On April 7, 2017, he released his second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ under Pro Era Records and Cinematic Music Group. The album was supported by three singles: Devastated, Land of the Free and Temptation. ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200.
Five years following the release of his second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, he released the follow-up to his debut mixtape, 1999, ten years later on July 22, 2022. The name of this album, his third studio album, was 2000. During 2022, Joey released multiple singles to the album including Head High, Survivors Guilt, Zipcodes and 2 more. In the album, Joey goes over plenty of topic matters such as dealing with mental health, the passing of his friend Captial Steez and his cousin, Junior B, ten years later, and his overal life. 2000 debuted at No.18 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold roughly 22,000 album-equvialent units in its first week. The album was well perceived by fans and critcs, and was deemed to be a generally good lead up to his mixtape 1999.
Escape 120
Joey Bada$$ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been working away
But the sky's been looking so gray
Sometimes I really need to get away, yeah
I just need to get away, yeah
I just need to get away, yeah
Sometimes I really need to fly away
Although I regret where my time was played
If I could go back, some things would be changed
And I would know that, for a fact, it was fame
That drew me to this unfamiliar side of my brain
That withdrew me from familiar and the closest remains
Although I'm gaining ends now, I'm loosing friends
They say that time is money, and my time is well spent
Girlfriend hit me up to chill, but does this shit make sense?
And I don't expect for you to know if you ain't paying rent
I got to make this album, and hold it down for my camp
Surrounded us all like bonfire
When I lay a verse down that's born fire
I was born fire
An ode to the worst of my days
I've been working away
But the sky's been looking so gray
Sometimes I really need to get away, yeah
I just need to get away, yeah
I just need to get away, yeah
Sometimes I really need to fly away
Went outside this morning, morning, uh
Seen the sky was falling, falling, yeah
Old man no longer snoring, snoring, ah
The rain just won't stop pouring, pouring, uh
Whats heaven's capitol like, like, li-like
Maybe I can crash tonight, night, night
Cause I'm trapped inside this hell, hell, hole
God, please answer your cell, cell, phone
I'm coming home tonight, can't touch no microphone tonight
Outside my comfort zone tonight
My brain's blown my dome tonight
Tonight's the night, don't you try to put up a fight
Don't you trying looking for life
Cause I'm bout to take that flight
An ode to the worst of my days
I've been working away
But the sky's been looking so gray
Sometimes I really need to get away, yeah
I just need to get away, yeah
I just need to get away, yeah
Sometimes I really need to fly away
Indigo father, [?] father
And travel across the water, and conquor a million dollars
I am the spirit, I am the guap
You sippin' out of your coconut beverage on the Bahamas
Pardon me mother, pardon me father
I'm glad that you spared a part of us, part of my firestarter
Along with niggas, bitches and ballers
And people that look down on me like they so taller
I go harder, I go smarter, the flow's water
Like I always [?] how to rob a dollar and a single piece of change
Movin' to the woods so I never ever change
Lose a couple things but I never ever change
I probably miss somebody but I never ever change
And they can say whatever but I never ever change
I feel I understood what the stars wanna say
I'm brain battered from [?] every Saturday
Pitter patter with people that really matter
And I'ma fuck her regardless cause I'm a kid right?
That's why you can't spell summer without trouble
Stripper with no bubble, threesome with no double
Love without hate, life without pain
This without that, choice without thought
A dog without day, Seattle without rain
If it rains in Seattle
I'll [?] then you can ride with your nigga
Fly with your nigga, get high with your nigga
Ride with me, survive with me
Say, If it rains in Seattle
I'll take you round the world on Sunday
With me, some day, one day, one day
The song "Escape 120" by Joey Bada$$ is a reflective piece on his journey through the music industry and how it has affected his personal life. Joey admits that he has had rough days while trying to make it in the industry and that he often found himself being pulled away from his loved ones. He reminisces on these darker times and thinks of what could have been changed had he known what fame would bring. Joey recognizes that he cannot change the past but he is working hard to ensure that his camp is taken care of while he works on his new album.
The second half of the song is Joey's way of escaping and looking forward to a brighter future. He describes seeing the sky falling and the rain pouring but he does not let it dampen his mood. Joey sees himself as a spirit that can travel across oceans and conquer anything in his path. He believes in his talent and worth, and he is not afraid to go harder and smarter than the competition. He knows he will always stay true to himself and will never change for anyone, regardless of what they say or do. Joey wants to take his listeners on a journey with him, to fly away from the negativity and find peace in brighter days.
Line by Line Meaning
An ode to the worst of my days
Acknowledge the worst moments of my life
I've been working away
I've been working tirelessly
But the sky's been looking so gray
Despite my efforts, things still look dismal
Sometimes I really need to get away, yeah
Sometimes I need to escape from my troubles
I just need to get away, yeah
I just need to escape
I could never forget them gloomy days
I can never forget the difficult moments in my life
Although I regret where my time was played
I regret the time I spent on bad decisions
If I could go back, some things would be changed
I would change things if I could go back in time
And I would know that, for a fact, it was fame
I now realize that fame was a factor in my decisions
That drew me to this unfamiliar side of my brain
Fame pushed me to the unknown parts of my brain
That withdrew me from familiar and the closest remains
Fame separated me from my familiar surroundings and people
Although I'm gaining ends now, I'm loosing friends
Although I'm making money now, I'm losing friends
They say that time is money, and my time is well spent
People say time is money and I spend it wisely
Girlfriend hit me up to chill, but does this shit make sense?
My girlfriend wants to hang out, but it doesn't make sense with my schedule
And I don't expect for you to know if you ain't paying rent
I don't think you can understand if you're not in my position
I got to make this album, and hold it down for my camp
I need to focus on my music and support my team
Surrounded us all like bonfire
We are all united like a bonfire
When I lay a verse down that's born fire
I create powerful lyrics when I write
I was born fire
I was born with a fiery spirit
Went outside this morning, morning, uh
I stepped outside this morning
Seen the sky was falling, falling, yeah
The sky was dark and gloomy
Old man no longer snoring, snoring, ah
Things that were once familiar are changing
The rain just won't stop pouring, pouring, uh
The bad times keep coming
Whats heaven's capitol like, like, li-like
I wonder what heaven is like
Maybe I can crash tonight, night, night
Maybe I can escape tonight
Cause I'm trapped inside this hell, hell, hole
I feel like I'm trapped in a terrible situation
God, please answer your cell, cell, phone
I am desperately seeking guidance
I'm coming home tonight, can't touch no microphone tonight
I'm coming home to take a break from music
Outside my comfort zone tonight
I'm doing something unfamiliar tonight
My brain's blown my dome tonight
My mind is blown tonight
Tonight's the night, don't you try to put up a fight
I'm going to do what I want tonight
Don't you trying looking for life
Don't try to find meaning in everything
Cause I'm bout to take that flight
Because I'm about to escape
Indigo father, [?] father
I am like an indigo child
And travel across the water, and conquor a million dollars
I want to travel and make a lot of money
I am the spirit, I am the guap
I am full of spirit and money
You sippin' out of your coconut beverage on the Bahamas
You're sipping a fancy drink in the Bahamas
Pardon me mother, pardon me father
Excuse me, mom and dad
I'm glad that you spared a part of us, part of my firestarter
Thank you for passing down your qualities to me
Along with niggas, bitches and ballers
I am grateful for the people in my life
And people that look down on me like they so taller
And even the people who judge me
I go harder, I go smarter, the flow's water
I strive to work harder and smarter, and my rhymes flow smoothly
Like I always [?] how to rob a dollar and a single piece of change
I know how to get money, even in small amounts
Movin' to the woods so I never ever change
I'm moving to stay true to myself
Lose a couple things but I never ever change
I may lose things but I won't change who I am
I probably miss somebody but I never ever change
I may miss someone but I won't change myself for them
And they can say whatever but I never ever change
Even if people criticize me, I won't change
I feel I understood what the stars wanna say
I feel like I understand the universe's message
I'm brain battered from [?] every Saturday
I'm mentally fatigued from working hard
Pitter patter with people that really matter
I spend my time with people who matter to me
And I'ma fuck her regardless cause I'm a kid right?
And I'll have sex with her anyway because I'm young and impulsive
That's why you can't spell summer without trouble
That's why summer and trouble are often associated
Stripper with no bubble, threesome with no double
Having sex without certain physical attributes or numbers of partners won't change anything
Love without hate, life without pain
It's unrealistic to expect love and life to exist without their negative counterparts
This without that, choice without thought
It's important to consider both sides before making a decision
A dog without day, Seattle without rain
It's unnatural for certain things to exist without their counterparts
If it rains in Seattle
If things get worse
I'll [?] then you can ride with your nigga
I'll overcome my difficulties and you can ride with me
Fly with your nigga, get high with your nigga
We can enjoy our lives together
Ride with me, survive with me
Stay with me through the difficult times
Say, If it rains in Seattle
If things get worse
I'll take you round the world on Sunday
I'll show you a good time and take you on adventures
With me, some day, one day, one day
Someday we'll have a good time together
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JO-VAUGHN SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind