Joey Bada$$- ‘ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$’ Album Review

Joey Bada$$- ‘ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$’

Despite his youth (aged 22), Joey Bada$$, real name Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, is at the forefront of current rap music. Since his first mixtape ‘1999’ dropped in 2012, Bada$$ has effectively managed to go from strength to strength with his unique rap style that has gained tons of fans for Joey throughout the world. New album ‘All-Amerikkkan Bada$$’ is a portrait of the current state of America through a young black man’s eyes, presented in a raw yet confident  manner that undoubtedly displays the wise head that sits on Bada$$’ youthful body.

His second studio album is an assured project. On ‘All Amerikkkan Bada$$’ we meet a very mature young man who is struggling to cope with the landscape he is situated in. Its 12 songs rip through quickly with Bada$$ successfully getting his point across rapidly in order to ensure that the listener understand where he is coming from. On ‘Land of the Free’, Bada$$ raps about the political climate he is forced to live with, saying “Obama just wasn't enough, I just need some more closure; And Donald Trump is not equipped to take this country over”. Thus presenting a very passionate, angry guise, and this seems to be a constant theme that runs through his latest effort. I mean the fact that whenever America is mentioned on the album it is slept with three K’s (a clear reference to white supremacist group KKK) clearly shows how he is feeling. “For My People” is a true anti-establishment anthem, however it is presented with a trap style beat and a catchy hook that actually makes this song sound rather positive and happy, when really the lyrics are the complete opposite. This particular component to ‘All Amerikkkan Bada$$’ helps it to remain relevant and current, even potentially mainstream, something that may not appeal to Joey’s die-hard fans, however it may work in helping to acquire a broader fan base. Bada$$ also displays a clear reggae influence towards the climax of the album. ‘Ring the Alarm, ‘Super Predator’ & ‘Babylon’ all incorporate a Jamaican summer vibe whilst still maintaining Joey’s classic rap style, something which he must be given credit for due to its boldness.

‘All Amerikkan Bada$$’ has his faults thought. The single ‘Devastated’ feels like a rather desperate cry from Bada$$ to appeal to the Drake generation. Its lazy sounding bars paired with a generic beat and the occasional ‘skrrt skrrt’ culminates in a track that is very un-Bada$$ and this particular song will no doubt upset the people that have been with Joey from the start as it is a clear swerve from his usual style. Also, the Schoolboy-Q featuring track ‘Rockabye Baby’ is another track with issues. It’s a strange, sleazy track that leaves the listener feeling like they’ve just taken a dodgy pill. Vomit-inducing rap is not the way to go.

Overall, ‘All Amerikkan Bada$$’ does show progression from Bada$$, he’s evidently matured and he clearly understands how to present his opinions and emotions via his art form. Yet ,despite this, there are clear cracks in this project, cracks that drag this album into the mainstream sludge that is infested with generic white girls, Adidas superstar trainers and Starbucks Frappuccino’s, something which Bada$$ needs to ensure he avoids in the future.

Overall Rating- 7/10

Fave Tracks- ‘Land of the Free’, ‘For my People’, ‘Legendary’, ‘Ring the Alarm, ‘Amerikkkan Idol'

Least Fave Tracks- ‘Devastated’, ‘Rockabye Baby’ 

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