Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (born January 20, 1995), better known by his stage… Read Full Bio ↴Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (born January 20, 1995), better known by his stage name Joey Badass (stylised as Joey Bada$$), is an American rapper, producer and artist from Brooklyn, New York. He is a member of the hip hop collective Pro Era, with whom he has released three mixtapes. Joey released his debut mixtape 1999 on June 12 2012. Featuring production from other Pro Era members, as well as some J Dilla and MF DOOM beats, the tape was released to general critical acclaim. On September 6, Joey released Rejex, a collection of early versions of songs and tracks that didn't make it onto his debut. After his initial effort's resounding success, on July 1, 2013, Joey Bada$$ released his second mixtape, Summer Knights. He then released his debut album B4.Da.$$ on January 20, 2015, on his 20th birthday.

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.

My Yout
Joey Bada$$ Lyrics

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Badman Ting

Uh, just put it in the air
Light that loud and watch disappear here
Thoughts at the speed of light years, I could see the light
Yeah, this the right year made the flow yeah
Clear and easy to steer in space and time erasing fine
Amazing in the maze of cliches

Each day weighs out enlightenment
Niggas blacked out cause I got ultra violent
Now my wave lengths to the radio waves
Still keep it under pavements but not a ratio change
My patio the same, but I ain't even got to tell them that
Poppy leave them dimes at my welcome mat
Get high as heavens, Hope hell never come back
I'm like 5'11, but have angelic contact
The devil jealous in fact, Cause I rebel the spells
With a letter to god, I swear you know me so well
This one time, I said lord would you help?
Some short time after see my music on the shelf
And of course, I gotta thank myself
My wealth is in my happiness and mine
And not my pocket health in its ashes
If you don't even think sometimes
If its passion and relationships synchronize
Drownin' inside her, true eyes is to the higher
I don't drink too much, I know the bud wiser
It's the livest one
Bedford-Stuyvesant

Yo dogs I got the loud
Blow the smoke straight up to the cloud like
I sky high, my sky high
Sky high, sky high

Yo dogs I got the loud
Blow the smoke straight up to the cloud like
I sky high, my sky high
Sky high, sky high

One hand on the mac, one hand on my sac
I'm thinking to myself what if I handed it back
But I gotta hand it to myself I'm handling rap
Handsome versin' that's like hand-to-hand combat
Rehearsin', I got eight arms, nigga
Disarm your favorite rapper he won't come back
Made flex drop eight times, nigga
On contact, whine that like eight times
Got to keep it G, this for my masons
Figure it out, eight times, the average of mind
I may sign which I don't like lime light
But I'll shine witcha
Bitch I gotta eat I might dine witcha
Yeah I got bars but I'm like Akon ouwitcha
Convict music for real
This industry give me chills
Cause in the streets I'm chill
But still heating up for a mill
I'm like so real
Life is so surreal
Sosa already got sealed for the way he revealed
Taking hold of pitchforks still
But I will never yield
In this pitchfork hold thinking I gotta appeal
Cause I'm thinking like a deal
Could get me living swell for real
But if I skyfall, thinking ideal

Yo dogs I got the loud
Blow the smoke straight up to the cloud like
I sky high, my sky high
Sky high, sky high

Yo dogs I got the loud
Blow the smoke straight up to the cloud like
I sky high, my sky high
Sky high, sky high

And I'm gone, hitting knowledge
And I'm hitting the strong
I've been hurting way too long
And I can't wait too long
And I'm gone, hitting knowledge
As I'm hitting the strong
I've been hurting way too long
I can't wait too long

I've been hurting way too long
I can't wait too long

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of "Badman Ting" by Joey Bada$$ feat. Collie Buddz talk about lighting up and letting the smoke fade away into the air – signaling the start of a trippy journey for those who listen to the song. The rapper then points out how fast his thoughts move and how easily he can connect with spirituality. He acknowledges the maturity in his songwriting and how he is moving away from clichés in his music. Joey Bada$$ then talks about his style being compared to ultra-violence, and how it changes to connect to radio waves while remaining authentic. He mentions how he has no intention of changing his lifestyle, but his music can still be successful.

In the second verse, the rapper talks about his love for rap and how he's able to handle and dominate the genre. He compares his lyrics to "hand-to-hand" combat, showcasing his rhyming abilities. He talks about the music industry and how it makes him nervous, but he still wants to get famous. He raps about how he wants to live large someday, but he won't change who he is or his sound. Joey ends the song by talking about how he is searching for knowledge, and he's fed up with the pain he's experienced.

The song is from Joey Bada$$'s debut mixtape, "1999." The song is also included in the video game, Grand Theft Auto V, playing on the radio station, The Lab, which is dedicated to alternative and underground hip hop. The song's collaborator and featured artist, Collie Buddz, is a reggae artist from Bermuda. "Badman Ting" was produced by Major Lazer's Walshy Fire, who later featured Joey Bada$$ on his song "No Apologies."

Joey Bada$$ mentions the Brooklyn neighborhood he's from, Bedford-Stuyvesant, in the song. He also references Akon, a Senegalese-American rapper, in a verse. The rapper mentions the potential for signing with a record label and still remaining true to himself. The chorus is a catchy, repeated verse about smoking and getting high. The song's title, "Badman Ting," refers to a Jamaican slang term for a tough or aggressive person.

Chords (as provided by Ultimate Guitar):
The intro and chorus of "Badman Ting" use a three-chord progression that repeats throughout the song:
Am, Dm, F
E, Am, E.

Line by Line Meaning

Uh, just put it in the air
Let's light up and smoke together

Light that loud and watch disappear here
Let's smoke some weed and forget about our worries

Thoughts at the speed of light years, I could see the light
I think quickly and clearly, with a vision for my life

Yeah, this the right year made the flow yeah
This is my year to shine and make great music

Clear and easy to steer in space and time erasing fine
I have a clear view of my goals, and I won't let anything stop me

Amazing in the maze of cliches
I stand out in the crowded music industry by being original

Each day weighs out enlightenment
Every day, I learn more about myself and the world around me

Niggas blacked out cause I got ultra violent
Other rappers can't compete with my high-energy style

Now my wave lengths to the radio waves
My music is being broadcast on the airwaves everywhere

Still keep it under pavements but not a ratio change
I stay true to my roots, but I'm not afraid to evolve

My patio the same, but I ain't even got to tell them that
I remain humble and loyal to my friends and family

Poppy leave them dimes at my welcome mat
I'm successful and get a lot of attention from women

Get high as heavens, Hope hell never come back
I use weed as a way to cope with the challenges of life

I'm like 5'11, but have angelic contact
Though I'm a regular person, I feel like I have a spiritual connection

The devil jealous in fact, Cause I rebel the spells
I'm not afraid to speak out against injustice and corruption

With a letter to god, I swear you know me so well
I'm comfortable sharing my deepest thoughts and feelings with the universe

This one time, I said lord would you help?
I turned to my faith for guidance when facing a tough situation

Some short time after see my music on the shelf
My music became successful and fulfilled my dreams

And of course, I gotta thank myself
I worked hard and took risks to achieve my goals

My wealth is in my happiness and mine
I value inner peace and joy more than material possessions

And not my pocket health in its ashes
I don't measure my success by the amount of money I have

If you don't even think sometimes
It's important to take time to reflect and think about your life

If its passion and relationships synchronize
When your passion and relationships align, you'll find fulfillment

Drownin' inside her, true eyes is to the higher
When I'm in love, I feel like I'm in a trance and connected to a higher power

I don't drink too much, I know the bud wiser
I prefer smoking weed to drinking alcohol because it's healthier for me

Bedford-Stuyvesant
The neighborhood where I grew up in Brooklyn, New York

Yo dogs I got the loud
Hey guys, I've got some really good weed

Blow the smoke straight up to the cloud like
Let's smoke and watch the smoke rise up into the sky

One hand on the mac, one hand on my sac
I'm holding a gun in one hand and my stash of weed in the other

I'm thinking to myself what if I handed it back
Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I made different choices

But I gotta hand it to myself I'm handling rap
I'm proud of my skills as a rapper and my success in the music industry

Handsome versin' that's like hand-to-hand combat
My rap skills are powerful and intense, like a battle

Rehearsin', I got eight arms, nigga
I'm so skilled at rapping, it's like I have multiple arms

Disarm your favorite rapper he won't come back
I'm so good at rap battles that I can beat any other rapper out there

Made flex drop eight times, nigga
I'm so good at rapping that even famous rappers are impressed

On contact, whine that like eight times
When I perform on stage, I get the crowd excited and dancing

Got to keep it G, this for my masons
I always stay true to myself and my beliefs

Figure it out, eight times, the average of mind
My intelligence is above average and I'm always analyzing and figuring things out

I may sign which I don't like lime light
I may sign with a record label, but I don't like being in the spotlight

But I'll shine witcha, Bitch I gotta eat I might dine witcha
I'll share the spotlight with others, but I need to make a living

Yeah I got bars but I'm like Akon ouwitcha
I'm a skilled rapper, but I also have a lot of heart and soul

Convict music for real
I relate to Akon's music and his message of survival and hope

This industry give me chills
The music industry can be intense and stressful

Cause in the streets I'm chill
I'm laid-back and relaxed when I'm not recording music

But still heating up for a mill
I'm always working hard and striving for success

I'm like so real
I'm genuine and authentic, and my music reflects that

Life is so surreal
I can't believe how far I've come and how much I've accomplished

Sosa already got sealed for the way he revealed
There are consequences for speaking out against powerful people and institutions

Taking hold of pitchforks still
People are still fighting against injustice and discrimination

But I will never yield
I will never give up or back down from my beliefs

In this pitchfork hold thinking I gotta appeal
I want to use my platform to effect change and make a positive impact

Cause I'm thinking like a deal
I'm thinking strategically about my career and my future

Could get me living swell for real
A record deal could make me financially comfortable

And I'm gone, hitting knowledge
I'm focused on learning and growing as an artist and a person

And I'm hitting the strong
I'm using my strength and resilience to overcome challenges

I've been hurting way too long
I've struggled with pain and hardship for too long

And I can't wait too long
I need to make changes and improve my life as soon as possible

I've been hurting way too long
I've struggled with pain and hardship for too long

I can't wait too long
I need to make changes and improve my life as soon as possible

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: CHE KEVIN JESSAMY, JO VAUGHN VIRGINIE, MICHAEL JAMES STAFFORD, ROLAND ALPHONSO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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