Joey Bada$$ – B4.Da.$$
- Written by Rob Crozier
Can you remember what you got for your 20th birthday? Well Joey Bada$$’s present to himself is to release his latest album B4.Da.$$ (pronounced: Before Da Money). The album contains seventeen tracks and sees the undisputed king of underground New York hip-hop back with a host of collaborations.
His rise to fame a few years ago via his self-styled flow that’s clearly rooted in the glory days of 1990s hip-hop which brought him acclaimed success. This album feels like Bada$$ is at a crossroads in his career. It continues to refine his work on the back of previous success such as his self-styled mixtape 1999 and his previous album Summer Knights.
Yet although this album has some stand out tracks, it also contains some tracks that appear stagnant and lack any progression. However it may well be that Bada$$ is simply replicating his previous success. He is keeping his style and flow the same, not attempting anything new in case the dreaded phrase “sell out” is banded around, which seems to haunt all hip-hop artists. In order to avoid this, he has arranged collaboration with some of the finest underground stars.
‘Belly of the Beast’ features the rising star of Jamaican music Chronixx, and reflects Bada$$’s Caribbean roots. The track is your typical tale of street life and the struggles just to stay alive. Chronixx’s soothing vocals add a depth to the track as he explains he is "a child of the city/Son of the streets".
‘Paper Trail$’ sees the return of the legendary DJ Premier in working with Bada$$, as on previous outings. Although the track is a familiar hip-hop narrative of money and greed, it is elevated by Premier’s production skills and includes samples of the Wu-Tang Clan monster hit ‘C.R.E.A.M.’ as well as Bada$$’s smash hit ‘Unorthodox’.
‘Teach Me’ features Kiesza, and is clearly aimed to be a more commercial track and could see some to mutter “sell out”. With Kiesza’s vocals leading Bada$$ on a merry dance, it has pop sensibilities and follows a well trudged path of rapper meets R&B singer. However, oddly enough, it appears on the album as a bonus track, clever marketing perhaps? Whatever the reason, the track bounces along without ever offering anything outstanding.
‘On & On’ features the British artist Maverick Sabre and American artist Dyemond Lewis. It is a soft, soulful track which contemplates all the artists and is a reflection of what it means to attempt to make it in the music industry.
That’s not to say his solo efforts are the weaker parts of the album. ‘Hazeus View’ is his best solo track, and one that illustrates Bada$$’s strength. The beats are sharp, the loops are catchy and the flow appears effortless. This is continued on ‘No. 99’, a heavy bass driven track which allows Bada$$'s vocals to be enhanced as he claims: "Ready to bust my gun, I’m rushin’ in like Vladimir Putin".
Overall, the productivity and output from Bada$$ must be commended; he is clearly set on bigger and brighter things. He at present does not seem to be lured by the trappings of fame that have ruined many a rapper’s career, he is more content to concentrate on his craft. Let’s hope he stays more Nas than Kanye West.