Who Is Joey Badass

The Album that I chose to discuss in this piece is “All-Amerikkkan Badass”. The Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ released the album on April 7, 2017. Joey was born in the heart of bustling NYC. He grew up in a lower middle class family trying to make it in such a difficult city. At an early age, Joey lived with both of his parents and his grandmother. With his family working hard to keep them all afloat. His grandmother owned a few properties in Brooklyn, renting them out to make some extra money. His mother was in marketing, selling insurance to seniors. While his father worked with the UPS. The economic crisis in 2008 left everyone in their family without a job. It was a tough time for his family. Soon after this, his parents split up. He had
always valued his family, and these difficulties bled out into his music.
Where he came from in Brooklyn was an influencing factor in his choice to become a rapper in the Hip Hop Scene.
He grew up in what many people consider to be the heart of the Hip Hop scene. People always said that if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere else. He tried exactly that. He began creating music soon after the divorce of his parents. His depressive feelings fueled the energy that came through on his verses. His beats were quite different. He didn't use any of the new catchy beats storming the youth. He fought to bring back the classic style that put Hip Hop in New York on top. Joey describes the scene at the time of his early youth as rather dancey and gimmicky. He didn’t grow up listening to many of the current music at the time in New York. He instead chose to listen to the greats of the NYC Hip Hop scene. The likes of Biggie and a young Jay Z. Joey wanted to bring back the sound of the Golden Age in New York back to Modern Times. These classic beats are in his earlier music projects specifically "1999". His sophomore album “B4.DA.$$” told the story of growing up in torn family during a bad time in the country. These early projects propelled him into more thoughtful projects in the future. Especially, in the releasing of “All-Amerikkkan Badass” in
2017.
In this album, Joey looks to display the recklessness of the current social climate in the US. He points to racial problems that are still relevant in this nation even in today’s modern world. He touches on racial inequality, mass incarceration and police brutality in the country. He reflects on what it is like to be a black person during this new presidency. Joey feels that as an artist he has a responsibility to speak about these problems. In his 12-track album, he includes songs such as, “Good Morning Amerikkka, For my People, Land of the Free and Amerikkkan Idol. The songs share his disappointments with the media and government.
This mix of music & political rebellion remind me of similar occurrences with the rise of Rock N Roll in the 1950’s.
Topics of integration/segregation come through the music of rock and roll. Which brought to light the height of the problem at the time. Artists of the genre felt responsible to take action and start the conversation. They relayed a powerful message to the people listening. The article says that “Rock n roll pulls the white man down to the level of the “negro”” as it was very pro integration. Councilwoman Asa Carter spoke against the messages of Rock N Roll. Proclaiming that it brought down the morals of the Youth. Her thoughts remind one of the messages of many white supremacist
groups.
To dissect his album, I took four refrains from various songs. Bringing together the meaning of the message that he wants to relay. In the song “Land of the Free” Joey says,
“I feel my ancestors unrested inside of me
It's like they want me to shoot my chance in changing society but how do I go about it?
Tell me where I start?
My destiny rerouted when I chose to follow heart
You told to follow suit, but tell me what it do for you?
Except weigh you down, now you trapped inside the cubicle”
In this refrain the artist is rather direct in talking about his slave ancestors. Who feel unsettled with the brutal history that they lived. Those ancestors have long passed away. But, in a way he feels connected to them. This may be through the struggle that they both face in this divided country. Joey then describes the American society as wanting to shoot him down. To quiet his rebellious thoughts. He uses a metaphor, in comparing his freedom of destiny to the freedom his ancestors deserved. He was able to break free from the chains that society has him in. and follow his own destiny to the stage. He became an artist speaking to the people. He points out that many were not as lucky. They are still in those chains. Trapped between the cubicle put before them in this modern society. He realizes that even though he was able to break free, most are still trapped living a meaningless life.
In this next verse of the same song, Joey focuses on the heart of the social problem that the country is facing.
“In the land of the free, it's full of free loaders
Leave us dead in the street to be their organ donors
They disorganized my people, made us all loners
Still got the last names of our slave owners”
Joey puts out many of his thoughts on the social problems that the country is facing in a very short verse. He puts into perspective how much of the country is still not part of the workforce. They are consuming resources that others in the country have worked hard for. This is one of the only times that the artist portrays conservative views. Joey says that some people have become dependent upon the help of others. This dependency leads to irresponsible individuals incapable of living for themselves. He also discusses mass police shootings against many African Americans. Leaving them injured or dead only to serve as “organs”. The death and despair that comes with the loss of life leaves many families “lonely”. The last line describes how African Americans are still recognized by the their last names passed down from slave ancestors.
In this next song called, “Legendary” Joey puts focus on a faulty economic game in America. Leaving the poor more unfortunate and the rich much more fortunate.
“Right out the womb, you come out, and it's a bunch of blackmail
Just waitin' for you to fail, a special room in the jail
With your name, a number on it so you property now I see it properly now,
It's what the poverty 'bout
It's all a game of Monopoly, tryna cop me a house
An elephant in the room until I fit in my tomb
And introduced to my doom, they say the end comin' soon”
Joey starts out by talking about the disadvantages that come with starting your life out as a black man. Right from birth, blacks and minorities are another statistic. Expected to fall to criminality and despair. With a number and a chain behind metal bars. The unfairness of this situation comes from being born through this painful heritage. Not only for those African Americans but those in poverty. That come into a cyclical occurrence of unjust pain. He talks about the board game Monopoly to reference to the state of income inequality. Where the richest individuals hold most of the wealth of America. Leaving many of the poor racing for the mere scraps. The Elephant in the second to last line of the verse symbolizes the conservative party. The rooted oppression against minority individuals and African Americans.
The last refrain comes from the song, “Amerikkkan Idol” and Joey speaks directly to the audience in emphasizing how they need to clear their minds and make conscious thoughts on their own.
“Time to wake the fuck up and do our own research
And not form opinions based on just what we've heard
Ameri-K-K-K-a is force feedin' you lies down your throats with a silver spoon
And eventually, we'll all be doomed Real, real, real soon”
Joey puts out a forceful vibe in pushing Americans to have their own thoughts. The media has become a powerful force that we as a country cannot let empower our own ideas. Americans have turned into zombies believing whatever the media tells them to. It as though we as people have become sponges soaking in whatever garbage we are hearing. Without making sure that it's truthful and relevant information. The last line hits home to the severity of the issue. We need to block out and make our ideas; because if not we are slaves to the opinions of the people above us. Those controlling our thoughts with their own agendas.
Joey in his album spoke about heavy issues that need more coverage. In a recent CNN interview, Joey says that the rise to presidency of Donald Trump has brought forward a positive change in Hip Hop. He believes that with all this negativity, leaders have come out to speak out and fight for the voices of the many. He names artists such as J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Jay Z that have been leaders. They like joey have spoken against racial inequality in the United States. The mass negativity in the United States has brought rebellion and outcry.