Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ has released his highly-anticipated debut album, Before Da Money (stylized as B4.Da.$$). After appearing as a XXL Freshman in 2013 and releasing two well-received mixtapes, fans were anticipating what the rapper would come up with after announcing his album in mid-2014. The album doesn’t disappoint, and also has the ability to entice new fans to join the Pro Era Movement.

B4.Da.$$ Music Review

The standout difference between this album and his mixtapes is the personal look into Joey Bada$$’s life, which aside for a handful of tracks, he had previously avoided. The track “Piece of Mind,” about his friend in jail via a phone call, is similar to Nas’ “One Time.”

The grimy tracks “Big Dusty,” “Belly of the Beast” and “No. 99″ (which samples A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Miss Lover”), evoke the 90’s throwback sound that Joey has now become known for. Aside from the boom-bap sound of years past, Bada$$ also shows a softer side with “Hazeus View,” “ Like Me” (which features singer BJ the Chicago Kid), and “On and On” (a tribute to fallen Pro Era members Capital Steez and Junior B).

“Escape 120” is a complete departure from the rest of the album because it shows an experimental side of Bada$$. He and Pro Era producer Chuck Strangers utilize a fast almost industrial trip-hop beat. With the help of Atlanta alternative singer Raury (who rapped to the beat in the style of Andre 3000), Bada$$ showed his detractors he is more than his 90’s sound and can step out of his comfort zone.

Overall, it’s a solid debut album. The album is crisp, and the same Dilla/MF Doom influence of his mixtapes is there, but he added a couple more styles to his repertoire in the past year that he was able to utilize successfully on B4.Da.$$.  While lacking a song that could put the album into commercial success, it should be an underrated album that will garner the praise of many “Hip-Hop heads” throughout the year.

Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.