Joey Badass is back with his first studio album in five years titled, 2000. Originally, the album was first announced in mid-May and was slated to release in mid-June. The album experienced a delay due to sample clearances. However, the album is in fact well worth the wait. The Brooklyn rapper showcases a heartfelt, vibrant and skillful evolution in his boom bap influenced sound. 2000 takes its title as a follow up to Joey’s debut mixtape, 1999.
The album takes us on a 14-track journey, featuring an array of like-minded braggadocious collaborators like Larry June, Diddy, JID, and Westside Gunn. The album starts off with the boastful “The Baddest” featuring Diddy. Joey cements his status as one of the best proclaiming that himself, Kendrick, and Cole to be rap’s holy trinity. The quotable bar states, “Who the best emcees? Kenny, Joey and Cole
The holy trinity, it’s that “95 Till Infinity” energy,” per Genius.com.
In this bar, Joey takes inspiration from Jay-Z’s 1997 hit, “Where I’m From,” where Jay proclaimed him, Nas, and Biggie to be rap’s holy trinity. Throughout listening to the album, what stood out to me about 2000 is that it’s driven by Joey. We are experiencing him sonically in all areas of his life as it is right now.
Joey Bada$$ “Zipcodes” Music Video
“Survivor’s Guilt” is probably the most poignant track on 2000, with Joey detailing his grief over losing his longtime friend and one of the founding members of PRO ERA, an East Coast rap collective, CAPITAL STEEZ. As well as Junior B, his older cousin and former tour manager. He recognizes these feelings in lyrics like, “And that’s when he started drowning, and he had no one around him, so, partially, I feel it’s my fault.”
In a recent interview with Zane Lowe, the Brooklyn rapper mentioned that writing “Survivors Guilt” was cathartic to his personal healing journey. On more brighter tracks like, “Welcome Back” (ft. Capella Grey and Chris Brown), and “Show Me,” where the Brooklyn rapper relishes in a chill R&B sound expressing his feelings about love, sex and relationships.
Whether you are new to Joey Bada$$ or have been a fan since 1999, his new album 2000 is a must listen.
Listen to 2000 by Joey Bada$$
