Joey Bada$$ has been a beacon of hope in contemporary hip-hop for over ten years. Officially arriving on the scene in 2012 with his phenomenal 1999 mixtape, the rapper (real name Jo-Vaughn Scott) was New York’s most promising young emcee. The 2010s saw hip-hop fixate on the South. For decades prior, New York had been the dominant force. Following the success of rappers such as Lil’ Wayne and Soulja Boy in the late 2000s, Atlanta and the South began to eclipse the ‘Empire State’.
Possessing an unfathomable amount of creative integrity partnered with an authentic sound, it is unfortunate that due to the arrival of trap, hip-hop tastemakers were quick to discard Bada$$’ quality music in favour of what has since become a musical fad.
Bada$$, unlike many artists today, is a skilled creator of albums. Not concerned with Spotify, short songs, neverending singles and playlist placements, only last year he released his critically acclaimed project, 2000. However, as trap and its derivatives, such as drill, continue to prosper and become the new sound of hip-hop, Joey Bada$$, with his J Dilla and Tribe Called Quest style beats, still goes unappreciated.
Scott has ventured into other areas entertainment industry, including acting. The lyricist appeared in Mr Robot, in which he played Leon, an associate of Elliot. Furthermore, in 2019 he even began modelling for Paco Rabanne. He was heavily featured in their advertising campaigns throughout the following years. While taking on all these endeavours, the rapper also recorded and carefully crafted his second studio album. In April 2017, the rapper released All-Amerikkkan Bada$$. It would peak at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 200 and at number 5 on the UK Album Charts.
Joey Bada$$’s projects always showcase his wealth of musical influences from hip-hop to neo-soul and gospel. In an interview with DJ Superstar Jay on his radio show VIP Saturdays, the Brooklyn native was asked who he would put in his top five list of rappers turned actors. When asked Scott named, “2Pac, Will Smith, Ice Cube, Method Man,” Joey said before pondering on his last choice. “50 [Cent].” You can watch the full interview in the video below.
Joey Bada$$ five favourite rappers of all time who can act:
- 2Pac
- Will Smith
- Ice Cube
- Method Man
- 50 Cent