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Album Review: Joey Bada$$ - B4.Da.$$

Darren Collins
StarStarStarStar

Bada$$ is still one of the best things in recent memory to happen to the birthplace of hip hop.

More Joey Bada$$ Joey Bada$$ Profile

Over the past 15 years MCs like Fabolous, Cam’ron and The Lox have mistakenly been dubbed potential saviours of NY hip hop and, off the back of dope 2012 mixtape, 1999, Bada$$ was seen as next in line. With his unashamedly mid-‘90s boom-bap sound, Bada$$ ran the risk of hitting an artistic dead end, yet on his debut album proper he’s mixed up that true-school ethos with a couple of surprises, including the jaw-droppingly commercial Teach Me. Regardless, Bada$$ is still one of the best things in recent memory to happen to the birthplace of hip hop.