Image Courtesy: Cinematic Music Group
The Brooklyn rapper opens his third eye to the mainstream and gets more melodic in his sophomore release
By: Gio Mio
"Three Ks, two As in Amerikkka"
A simple lyric, but possibly my favorite ever from the man that calls himself Joey Bada$$. In less than ten words you get a message so brief yet so powerful. That lyric comes from the song "LAND OF THE FREE" off his sophomore album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, and the song really cuts deep into the perspective of racism still being alive in the U.S.A.
In a time where rappers are becoming more political and voicing out, Joey Bada$$'s breakthrough to the mainstream comes at a perfect time for him. For years, fans of the Brooklyn emcee have seen him grow into a conscious rapper with a message of opening up your "third eye" to the people and society around you. His latest album title is a tribute to former friend and rapper Capital STEEZ's Amerikkkan Korruption album. Capital STEEZ was a close friend of Joey Bada$$, but committed suicide back in 2012.
When Joey Bada$$ released his debut album B4.Da.$$ in 2015, it was received well but not too much to the mainstream. His cult following weren't upset for any reason. Most critics gave the album eight out of ten stars, but it didn't elevate him to the stratosphere people expected it to for the 2013 XXL Freshman. Then again, there aren't many conscious rappers who dominate the charts.
"GOOD MORNING AMERIKKKA" sets the tone for the rest of the album very well. Joey Bada$$ asks a simple yet deep question to start the song ("Now, what's freedom to you?"). It's a Sparknotes of what to expect on ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$; freedom, racism, and politics. The instrumental is not exactly the boom-bap 90s New York sound Joey Bada$$ started with, but it sounds more mature and melodic than anything he's ever done.
Speaking of melodic, the first half of ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ shows Joey Bada$$ singing, which he's never done. Usually for a conscious rapper these types of songs aren't in their catalog. But if you listen to "TEMPTATION," the singing adds the element of pain in Bada$$'s voice. It brings more of a personal vibe to the listener, as if the messages throughout the album already didn't do that.
Any fans of Joey Bada$$ will be huge fans of the last six tracks of this project. We don't get those hard-hitting flows and instrumentals that are good for the car speakers until "ROCKABYE BABY." With a verse from TDE's own Schoolboy Q, this single shows the two rappers gloating about their past gang affiliations and experience dealing drugs. Some of the Pro Era crew hop on "RING THE ALARM," and honestly it might be my favorite song off the album. Members of Pro Era and Flatbush Zombies take shots at the competition, talking about how the mainstream folks on top lack the lyricism they possess. I wouldn't even argue that point at all, but it leads to my point that when the features take over near the end the album, it becomes whole.
While ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ might be my favorite hip-hop in 2017 so far, the promotion for it was shoddy. The first single, "DEVASTATED," was released May 26, 2016. That's nearly a year before the album dropped. Whether the project was to be released earlier remains to be known, but with how most of society has a short attention span, this wasn't the best way to get hype for the album.
Then there's the song itself, which features Bada$$ at his most "mainstream," arguably. Two years prior to the release of "DEVASTATED," Bada$$ went on a Twitter rant bashing the idea of the mainstream rapper. Was it a promo to get more sells for B4.DA.$$? Only he can answer that. But reading that and hearing a song that's very radio-friendly, along with partnering up with the NBA to make a song for promotions is quite hypocritical.
ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ shows Joey Bada$$ is maturing as an artist and being more aware of his surroundings. But with increasing fame comes the question of "selling out." He does a good job combining radio singles with the sound that elevated him to his current status in the game. Now with slightly tweaking his music to get radio and television play, can Bada$$ continue to bash the people that give him his checks? He probably will, and Capital STEEZ would probably do the same.
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
Notable Tracks:
"TEMPTATION"
"RING THE ALARM"
"LEGENDARY"
"Three Ks, two As in Amerikkka"
A simple lyric, but possibly my favorite ever from the man that calls himself Joey Bada$$. In less than ten words you get a message so brief yet so powerful. That lyric comes from the song "LAND OF THE FREE" off his sophomore album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, and the song really cuts deep into the perspective of racism still being alive in the U.S.A.
In a time where rappers are becoming more political and voicing out, Joey Bada$$'s breakthrough to the mainstream comes at a perfect time for him. For years, fans of the Brooklyn emcee have seen him grow into a conscious rapper with a message of opening up your "third eye" to the people and society around you. His latest album title is a tribute to former friend and rapper Capital STEEZ's Amerikkkan Korruption album. Capital STEEZ was a close friend of Joey Bada$$, but committed suicide back in 2012.
When Joey Bada$$ released his debut album B4.Da.$$ in 2015, it was received well but not too much to the mainstream. His cult following weren't upset for any reason. Most critics gave the album eight out of ten stars, but it didn't elevate him to the stratosphere people expected it to for the 2013 XXL Freshman. Then again, there aren't many conscious rappers who dominate the charts.
"GOOD MORNING AMERIKKKA" sets the tone for the rest of the album very well. Joey Bada$$ asks a simple yet deep question to start the song ("Now, what's freedom to you?"). It's a Sparknotes of what to expect on ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$; freedom, racism, and politics. The instrumental is not exactly the boom-bap 90s New York sound Joey Bada$$ started with, but it sounds more mature and melodic than anything he's ever done.
Speaking of melodic, the first half of ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ shows Joey Bada$$ singing, which he's never done. Usually for a conscious rapper these types of songs aren't in their catalog. But if you listen to "TEMPTATION," the singing adds the element of pain in Bada$$'s voice. It brings more of a personal vibe to the listener, as if the messages throughout the album already didn't do that.
Any fans of Joey Bada$$ will be huge fans of the last six tracks of this project. We don't get those hard-hitting flows and instrumentals that are good for the car speakers until "ROCKABYE BABY." With a verse from TDE's own Schoolboy Q, this single shows the two rappers gloating about their past gang affiliations and experience dealing drugs. Some of the Pro Era crew hop on "RING THE ALARM," and honestly it might be my favorite song off the album. Members of Pro Era and Flatbush Zombies take shots at the competition, talking about how the mainstream folks on top lack the lyricism they possess. I wouldn't even argue that point at all, but it leads to my point that when the features take over near the end the album, it becomes whole.
While ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ might be my favorite hip-hop in 2017 so far, the promotion for it was shoddy. The first single, "DEVASTATED," was released May 26, 2016. That's nearly a year before the album dropped. Whether the project was to be released earlier remains to be known, but with how most of society has a short attention span, this wasn't the best way to get hype for the album.
Then there's the song itself, which features Bada$$ at his most "mainstream," arguably. Two years prior to the release of "DEVASTATED," Bada$$ went on a Twitter rant bashing the idea of the mainstream rapper. Was it a promo to get more sells for B4.DA.$$? Only he can answer that. But reading that and hearing a song that's very radio-friendly, along with partnering up with the NBA to make a song for promotions is quite hypocritical.
ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ shows Joey Bada$$ is maturing as an artist and being more aware of his surroundings. But with increasing fame comes the question of "selling out." He does a good job combining radio singles with the sound that elevated him to his current status in the game. Now with slightly tweaking his music to get radio and television play, can Bada$$ continue to bash the people that give him his checks? He probably will, and Capital STEEZ would probably do the same.
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
Notable Tracks:
"TEMPTATION"
"RING THE ALARM"
"LEGENDARY"