“I’m a martian with an army of Spartans sparring with a knife in a missile fight” – more clearly than I could, Joey communicates on ‘Survival Tactics’ that he goes about his business a little differently to other young rappers. Unlike Chicago’s trap-rap Chief Keef or Odd Future’s militantly aggressive Earl Sweatshirt, New Yorker Bada$$ and his Pro Era collective hark back to the ‘Golden Era’, demanding lyricism and honesty, delivered by the boatload on 1999. Taking beats from MF Doom and stylistic cues from fellow Brooklynite Nas, 17 year old Joey builds on intimidating influences and somehow makes well-trodden ground sound like new pathways crying out for exploration, showcasing his unquestionable potential by showing emotional maturity and delivery more incisive than contemporary confessional rappers like Drake on ‘Pennyroyal’. Rap nostalgia hasn’t sounded quite so young, fresh or exciting in a long time.
Rishi Modha 