through the Golden Age and luckily i remember that a lot of the stuff from that period still rings today because that was the time that those styles where born,he’s not a 90’s rapper,he is a young talented kid that embodies that time..stick around,he might surprise you in a couple years…
If Joey was raised off “retard rappers” you must of fathered him way you sounding with that post. Lyrically you REALLY wanna put MASTA ACE..&..wait for it……KILLA PRIEST ahead of Joey?!?! Go cut your ears off son..they’re no further use to you. Black Thought among others already cosigned the kid..and would destroy either of your names mentioned w/o effort. Log off you stupid MF
@kburban are you fucking serious? Killah priest and masts ace are top dogs..no way is Joey even close to touching them (yet) stop dickriding. There’s a difference between giving props to an mc and simply over hyping them
@Kburn. You really posted that comment about masta ace and killa priest . I take it you are new to hip hop the only worthwhile thing to come out of Kizman’s mouth/keyboard was the fact he is aware of those 2 rappers
Joey has a lot of potential but come on Masta Ace and Killa Priest …Bow you’re head in shame
straight fire, any haters just got to listen to track 14 “Reign” to see this cats ambition and wisdom at his age
NEW song out. share it, like it, comment, rate & favorite this great track released yesterday,first found on youtube
Torch Ft. Fred The Godson & Styles P – Malaria
HERES THE LINK :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSSKgkolGOo
Classic EP!!!
dope mixtape,joey brought the heat this time around as well.i dig how different this sounds to 1999
solid project as usual
I agree this is a poor review and it does little to justify the quality of the album. In my opinion 1999 was a more cohesive effort but Summer Knights is more diverse content-wise. I still feel it is inferior to 1999, but it’s still a solid effort. Joey trips up more often on this one even if he tries to be more versatile with his flow. 3 and 1/2 stars for me.
better than Magma Carta
Please tell me you are kidding. I think the tape is decent but anything with Jay-Z’s name on it would kill Joey. Magna Carta is hard as fuck Hov is hard as fuck.
Hov is average and nothing more now
havent really heard any Joey Bada$$ before this album. This album is pretty damn good. As the reviewer states, this album takes me back to classic gritty old school 90’s hip hop.
And props to him for killing a DJ Premier track.
What a bore, and 90% my music collection is ’92-’98
Joey Bada$$ has done it again. this was a solid mixtape/album.
as an accountant for YMCMB, i can confirm nobody out in the streets of Compton is listening to this garbage
Great Effort. This is a great!
This tape is amazing. One of the best albums I’ve heard all year.
really nice.
be bumpin this mixtape all summer
gold
@kburban are you fucking serious? Masta ace and killah priest are lyrical genius’s. Joey is nice but stop hyping him up like hes accomplished anything yet. Have you even listened to Heavy Mental??? Slaughterhouse???? PWOWR????
It’s been said before but kburban come on tell me it not’s true .. Masta Ace,Killa Priest
man hype up -_- kids ok nothing great yes his lyris are ok dont hype it and plz call this kid a barber
really liking everything I’ve heard from Joey Bada$$ so far. some avg songs and some great ones. Huge potential. Reminds me of Nas with the rawness and introspective mix.
Excellent follow up. 5 Stars.
dopest dope ive ever smoked
LOL yo this a like a snorefest!!!! tryna be a young wannabe NAS and shit. SMH, NAS best in Atlanta hands down and this Joey kid cant even buy a cigar. SMH
this nigga make me wanna ZZZZzzzZZz
amen!
King Kendrick better watch the throne
+
shit sucks and is hella boring..i loved 1999..that had illmatic vibe…this just is 1986 boring beats vive.
I can’t believe some of you just said its better than Hov’s shit and Born Sinner! Yeezus was a disappointment but damn you all need to understand more music than just hip hop Yeezus was on a whole other level of crazy that doesn’t mean it sucked. I’m not trynna hate on Joey but he’s not that good yet, give him time and stop comparing him to people let him be him and make a name for himself.
Great album that will leave a very positive effect on hip hop.
awesome
real hip hop
Mixtape of the year…a lyricist’s dream
Best mixtape of the year hands down. Joeys lyrical flow keep you entertained while the beats just blow you away. 6/5 stars for me.
this kid flow is awful, but he got heart and decent lyrics so propsto him
There’s always some negative comments smh… yall need to stfu and juss listen to the music
This was a damn good album…I gave it a 5.
Im not saying hes the best rapper alive right now buts crazy how mad talented this kid is at such a young age. 5 years from now hes gonna be at the top of the game and that 90s/vintage sound will be back for everyone to hear..and great mixtape!
id recommend to everyone.
who has trouble sleeping
beat blow you away??? lllol opposite actually
DOPE MIXTAPE 5STARS
Dope
Another classic from Joey Bad!
Yooo Joey just dropped another classic. He’s got that golden era 90s $wank on point. Kid is straight fire. Summer Knights is better than anything that’s dropped this year. Magna carta is weak compared to this. The beats are varied and remind me of that 90s Hip Hop. Hip Hops heading to another golden era and rappers like Joey are at the forefront. I’m looking forward to more from him and the pro era crew. King Capital will be another classic too.
Dope album. Bringing that old feeling back. Word.
my name is my name
kenDICK lamar better move aside
This was good, not as good as 1999 tho!
B4.DA.$$
Joey Wacka$$
If you hate this then you don’t really love hip hop.
1999 was so much better than this
Good, but 1999 is better
gonna be on repeat for a loooooooooooooong time.
This tape is fucking amazing no ABLUM is fucking with it
An okay album, nothing amazing.
Joey Badass is the revival of Hip-Hop
one of the youngest niggas that have classics under his belt
real rap.
Legendary
1999 still better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpJ1_9EzNOU
Only youngins think that 1999 is better than this. This tape probably appeals more to golden age hip hop heads
Personally I like 1999 better but only because of Survival Tactics, I was really looking forward to a “stronger” song that hit harder but Summer knights was still dope af…
95 Til Infinity has a hard entrance on Joey’s part, but yeah maybe they should have thrown another strong song in the mix.
loved it, thought it would be hard to improve on 1999 and rejex but he did it
Users have so far rated Chance’s Acid Rap higher than this, while I think that mixtape is great, too, Joey produced some legendary shit for his age.
didn’t disappoint
http://www.hulkshare.com/Banannaz
Production Credits: Red Cafe, Chinx Drugz, Kid Ink & More……
http://www.hulkshare.com/Banannaz
Production Credits: Red Cafe, Chinx Drugz, Kid Ink & More………
NEW SONG: A$AP ROCKY ft. JOEY BADA$$ & KENDRICK LAMAR “CHILDREN OF GOD”
http://www.hulkshare.com/8fodhyhv3o1s
>
RICK ROSS is the Best Lyricist in the game
>
Some don’t really like it because they don’t understand it. One of the best albums out right now.
Summer Knights is the mixtape of the year…solid beautiful dope release from the front to back…excellent production…This dude is one the best emcees in the game period….”Wont sign to no major if no wager
Less than a 3 million offer off the top
Ill be in a box with my coughin drops
Why settle for a office spot?” ah man that line gets me everytime ahaaaaa
cool
Kendrick watch out indeed! This kid is number 2 in the game right now! And his potential is through the roof as he grows up and gets more life experience. I love this kid…such a breath of fresh air in an industry inundated with the same crap week after week.
love all he’s work!!
word is bond z dashit
great mixtape
I think this kid is dope as fuck but I don’t mess with the tapes yet. These beats are just not dope to me. Some of the joints are cool but you can’t rock with 90’s type aura and use the type of beats that no one wanted in that time frame either. 1999 was full of trash beats. TRASH so was the joint after that. The songs that are hot are fucking hot though. Just remember, the 90’s wasnt just tribe type “hipster,” raps. It was also shit that KNOCKED. Ny state of mind. CNN etc. Idk maybe I’m being too hard on em.
The beats were provided by Metal Face DOOM the most abstract artist of the 90’s and 00’s and Chuck Strangers Sade’s #1 fan and sampler. I don’t think you understand how astonishing that a teen can be compared to the sound of the 90’s especially in this generation of rap.