Joey Badass---Summer Knights

Joey Bada$$-Summer Knights-Independent-(2013)

Artist: Joey Bada$$

Mixtape: Summer Knights    

Label: Independent  

Producers: Lee Bannon, Kirk Knight, The Alchemist, DJ Premiere, MF DOOM, others   

It’s hard to get your name noticed in this competitive fickle business. In order to get into the game, you have to follow the trends; sounding original is almost like a dinosaur. Now music in general is getting hungrier and younger. Where does this fit into the equation of Brooklyn’s own younging Joey Badass. Very simple! He was on the list of the new young artists to look out for in 2013. So far his lyrics are undoubtedly fire and it shows on the debut opus 1999. Now can he live to the hype with his new joint Summer Knights?

            Lyrically, Joey has what it takes to take on the competition and his voice is refreshing. It remind me of the days when young emcees take the essence of hip hop and construct it their way to equal originiality. Take Special Ed in the late eighties for example to Nas in the early nineties for example. Apply that to this album and you got excellence. The intro starts off from the Juice skit hailing from Brooklyn a 90’s nostalgic style to the first track “Alowha” where Joey spits aggressively which we are so use to. “Hilary Swank” is one of the favorite tracks where his lyrics spit perfectly over the Lee Bannon jazzy flute beat added with contemporary drum patterns. Joey got my ears ringing in a good way spitting: deep fried friends like dumplings/but f*ck that my nigga we munching. AHHH!!!! Music to the ears!!! “My Yout” has a great reggae influence where he bodied the track with assistance of Collie Buddz.  “Death of YOLO” takes it back to the old 90’s dusty boom bap sampling and beat drum patterns which fit his contemporary rhyming delivery and even Smoke DZA rhymed well. Thank god, someone made a song of the death of YOLO and the piano influenced “Right to Time” puts Joey into a position rhyming about a chic while T’nah Apex sings an awesome chorus.

            Throughout the album, it puts a great 90’s feel to it. It continues with “Street Dreams” and “47Goonz” where things get better and Joey rhymes aggressively. The other standout track is the Statik Selektah produced “Word Is Bond” where Joey’s rhyme presence matches with the piano looped beat perfectly. The guest appearances fit the theme of the album which is also important. The rhyming chemistry between Joey and his proera team gel well that brings hip hop fans into open arms and embrace this project. Now, an Alchemist beat must fit somewhere and yes it does on “Trap Door” where Joey straight owned this track.

            Summer Knights is a breath of fresh air to hip hop music. Joey went ham in this project and is considered one of the best mixtapes of the year, definitely on the top 5. Producers Lee Bannon and Kirk Knight provided a third of the album which keeps Joey Badass on his toes and fits well with Oddissee, Alchemist, MF Doom and Premo. Whether it’s exposing the phony on the MF DOOM track “Amethyst Rockstar”:when did rap turn into a fashion show/too many makeup artists won’t let their passion show/the anti-social mogul, having 20-20 visions/in need of bifocals for your eyes, dilated ojos; yeah I thought the same thing! Or the posse cut pro era team on “Sorry Bonita” or a heartfelt track dedicated to pro era member Capital Steez on “#LongLiveSteelo” he got what it takes to hold the hip hop game down. Not one track was awful; it’s a mixtape to definitely enjoy. The only filler track was the Premo track “Unorthodox” which is a bonus track; just didn’t add that punch but overall a masterpiece. We will all enjoy the summer knights with this project and not looking forward for the winter mornings!

            Strong Tracks: “Hilary Swank”, “My Yout”, “Death of YOLO”, “Word Is Bond”, “Trap Door”, “Sorry Bonita”, “Amethyst Rockstar”, “#LongLiveSteelo”

            Rating:out of