Part of Joey Bada$$‘s brilliance and projected longevity comes down to a refusal to align himself with any one style of hip-hop. The young MC has very astutely observed that restricting oneself to one specific niche is short-sighted and will inevitably doom you to short-lived success.
Putting it like that seems rather cynical, however it should be noted that this approach has also enriched his music immeasurably. This new collaboration with Chance The Rapper and Thelonius Martin is the perfect example and undeniable proof that versatility is the mark of a great artist.
In a world where trap seems to reign supreme, it is truly refreshing to hear hip-hop that isn’t made for the club. While the subject matter here could be dismissed as “bitch rap”, a keen listener would avoid that trap (no pun intended) and enjoy the tongue-in-cheek wordplay, the hazy sax and playful nature of the lyrics.
Finally, hip-hop has returned to the lyrical one-upmanship that made it great in the first place.
