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$$, he released the follow-up to his debut mixtape, 1999, ten years later on July 22, 2022. The name of this album, his third studio album, was 2000. During 2022, Joey released multiple singles to the album including Head High, Survivors Guilt, Zipcodes and 2 more. In the album, Joey goes over plenty of topic matters such as dealing with mental health, the passing of his friend Captial Steez and his cousin, Junior B, ten years later, and his overal life. 2000 debuted at No.18 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold roughly 22,000 album-equvialent units in its first week. The album was well perceived by fans and critcs, and was deemed to be a generally good lead up to his mixtape 1999.
Killuminati
Joey Bada$$ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a beast with these flows
Two birds, one stoned, you get geese'd when trees rolled
They say I'm evil cause I trained my ego to see gold
Cause he know, seagulls couldn't see these goals, please
It's the return of the Beast Coast
No cash flashed, but the cheese still make teeth show
What you tryna be Vito? Well there's rules to this shit
Don't get clapped, y'all ain't real spitters, y'all lips chapped
Better watch it, Mr. Nice Watch, don't risk that
I got a six-pack of bare skill that I spill like that
And everybody know (that shit crack)
Y'all niggas softspoken, down below choking
The type to drop the soap when you soakin' in front of most men
It makes sense why you want beef, well this frozen
It's nuts for you screwed in the tool, and can't hold em
Better shoot yourself Plaxico, because I'm next to go
The Progressive flows from New York to New Mexico
My lyrical span is what the fans is demandin'
Step into my box and that's exactly what'chu stand in
Ain't no half steppin' around me
And you gotta drown a fish before you clown me
The young cop killer, I'm that ill, so doc' will ya
Give me two shots for 2Pac killer, nigga
Soul searchin' 'til my flows are perfect
I ain't tryna be a slave to grow old from workin'
Sorry Bada$$, you lucky that I peeped it second
Tell them niggas keep it steppin' with they beat selection
Check the melodies, it's so heavenly
That shit'll get your hips to move with no 7D's
Audi-opium, can I bust soliloquies?
Got that shit mixed and mastered, both remedies
Grab a spoonful, we stirrin' up a pot
And you know we gotta serve it while it's hot
I'm flowin' like a volcano and drippin' verses off the top
Dirty cops still swervin' on the block
Lookin' for black kids, that spittin' up acid
It's in my jeans so don't worry what my pants is
Get with the script, it's that ignorant shit
And they bound to get sick of us quick but I ain't sealin' my lips
It's a shift, I know you feel it man
We blowin' up like a ceiling fan
Droppin' off jewels like Killa Cam's man
When it comes to kickin' verses, I'm Mr. Van Damme
Crushin' strawberries, it's a jam
So throw up both hands if you can
Ironic how I'm killin' this shit, until they bury me
My volume is going in depth with longevity
Stupids
In "Killuminati," Joey Bada$$ asserts his prowess as a lyricist by incorporating complex rhymes and wordplay into his verses. He describes himself as a "beast" with his flows and cleverly references the Birdman hand rub by saying, "Two birds, one stoned, you get geese'd when trees rolled." He also addresses his desire for success, which some may view as "evil." However, he believes in training his ego to see gold and achieving his goals, unlike seagulls who cannot see them. The song features a variety of literary devices such as similes, metaphors, and allusions. The “Incognito” line references the popular gangster figure Vito Corleone from The Godfather movie series. Bada$$ then goes on to issue a warning to others, telling them to follow the rules of the game if they want to succeed, or else they'll get "clapped."
Later in the song, Bada$$ switches up his flow and delivers a smooth, melodic verse. He speaks of "soul-searching" and not wanting to be a "slave to grow old from working." He says he's been around long enough to know what makes a great beat and encourages others to choose their beats wisely. Joey later speaks of the prevalence of police brutality and racial profiling against young black men. His choice of words, "dirty cops still swerving on the block, looking for black kids that spitting up acid," metaphorically illustrates how black youth are seen as a threat to society. He points out the irony in his success and how it was once viewed as a threat by others. He concludes the song by emphasizing the depth and longevity of his lyrical abilities and the fact that he will not be silenced.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, skrawberries
Introducing the song with the word skrawberries
I'm a beast with these flows
I am highly skilled at rapping
Two birds, one stoned, you get geese'd when trees rolled
Enjoying the effects of smoking marijuana
They say I'm evil cause I trained my ego to see gold
Being overly ambitious and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed
Cause he know, seagulls couldn't see these goals, please
Referring to the idea that only those who are truly dedicated to their goals can achieve them
It's the return of the Beast Coast
Bringing the talent of the East Coast rap scene back into the spotlight
No cash flashed, but the cheese still make teeth show
Being able to impress with lyrical ability instead of flashy material possessions
Incognito, is how you move on the strip
Being able to move around without being noticed
What you tryna be Vito? Well there's rules to this shit
Referencing Vito Corleone from The Godfather and acknowledging the need for caution in certain situations
Don't get clapped, y'all ain't real spitters, y'all lips chapped
Warning others not to get caught up in the hype if they cannot truly deliver quality raps
Better watch it, Mr. Nice Watch, don't risk that
Being careful not to draw attention to oneself with flashy watches
I got a six-pack of bare skill that I spill like that
Having a natural talent for rapping that comes effortlessly
And everybody know (that shit crack)
Recognizing that his talent is widely respected
Y'all niggas softspoken, down below choking
Calling out other rappers for being weak and lacking in talent
The type to drop the soap when you soakin' in front of most men
Making vulgar jokes about others' lack of toughness and ability to handle themselves in tough situations
It makes sense why you want beef, well this frozen
Understandable why one might want to start a conflict but it's ultimately pointless
It's nuts for you screwed in the tool, and can't hold em
Others will try and fail to come up with creative insults
Better shoot yourself Plaxico, because I'm next to go
Alluding to Plaxico Burress's unfortunate gun incident, Joey is saying he's going to reach high levels whether or not others like it
The Progressive flows from New York to New Mexico
Being skilled enough to appeal to rap fans from different locations
My lyrical span is what the fans is demandin'
Acknowledging that his fans appreciate his range of talent
Step into my box and that's exactly what'chu stand in
Putting the pressure on others to match his talent when competing with him
Ain't no half steppin' around me
Expecting others to bring their A-game when competing with him
And you gotta drown a fish before you clown me
Being too good to be easily beaten - it would take someone truly exceptional to challenge him
The young cop killer, I'm that ill, so doc' will ya
Referring to himself as a skilled rapper who has killed raps, not cops
Give me two shots for 2Pac killer, nigga
Reminiscing about 2Pac (who some believe was killed by someone in the rap industry)
Soul searchin' 'til my flows are perfect
Striving for constant improvement in his music
I ain't tryna be a slave to grow old from workin'
Not wanting to get stuck in a routine and wanting to achieve success through his music career
Sorry Bada$$, you lucky that I peeped it second
Acknowledging Joey Bada$$'s talent but recognizing his own skills as well
Tell them niggas keep it steppin' with they beat selection
Encouraging other rappers to choose better beats for their music
Check the melodies, it's so heavenly
Acknowledging that music can have a powerful effect on one's emotions
That shit'll get your hips to move with no 7D's
Music can still be effective in making people dance regardless of the technology used to create it
Audi-opium, can I bust soliloquies?
Excited about the idea of creating beautiful music
Got that shit mixed and mastered, both remedies
Being passionate about every step of the music-making process
Grab a spoonful, we stirrin' up a pot
Creating great music is like stirring up a pot of delicious soup
And you know we gotta serve it while it's hot
Sharing great music while it's still fresh and exciting
I'm flowin' like a volcano and drippin' verses off the top
Feeling inspired to make music and easily coming up with lyrics
Dirty cops still swervin' on the block
Acknowledging that there is still corruption in society
Lookin' for black kids, that spittin' up acid
Referencing the idea of police targeting black youths
It's in my jeans so don't worry what my pants is
Feeling comfortable and confident in his own abilities
Get with the script, it's that ignorant shit
Embracing a certain level of ignorance in music to appeal to listeners
And they bound to get sick of us quick but I ain't sealin' my lips
Knowing that some people may tire of certain elements of his music but refusing to change himself to fit others' expectations
It's a shift, I know you feel it man
The industry is constantly changing and Joey feels the shift
We blowin' up like a ceiling fan
Experiencing lots of success and attention
Droppin' off jewels like Killa Cam's man
Sharing knowledge and wisdom through music like Cam'ron (Killa Cam)
When it comes to kickin' verses, I'm Mr. Van Damme
Comparing his skill at rapping to martial artist and actor Jean-Claude Van Damme's expertise in fighting
Crushin' strawberries, it's a jam
Making great music can be a very satisfying experience
So throw up both hands if you can
If you appreciate the music, show it!
Ironic how I'm killin' this shit, until they bury me
It's funny how much success he's experiencing despite people doubting him
My volume is going in depth with longevity
Joey's music is more than just trendy, it has staying power
Stupids
Ending the song with a one-word declaration to his critics
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Courtney Everald Dewar Jr., Jo-Vaughn Virginie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind