Joey Badass is one of New York City’s “people’s champs”. A true model of longevity, Badass has thrived through various trends in the music industry. A founding member of the Pro Era Collective, the Bed-Stuy native used his platform to turn some great raps into a multifaceted, multimillion-dollar, business.

Badass’ debut album in 2012, 1999, distinguished the rapper from his peers as he exhibited masterful storytelling and subject matter, lyricism, and coherency, amongst other qualities that ultimately allowed him to grace the cover of XXL Magazine as a “Freshman” in 2013. Joey Badass channelled the spirit of Bed-Stuy and made an instant classic that perspired NYC from the exclusively Pro Era featured artists, to Statik Selectah & Joey Badass’ meticulous beat-selection. However, Joey Badass was still considered underground. A decade later, Joey Badass releases his fifth studio album 2000.

On 1999, Joey Badass came into the industry with a chip on his shoulder, while 2000 is a victory lap. The album begins and listeners hear Diddy and Nas, legends and symbols of community entrepreneurship, wealth, and growth; a subtle flex to notify both fans and the industry from where he came, to where he currently is in rap and in finances. For his core fans, Joey Badass maintains elements of what his fanbase gravitated to, as he continues to rap over sweet samples and boom-bap beats. However in a typical Pro Era fashion, it’s nuanced; where fans would find a Kirk Knight or CJ Fly feature, they will discover Westside Gunn or Larry June.

 Hip-hop heads can argue that 1999 and 2000 are two sides of the same coin, expressing each side of a spectrum through an individual that has survived the New York, “get rich or die trying” experience. Joey Badass expertly exhibits maturity and growth in his most recent project as part two of an instant classic to refocus the city on its purpose.