Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$, born Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (b. January 20, 1995) is an American rapper, actor, and record producer hailing from Brooklyn, New York. Becoming known for his rugged 90’s style, an invigorating outcome of his Brooklyn neighborhood and surroundings, Joey Bada$$ has been a staple in the hip-hop industry for maintaining an authentic, unique and versatile sound. Whereas other rappers may take fewer risks with formulaic projects, Joey never shies away from keeping his music raw and original.

He is a co-founder of the collective Pro Era, with whom he has released two mixtapes and toured the globe multiple times.

Joey gained recognition after he released his debut mixtape, 1999, on June 12, 2012 to critical acclaim and recognition, followed by Rejex in September, and Summer Knights on July 1, 2013.

His debut studio album, B4.DA.$$, released on January 20, 2015 (his 20th birthday) through Pro Era Records / Cinematic Music Group, sold an impressive 56,000 units its opening week making it the #1 rap and #1 independent album in the country. The project henceforth received acclaim from his critics as well as his fans and is the catalyst that has placed Joey among Hip-Hop’s elite, as the album has sold 148,000+ copies worldwide to date.

After his debut album, Joey has spent the better part of 2015 touring; playing overseas festivals; creating original music for soundtracks, such as Southpaw, as well as a national tour in the US, all while establishing the first annual Steez Day Festival in New York City on July 7th, 2015.

Joey’s sophomore album, ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, was released on April 7, 2017, despite being leaked about a week earlier (which was due in part to an early physical press of the album). The project includes features from heavy-hitters such as ScHoolBoy Q, J. Cole and Styles P, as well as known collaborators Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, Chronixx and Meechy Darko.

In an interview with XXL, Joey Badass stated that he was influenced by Nas, Tupac Shakur, Black Thought, MF DOOM, J Dilla, Andre 3000, Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. He has received heavy comparison to late rapper Big L. He has also been compared to Nas during his Illmatic era.