In early March, 22-year old Bada$$ committed a sin that some viewed just as bad as fellow millennial Lil Yachty’s admitting that he couldn’t name five Tupac songs. Joey said he was a better rapper than Tupac, “facts.”
The internet swiftly attacked Bada$$ for his statement, but to his defense, he also talked about how in life and culture, the younger generation is supposed to be better than the previous generation because it was set up for them to take the ball and keep running. In the same clip he also expressed how he felt it was important to him that his influences [Fred Hampton, Langston Hughes] be felt in his music so that fans his age can also appreciate those that came before him. He also said, “I believe I am one of the minds that ‘Pac said [he would] spark to change the world.”
Joey defended his stance on Twitter by stating that he was talking about skill level, not influence.
https://twitter.com/joeyBADASS/status/837068961132924930
He also took shots at “the media” for twisting the intent of his statement.
https://twitter.com/joeyBADASS/status/837069644242419713
A couple of weeks later, Bada$$ got some encouragement from Pharrell Williams when he was a guest on his OTHERtone podcast. Pharrell, who has earned an authoritative position in the game, compared Joey to ‘Pac, not for his music, but for his potential to be just as big of an influence beyond rapping.
“Your way of expressing yourself is just different,” Pharrell told him. “I think it just lifts the music to a whole other level. It’s interesting because, when you think about Tupac, he was that guy. His music was great, but his interviews would make you go back to the music and be like woah!”
‘Pac’s influence can definitely be heard throughout Joey’s new album All Amerikkkan Bada$$ which just dropped this past Friday. Chock-full of middle fingers to corrupt government and White supremacy, the album offers no apologies for the institutions it is meant to offend. From sharing Tupac song titles like “Temptation” to shouting out ‘Pac’s godfather Geronimo Pratt on “Good Morning Amerikkka,” Joey channels the Black Panther side of ‘Pac that we got in heavy doses on 2Pacalypse Now and Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. but only got in flashes on All Eyez On Me and Makaveli.
Joey, like so many others, says that Tupac is his favorite rapper of all time. But the interesting thing about that claim is that many people who say that tend to latch on to and promote their personal favorite songs and themes and not his entire canon. Joey obviously bypasses ‘Pac’s advice to “rap for the b*tches” as there are no sexual songs aimed at women on the album. Joey also aims more at informing, inspiring and uplifting like-minded people and addressing institutions, instead of attacking unnamed haters and [perceived] mortal enemies. Which is something ‘Pac always found time for.
Which is also something Joey’s distant-nemesis and fellow Tupac admirer Troy Ave is finding space in his schedule to do.
