BET Awards 2022: Get Schooled on Joey Bada$$ with These Essential Records
New York native Joey Bada$$ grew from the up-and-coming emcee, kicking bars about his upbringing in the borough that birthed some of hip hop’s biggest names, such as Notorious BIG, to Jay-Z, to starring in some Oscar-winning films. During the BET Awards 2022, hosted by actress Taraji P. Henson, the “Revenge” rapper took the stage for an explosive performance, proving that he hasn’t forgotten his musical roots. If you didn’t catch the show, don’t miss these essential Joey Bada$$ records we love in honor of the rapper’s amazing performance. Take a look below.
“Waves”
“Waves” is one of four and the second single released from Joey’s debut mixtape 1999. He was only 17 years old when he dropped the project. He performed the track during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, which bolstered his popularity.
“95 Til Infinity”
In this track title “95 Til Infinity,” a nod to Souls of Mischief’s “’93 Til’ Infinity,” Joey raps about his rough upbringing to ultimately “taking care of business.” The song is another gem from Joey’s critically acclaimed mixtape 1999.
“Christ Conscious”
The Basquiat-produced track “Christ Conscious” is the second single released from the emcee’s debut studio album B$.Da.$$. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200.
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“Devastated”
Joey released “Devastated” as the first single from his album, All-Amerikkkan Bada$$, which found the rapper opening up about his worries about not yet reaching fame and how it left him devastated. The song’s uptempo beat gives off a sense of hope, often felt in songs such as Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” and Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later.”
“Temptation”
Sticking to the theme in All-Amerikkkan Bada$$, Joey calls out racism and discrimination against the Black community. The intro and outro sample a recording of Zianna Oliphant, a nine-year-old girl from Charlotte, North Carolina, who, in the wake of the police-related shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott, made a courageous speech to an audience at a council meeting.
