1999- Joey Bada$$

           One of the biggest complaints about hip-hop in recent years has been about the lack of attention on the East Coast, specifically on NYC (the birthplace of hip-hop). Other than Jay-Z, Fabolous, and a select few others, there wasn’t really anyone in the mainstream representing New York and there was certainly a dearth of fresh new faces. But the East Coast (or the “Beast Coast”) is back with a vengeance with young, vibrant acts such as A$AP Rocky from Harlem, Mac Miller from Pittsburgh, Flatbush Zombies (from Brooklyn, obviously), and many more. However, there is one artist who has aroused the most attention and has truly represented a return to the grittiness of early 90s New York hip-hop. Ironically, this is a kid who wasn’t even born in the early 90s. I’m talking of course about Joey Bada$$, a Brooklynite who stepped onto the scene with the critically-acclaimed mixtape 1999 when he was just 17 years old. What does a kid who uses dollar signs in place of ‘S’s a bit too liberally and who was only 4 years old in the year 1999 have to bring to the plate? Joey may be young but he’s well-versed in hip-hop and clearly respects his predecessors. Along with his Progressive Era crew (better known as Pro Era), Joey Bada$$ is making a name for himself out of turning the old into something new.

            Before getting into it, it’s crucial to keep in mind that 1999 is just an independently produced mixtape and not an album. Joey Bada$$ is said to be currently working on his debut album which is set to drop sometime in the later part of this year. So how does a barely adult rapper with no official album out have such a huge buzz? Tons of rappers are co-signing him, he got a spot on the song “1 Train” along with A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Big KRIT, and others, and there had been rumors of Jay-Z trying to sign him—which Joey himself confirmed. Obviously, 1999 has made quite a splash in the current hip-hop scene.

            No matter which song you pick to listen to first out of Joey’s catalogue, you’ll find it difficult to deny the man’s raw talent. The kid knows how to put words together. His style is reminiscent of a young Nas in his prime while his flow mirrors that of Method Man. The mixtape begins with the short but sweet “Summer Knights” which sets the tone for the rest of the album. It’s important that the first bars we actually hear Joey spit, after  a little over half a minute of instrumental and chatter in the background, is “It’s been a minute/Since they heard a style with no gimmicks/”. This is exactly what Joey Bada$$ is about, while other new rappers talk about weird things or dress in eccentric ways, Joey just offers his lyrical skill and that’s enough to have people talking.

            Another aspect that has made 1999 a standout mixtape out of so many others is its use of samples and jazzy production. In conjunction with his lyrics and style, Joey’s choice of funkier beats and Golden-era sounds makes you wonder why this mixtape wasn’t entitled 1990 or something like that. The standout track “Survival Tactics” (featuring the recently deceased Capitol STEEZ) is an in-your-face introduction to Joey and the Pro Era collective which spawned a gritty video resembling something Wu-Tang, or Lords of the Underground, or even The Lost Boyz would have did in their day. Compared to “Survival Tactics”, most of the mixtape sounds a lot more laid back and mellow. In that way, it is to 1999 what “NY State of Mind” was to Illmatic.

            Other standout tracks off the mixtape include “Waves”, “Hardknock”, “Daily Routine” and “Righteous Minds”. The second song in chronological order, “Waves” just continues the mellow feeling of “Summer Knights”. The song has a nostalgic element to it and continues Joey’s introduction to the world as a young kid from the ghetto just trying to make it as a rapper. “Hardknock” has that same content but with a much more somber tone. It has possibly the best hook in the whole mixtape because the repeating line “I just can’t live my life like this” really hits hard every time he says it. Another interesting hook is on the song “Daily Routine” which speaks on the ins and outs of daily life in his hometown. Other than “Survival Tactics”, “Righteous Minds” is my favorite beat in the mixtape and it’s a fairly decent song. Joey Bada$$ finishes off the album by introducing his whole Pro Era squad on the last song, “Suspect”.

            1999 does a great job of showcasing Joey’s lyrical ability and his great ear for beat selection, but overall it’s not entirely cohesive and is a bit repetitive in terms of content. However, again it is important to remember that this is a mixtape which doesn’t have as much work put into it as an album. Also, Joey is still young and with age he may get even better and definitely more experienced. Hip-hop awaits his official debut album with open arms and salutes his involvement in the return to the basics.