The band: Hailing from the infamous projects of Brooklyn, Joey Bada$$ is a 19 year old MC whose work is unmistakably indebted to hip hop’s mid 90s golden era. Combining sinister and atmospheric production with meticulous rapping and intricate wordplay, he has been well received within the hip hop world since his debut mixtape 1999 caused a stir in 2012. As the release of his official debut album looms ever closer, he has released new single ‘No 99.’
The sound: With a beat crafted by frequent collaborator and touring DJ Statik Selektah, it utilities the same sample which is at the heart of A Tribe Called Quest’s classic ‘Scenario.’ Whilst attempting to hold his own over a sample that was graced by hip hop royalty such as Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes is no small feat, he provides several excellent verses which demonstrate his promise. The track’s ‘What’s My Name’ refrain and scratching reminiscent of DJ Premier that hark back to yesteryear and the genre’s formative period is very much in keeping with the overall appeal of his music thus far.
The lowdown: His debut B4 DA $$ will be released on 20th January 2014 via Cinematic. After a well received Glasgow date last month, this week saw the cancelation of the remainder of the rapper’s European Tour after he incurred a family tragedy, with cousin and fellow Pro Era member Junior B due to undisclosed circumstances.
