Brooklyn emcee and torch bearer of the classic 90s boom bap Ney York sound, Joey Bada$$, recently a new single titled Devastated. This is unlike most of what Joey has dropped in the past in that it has a much more radio-friendly and mainstream sound as opposed to the DJ Premier type beats that he normally uses. The young emcee sings the chorus which goes "I used to feel so devastated / At times I thought we'd never make it / But now we on the path to greatness / And all it ever took was patience." You can listen to the song by clicking the YouTube link at the bottom of the page.
Depending on how you look at it this could be a very good or very bad move on Joey’s part. I’d like to believe that one of the reasons for his fame has been because he has managed to keep a live a sound which once ruled the airwaves but has now taken a major backseat to trap and EDM-influenced tracks.
Joey is a throwback to the 90s era while at the same time fusing it with modern day topics. He has been in his own lane since he came out. There’s no modern day emcee that you could really compare him to hence he represents something refreshing and different. With that being said his new song, which sounds more commercial than most of his previous material could be a sign that Joey is abandoning his 90s rap roots, which is a cause of concern for fans of that type of music such as myself. Joey’s been carrying the spirit of 90s rap while others have dropped it either due to getting tired of it, wanting a change, pursuing cultural relevance or seeking commercial success. The worry is where else are we going to hear that classic DJ Premier sound apart from Joey, PRhyme and a handful of rappers? The main complaint that I have seen online is that Joey is selling out for fame and commercial success.
On the good side of the change in sound, it’s great to see that Joey is growing as an artist and wants to explore new areas and expand his musical horizon. Growth and experimentation are necessary ingredients for an artist to remain interesting, relevant and successful so no one should be mad at Joey for wanting to try something different. Any artist who has maintained a long and successful career has done the same thing over and over again. It’s a natural progression; as you grow as a person your music changes too. So Joey must be applauded for stepping outside his comfort zone.
Music like all art is subjective, and Devastated is no exception; some will like it and some will hate it and neither opinion is correct nor incorrect. It’s just what it is. Personally I’m waiting to hear what else Joey will release so that I can see whether this is a one-off thing or whether it’s a path he will continue to explore in the foreseeable future. I think it’s a good song by itself, but it’s not the type of music that I can’t get from an endless list of other rappers. If this is the path he wants to continue down I feel like he will he lose the appeal he had which made him unique. But it might be too soon to talk. Let’s wait and see.
