A couple of years back, when Kendrick Lamar proclaimed himself the king of both coasts on his Control verse, it seemed natural that Joey Bada$$ would take umbrage. He was, after all, the most touted emcee from the east coast in years.
Still, many were surprised when he literally went toe-to-toe with Lamar, proclaiming: “I’m Biggie, I’m L, I’m Pun, I’m God’s Son, I’m Pac, Guru, all in one.” And, having finally dropped his full debut album - ‘B4.DA.$$’ - after a long wait, the New Yorker is beginning to live up to the hype.
Much has been made of his imitation of ‘90s boom bap, but the truth is that he has broadened his musical scope since he released the aptly named ‘1999’ mixtape. Big Dusty and Christ Conscious counteract mellow cuts Piece of Mind and Like Me, and demonstrate a newfound ability to comfortably flow over murky, MF Doom-style beats.
Many fans lamented the switch-up in vocal delivery on his recent ‘Summer Knights’ project - where a previously breezy approach to diction was replaced with a harsher, more precise register - but here he sounds mature. No track feels like it’s on unfamiliar terrain, with each immaculately designed to cater towards his capabilities.
In fact, the whole structure and tone of the album is geared towards presenting Joey as if he is indeed the new Biggie, the new Big L, the new Nas. He even demonstrates his ambition by following Nas’ example, recruiting revered producer DJ Premier on Paper Trail$. Meanwhile, only one of his Pro Era collective contribute a guest spot (Dyemond Lewis on On and On) with as much focus as possible given to Bada$$’ verses.
Across 15 tracks there are only a handful of hooks but myriad ideas and narratives. If ‘B4.Da.$$’ is a shot at mainstream success then it is a brave move, and to his credit the 20-year-old carries the album very well. Though this feels like a classic, it isn’t. But that doesn’t negate the appeal. With more and more mainstream artists embracing the New York sound, Pro Era are leading the charge.
The faults of ‘B4.Da.$$’, notably a lack of hard hitting tracks at the back end of the record, may well hold it back from being exalted in the same way ‘Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City’ was. But, whether he’s driven by nostalgia or not, Joey Bada$$ sounds fresh, hungry and full of passion. He’s only going to improve.
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