Hip-hop has transformed dramatically in the last decade. Emerging from the burnt husk of early-2000s bling rap (sorry Soulja Boy), the new era of hip-hop is expanding the genre’s boundaries. Rappers and producers are toying with avant-garde beats and branching out into different genres, experimenting with sounds and style. But this innovative trend comes with risk: losing touch with hip-hop’s rooted history.
Cue Brooklyn-based leader of the Pro Era (Progressive Era), rapper Joey Bada$$, whose debut full length album B4.DA.$$ delivers a refreshingly old-school sound with masterful instrumentals and astounding lyricism. Swinging back from his 2013 mixtape Summer Knights, B4.DA.$$ climbs past the high bar he set with his 2012 premiere mixtape, 1999, Joey’s acclaimed entrance into the hip-hop scene.
With beats made by such respected producers as DJ Premiere, The Roots, J Dilla, Statik Selektah and Pro Era mates Kirk Knight and Chuck Strangers, Joey Bada$$’ debut album varies in tone, subject and theme. However, all tracks remain united under an overarching 1990s boom-bap throwback sound. Varied instrumentals and Joey’s adaptable flow ensure that B4.DA.$$ delivers a delightful array of songs for a variety of niches, from jazzy, smooth times such as “Like Me” and “Piece of Mind” to aggressive, driving tracks like “No. 99” and “Christ Conscious.” For the most part, the album leans towards Joey’s customary mellow vibe.
Notable above all else is Joey’s talent for writing verses. He delivers wordplay more advanced than his previous releases, saturating his sentences with alliteration, assonance and metaphor to create poetically rich, multifaceted verses. His layered lyrics conceal subtle references for the attentive listener, playing with his words like girls play with Drake’s fragile heart.
Joey makes frequent homages and tributes to hip-hop legends like the Wu-Tang Clan, Biggie, 2Pac, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and other icons who laid the foundation for his flourishing career as an independent artist. Joey Bada$$’ sound, style and substance champion the revival of the timeless hip-hop era that these genre luminaries helped create. Yet Bada$$ also, somewhat hypocritically, criticizes rappers who he suspects may be stealing his style. On the third track, “Paper Trail$”, he raps, “I swear these niggas love to copy, thanks for listening.”
“For a genre that is constantly re-contextualizing other things, hip-hop is very much obsessed with originality,”online music critic Anthony Fantano said in his review. “And maybe that’s something that needs to be kind of re-examined as we have more artists like Joey Bada$$ who are so heavily influenced by the old school.”
Like his old-school counterparts, Joey Bada$$ crafted a thematically diverse album. He jumps from soberly recalling his childhood in the projects, and the racism and class struggles to eagerly proclaiming the triumphs of his ascending career and projecting his future successes. The immortal words of the Wu-Tang Clan, “Cash rules everything around me,” ring true as Joey analyzes the impact of money on all aspects of life. He explores wealth across the album’s 17 tracks.
He sees money as a motivator for violence, an instigator of irritation and an agent for excess. This is exceedingly evident in his track “Paper Trail$,” a caustic critique of consumerism and greed in American culture. B4.DA.$$ contains few appearances by guest artists, perhaps an indicator that Joey has gained the confidence and self-reliance to produce a project unassisted. The few collaborations allowed often featured rising artists like BJ The Chicago Kid (known for collaborations with Chance The Rapper) and other singers, who rap on hooks and choruses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSlNvg18MKc
Despite minor issues of length, the album is a complete triumph. Joey Bada$$’s old-school style instills a sense of nostalgia, making B4.DA.$$ sound like a cherished album you’ve been listening to for years. His astounding aptitude for writing lyrically complex and intellectually resonant lyrics ensures that his debut album will indeed be that time-tested favorite album for years to come.
4.7 / 5 stars
