Joey Bada$$ Album ‘All-Amerikkkan Bada$$’ Reflects Our Turbulent Times

Jordan Bailey

The first words you’ll hear on Joey Bada$$’ new album are “Now, what’s freedom to you?” An apt beginning to an album rife with important questions, topical themes and insights from the mind of this Brooklyn-born MC. “All-Amerikkkan Bada$$“ is Joey’s second studio album and easily the most prominent display of growth and sturdiness this rapper has shown to date.

Joey started off his career with the release of the trip-hop single “Waves” in 2012 which almost instantly epitomized him as a conscious rapper for the new age. He became an instant hit in backpack communities (fans of underground hip-hop where lyrical prowess reigns supreme). The following year he dropped the “Summer Knights” EP featuring a wide arrangement of styles including reggae. 2015 saw “B4.DA.$$” hit the shelves and sent Joey into the official realm of indie hip-hop greatness. Fans praised his old-school approach to making rap, and of course, his ability to string together the headiest of bars. Things took a bit of a turn last year with the release of the single “Devastated,” which appears on this album. The track’s flow, beat and lyrics were a bit too mainstream for fans who tarnished the MC’s choice for “conforming.” Joey still maintained his independence by acknowledging, while radio-rap is pure “candy,” “Devastated” is “organic candy.” Fast forward to the release of this album, “All-Amerikkkan Bada$$” and it’s easy to see that he hasn’t changed, but simply grown.

This sophomore LP is rife with social commentary and the beat-stylings that made Joey famous in the beginning. Classic rap fans will find comfort in “Land of the Free” where they’ll hear a beat reminiscent of Biggie’s hit “Juicy.” He touches on issues like opioid addiction, governmental corruption and the modern-day repercussions of colonial slavery, all over an old-school beat featuring glistening 90’s-era sounds. Trump’s name makes an appearance a few times, most notably in “Rockabye Baby” which features Chicago rapper ScHoolboy Q. Here, Joey proudly proclaims “And if you’ve got the guts, scream ‘Fuck Donald Trump.’” It’s clear throughout the album where Joey stands on politics, religion and the everyday issues plaguing the inner-city where he grew up.

One of the stand-out tracks, and perhaps the most Joey Bada$$-ish songs on the record, is “Legendary.” Featuring fellow consciousness-raising MC J. Cole, “Legendary” is smooth and sexy with subtle jazz horns in the background, a very “Joey” production move. The song’s an understated callout for people to keep their heads on straight in times of strife saying “Legends they never die…/So put your fire up in the sky/’Cus they will never kill the light.”

The album closes with “Amerikkkan Idol,” another jazz-friendly tune kicking off with a stream of pitter-patter bars from the man himself which include the line “Sorry white American, but I’m about to black-out.” This line epitomizes “All-Amerikkkan” as a whole. Joey is a black man, living a black life, in a country dominated by white men. He’s privy to the struggle and wants his listeners to know that. This album is vegetables; Joey leaves the candy for other rappers.

“All-Amerikkkan Bada$$” is on Apple Music April 7.