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$$, he released the follow-up to his debut mixtape, 1999, ten years later on July 22, 2022. The name of this album, his third studio album, was 2000. During 2022, Joey released multiple singles to the album including Head High, Survivors Guilt, Zipcodes and 2 more. In the album, Joey goes over plenty of topic matters such as dealing with mental health, the passing of his friend Captial Steez and his cousin, Junior B, ten years later, and his overal life. 2000 debuted at No.18 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold roughly 22,000 album-equvialent units in its first week. The album was well perceived by fans and critcs, and was deemed to be a generally good lead up to his mixtape 1999.
Intro
Joey Bada$$ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pass the herbs, pass the herbs
Pass the herbs, pass the herbs
Pass the herbs, pass the herbs
Pass the herbs, pass the herbs
It's been a minute since they seen a style with no gimmicks
Clouds'll stay limits cuz we in em'
Eyes low, squinting,
Acting like
d to find women when I'm in these hard to find linens
Remeber those days it was hard to find a living
But now we got ends and its only the beginning
Big pimpin', foolin' dimes rob em' for they innocence
Cake like Entenmann's,
flow sweet like cinnamon
He a child but they treat him like the bigger m
Cuz when the pan in his hand they big him up like he Jigga Man
Know you see em' in the mirror fam
he ones who say you ain't hot be your biggest fan, like nigga damn
Before he got popular he been da' man
With yo' chick, in the can, rollin' thru an instant gram
Got a whiff a' grands now everybody say they diss their fam
Know the haters still jelly but fuck it though, it's the jam...
This song, entitled "Intro," is a tribute to old-school rap and the artists who paved the way for Joey Bada$$ and the new school rap scene. Bada$$ opens the song with "back when rappers was really rappers," reminiscent of a time when hip hop was less of a commercialized genre and more about creative expression. The repeated line "pass the herbs" is a reference to smoking marijuana, a drug that has been a significant part of rap culture since its inception.
Bada$$ acknowledges the current rap scene's reliance on gimmicks, such as autotune and overly-produced beats, and contrasts it with the raw, gritty sound of the past, represented by the line "clouds'll stay limits cuz we in em'". He speaks on the struggle of coming up, referencing a time when he had to grind just to make ends meet. But now, as he and his contemporaries have achieved success, he sees it as just the beginning of a long and prosperous career.
He also touches on the negative aspects of fame, such as people only being interested in you for what you can do for them, and the pressure of living up to the expectations of others. Despite this, he exudes confidence and seems to relish in the fact that he and his peers have made it to the top. The final line, "know the haters still jelly but fuck it though, it's the jam," shows Bada$$'s unapologetic attitude towards his success.
Line by Line Meaning
Back when rappers was really rappers
In the past, true rappers existed who embodied the real essence and culture of hip-hop.
Pass the herbs, pass the herbs
Request for the passing of herbs or marijuana to smoke.
It's been a minute since they seen a style with no gimmicks
It has been a long time since people witnessed a rap style without any gimmicks or marketing strategies.
Clouds'll stay limits cuz we in em'
Being high on drugs makes you feel like you are in a cloud, high in the sky.
Eyes low, squinting, more L's but we winning
Despite the struggles and losses they face, they continue to persevere and come out successful.
Acting like d to find women when I'm in these hard to find linens
Referring to acting like a 'don' or a player in expensive clothing to attract women.
Remeber those days it was hard to find a living
Reflecting back on the times when life was tough and making a living was a daily struggle.
But now we got ends and its only the beginning
Currently, they have money but realize that this is just the start of their journey.
Big pimpin', foolin' dimes rob em' for they innocence
Engaging in big-pimping lifestyle, deceiving young girls and taking away their innocence.
Cake like Entenmann's, flow sweet like cinnamon
Having wealth and success like the Entenmann's brand and having a sweet or smooth flow in their rap.
He a child but they treat him like the bigger m
Referring to a young rapper who is treated like a big-time mogul or CEO within the music industry.
Cuz when the pan in his hand they big him up like he Jigga Man
Comparing the young rapper to Jay-Z, one of the most successful rappers in the industry.
Know you see em' in the mirror fam
Acknowledging the reflection of oneself in the mirror.
he ones who say you ain't hot be your biggest fan, like nigga damn
Ironically, those who claim that you are not talented or popular are secretly admiring and following you.
Before he got popular he been da' man
Even prior to becoming famous, he had already established himself as someone of importance, with his skills and talent.
With yo' chick, in the can, rollin' thru an instant gram
Hanging out with a girl, smoking weed, and scrolling through Instagram.
Got a whiff a' grands now everybody say they diss their fam
After acquiring a large sum of money, people start to act like they are too good for their families.
Know the haters still jelly but fuck it though, it's the jam...
Acknowledging the existence of envious haters who are stuck in their negative thoughts, but still being content and enjoying life.
Writer(s): John Aka Johne Battle Battle, Torrianne Hardnett
Contributed by Jack J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eazy E
Glad I finally found this song again! It's been a minute!! This beat is godly. Classic 90s feel
Mettah
Joey even has good intros... Love everything about his music
More L's but we winning ;)
Darren Moore
Man remember being 20 when this dropped time really do be flyin
Isaiah Jones
I really think Joey should've used this intro instead. It sends the exact message the mixtape is trying to say, that 90's were the best/realest time of hip hop. Intro gets you hype for old school rap too, its genius.
Young Sinatra V
1000000000000000000000% agreed
DopevibesTV
Foreal
zorriez
This shit bump hella hard
BiGfukkinA
Instrumentaaal 🔥🔥🔥
Pro Era
its been a minute since they seen they style with no gimmicks
Creature
Obsessed with this beat