Photo Credit: FILMSBYLEVI
In a time where lyricism has taken a backseat role to pop sounds in the hip hop genre, there are still artists that strive to have the sharpest pen game in the business. These are rappers that value the art-form of writing, rather than making a hit song for fame and money. Joey Bada$$ has shown that he not only belongs in this category of emcees, but that he is at the top of it, setting the bar for other rappers.
Since his debut mixtape, “1999”, dropped in 2012, the New York rapper has found a way to bring new, creative energy to the ‘boom-bap’ style of early hip hop figures. Most of his music features long, intelligent verses that highlight his lyrical prowess, like his songs “Christ Conscious” and “RING THE ALARM“. With his never-ending flow and ‘no-filler’ attitude, Joey Bada$$ has proven that you don’t need to dumb down your lyrics and put a heavy emphasis on the chorus to get recognized.
Joey also has an incredible ability to make powerful music filled with emotion and social commentary without sacrificing his signature sound. Songs like “Paper Trail$” and “BABYLON” depict struggle and social injustice while keeping the integrity of a hit song.
His array of abilities was displayed on Post Malone’s 2017 hit “rockstar“. Joey got credit for co-writing it as a prominent ghostwriter. This was a surprise because the song sounds nothing like what Joey had produced before that.
Additionally, he has also made a huge impact on the New York rap scene. A lot of the artists that he came up with like Flatbush Zombies, The Underachievers, and Kirk Knight still collaborate with him, building what they call ‘the Beast Coast’ regime. As one of the focal points of the “Escape From New York” collaborative album, Joey Bada$$ leads a team of powerhouses out to change the game.
