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$$, he released the follow-up to his debut mixtape, 1999, ten years later on July 22, 2022. The name of this album, his third studio album, was 2000. During 2022, Joey released multiple singles to the album including Head High, Survivors Guilt, Zipcodes and 2 more. In the album, Joey goes over plenty of topic matters such as dealing with mental health, the passing of his friend Captial Steez and his cousin, Junior B, ten years later, and his overal life. 2000 debuted at No.18 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold roughly 22,000 album-equvialent units in its first week. The album was well perceived by fans and critcs, and was deemed to be a generally good lead up to his mixtape 1999.
The Baddest
Joey Bada$$ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you say New York City?
Now as we proceed
To give you what you need (Bad Boy)
Ladies and gentleman
And I say New York City
I'd like to introduce to you
You know it's a vibe
Said he the baddest motherfucka in town
I could take five years off 'cause my shit is timeless (yeah)
My core got my back so I'm standing on my promise (right)
Theses niggas only backed by they labels, they all spineless (facts)
I'm backed by popular demand and on that timing (come on, yeah)
I popped out 2012, y'all wasn't outside then
Ten years later, tell me why y'all still hiding?
Niggas know who greater, fuck your favorite, I'm the greatest
They never could degrade us and I did it with no major
I made a lane for niggas by going my own way (ah, come on)
I paved the way for a lot of these rappers you see today
So act like you know, bitch, I been had the flow, penetrating souls
Who the best MC's? Kenny, Joey and Cole, the holy trinity
This that '95 Till Infinity energy
Knowing when I'm gone, they'll forever remember me (yeah, yeah)
So show me love while I'm still in the vicinity (show love)
And show no sympathy for niggas who be moving finicky
Ooh, and I like it
I like it (can you say New York City? Yeah)
Ooh, and I like it
Oh, baby (can you say New York City?)
Ooh, and I like it (know I'm sayin'?)
I like it (can you say New York City?)
Ooh, and I like it (all the time shit)
(Y'all like that)
It's been a minute and I still kick a style with no gimmicks (yeah)
Took some time off, now we back in this (you gotta get at it)
What you niggas thought I was finished?
I'm offended, I'm just getting replenished
Mc's getting diminished when I'm in attendance (yeah)
Get finished like a sentence, period
Never is my light dimming (damn, come on)
My shine is serious, a born star (don't stop)
These other niggas ain't on par
Who want spar? I got war scars (who want spar?)
Two AR's and four scars (let's go)
9 on my waist like a corsage, 'cause I talk large (let's go)
These small town niggas ain't trying to see us goin' far
Word to Khaled, yo, they hate to see you winning (come on)
They wanna see your life ending
Lights out, striking out in my ninth inning
Wiped out, they wonder how I just stay grinning (yeah, let's go)
'Cause we came a long way since the beginning
Everything iced out, that's just how I'm living (come on, yeah, Bad Boy)
(That's how I'm livin')
Ooh, and I like it
I like it (can you say New York City?)
Ooh, and I like it
Oh, baby (can you say New York City?)
Ooh, and I like it
I like it (can you say New York City?)
Ooh, and I like it
(Can you say?)
Come on
The baddest stay down always from beginning to end
You know I'm saying?
Just get back to who we are, you know I'm saying?
Like the baddest
Take that
The introductory lines of the song “The Baddest” by Joey Bada$$ and Diddy featuring rapper, Puff Daddy, welcomes you to New York City, implying that the song is a tribute to the city. The song gives off a classic New York hip-hop vibe with its unapologetically bold and brash lyrics accompanied by a piano-led production, and with Joey Bada$$ showing off his piano-playing skills throughout the track. Joey is proud of his timeless music and says he could take five years off and come back to still be on top. He remains relevant and backed by popular demand years after popping out, unlike other rappers who are only backed by their labels, making them spineless. He boasts of being the greatest with no major label backing and he paved the way for many rappers of the current generation by going his own way. The trio of Kenny, Joey, and Cole, i.e., Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, and J. Cole are referred to as the holy trinity of hip-hop, leaving no room for any other rapper to claim the top spot.
Throughout “The Baddest,” Joey Bada$$ showcases his lyrical prowess and confidence by taking shots at other MCs who can't measure up to his level. He talks about how he has been in the game for a long time and still kicks styles with no gimmicks. Joey takes pride in the fact that his shine is serious, and his light is still not dimming. He refers to himself as a born star, and the other rappers cannot come near him. Joey Bada$$ has gone through war scars, and he lets it be known that he is not someone to mess with. The song ends with Puff Daddy saying, “Take that,” signifying that the song is a declaration of the trio's dominance in the hip-hop industry.
Line by Line Meaning
You ain't know I could play the piano, did you, nigga?
Surprise, surprise, I've got musical talent that you didn't know about.
Can you say New York City?
Let's give it up for the greatest city in the world: New York!
Now as we proceed
To give you what you need (Bad Boy)
Ladies and gentleman
And I say New York City
I'd like to introduce to you
You know it's a vibe
He is
Said he the baddest motherfucka in town
We're about to bring you some fire thanks to Bad Boy. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you the baddest motherfucker in town. Get ready for a vibe.
I could take five years off 'cause my shit is timeless (yeah)
I'm so good, my music will be relevant even if I take a five-year break.
My core got my back so I'm standing on my promise (right)
My loyal fans support me, so I'm keeping my word and staying true to myself.
Theses niggas only backed by they labels, they all spineless (facts)
Other rappers only have their labels' support, without true character or spine.
I'm backed by popular demand and on that timing (come on, yeah)
I'm supported by the people and the timing of my success couldn't be better.
I popped out 2012, y'all wasn't outside then
Ten years later, tell me why y'all still hiding?
I made my debut in 2012 and now it's ten years later – why are others still afraid to step out and make a name for themselves?
Niggas know who greater, fuck your favorite, I'm the greatest
They never could degrade us and I did it with no major
It's obvious who's the best – forget your favorite rapper, I'm the greatest. And I did it without needing major label support to make my mark.
I made a lane for niggas by going my own way (ah, come on)
I paved the way for a lot of these rappers you see today
So act like you know, bitch, I been had the flow, penetrating souls
I created a new path for myself and others by following my own unique style. These other rappers you see now wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me. I'm the real deal and my lyrics touch people deeply.
Who the best MC's? Kenny, Joey and Cole, the holy trinity
This that '95 Till Infinity energy
It's easy – the three greatest rappers are Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, and J. Cole. Our energy is straight out of the 90s, with that classic '95 Till Infinity vibe.
Knowing when I'm gone, they'll forever remember me (yeah, yeah)
So show me love while I'm still in the vicinity (show love)
And show no sympathy for niggas who be moving finicky
I know that when I'm gone, my legacy will live on. But while I'm still here, show me love and appreciation – and don't waste any on artists who don't stay true to themselves.
It's been a minute and I still kick a style with no gimmicks (yeah)
Took some time off, now we back in this (you gotta get at it)
Even though it's been a while, my style is still authentic and true to me. I took some time off, but now I'm back and ready to take on the rap game.
What you niggas thought I was finished?
I'm offended, I'm just getting replenished
Mc's getting diminished when I'm in attendance (yeah)
Don't count me out just yet – I'm far from finished. In fact, I'm coming back even stronger. And when I'm around, other rappers' skills start to look small by comparison.
Get finished like a sentence, period
Never is my light dimming (damn, come on)
My shine is serious, a born star (don't stop)
When I take down other rappers, it's like the end of a sentence – finished. But my light is far from dimming – I'm a born star with a bright future ahead.
These other niggas ain't on par
Who want spar? I got war scars (who want spar?)
Two AR's and four scars (let's go)
9 on my waist like a corsage, 'cause I talk large (let's go)
These small town niggas ain't trying to see us goin' far
These other rappers just can't compare to me. Who wants to challenge me? I've been through battles and have the scars to prove it. I'm armed and ready to protect myself at all times. These small town rappers can't keep up with people like me who are destined for greatness.
Word to Khaled, yo, they hate to see you winning (come on)
They wanna see your life ending
Lights out, striking out in my ninth inning
Wiped out, they wonder how I just stay grinning (yeah, let's go)
Like DJ Khaled says, people don't always want to see you succeed – they'd rather watch you fail. But even in my darkest moments, I'm still smiling and pushing through. I refuse to let anyone else's negativity bring me down.
'Cause we came a long way since the beginning
Everything iced out, that's just how I'm living (come on, yeah, Bad Boy)
(That's how I'm livin')
From humble beginnings to where we are now, we've come a long way. And now, everything is iced out – that's just how I'm living my life, with success and luxury all around me.
Ooh, and I like it
I like it (can you say New York City?)
Ooh, and I like it
Oh, baby (can you say New York City?)
Ooh, and I like it
I like it (can you say New York City?)
Ooh, and I like it
(Can you say?)
I'm loving life right now, and nothing can bring me down. Say it with me now – New York City!
Come on
The baddest stay down always from beginning to end
You know I'm saying?
Just get back to who we are, you know I'm saying?
Like the baddest
Take that
As the baddest around, I know how important it is to stay true to myself and keep pushing forward. Let's all get back to our roots and embrace who we are – we can all be badasses if we try.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Jo-Vaughn Virginie, Sean Combs, Eldra DeBarge, Erick Elliot, Jordan Etterlene McClenney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nf1879
Kenny, Joey and Cole. THE HOLY TRINITY
@iikantsleep0
I heard drake joey cole but happy holidays fam 😂😭🤝🏾
@thetaterthot8657
@@iikantsleep0 definitely kenny joey and cole. Kenny mason/kendrick....i hope mason....Joey bada$$. J. cole.
@babak.p.953
@@thetaterthot8657 its Kung fu kenny bro😂
@Therealmoseslupai
@@iikantsleep0Hell nah, Drake IS a GREAT artist. But he's nowhere near real emcees quality. Just a polished artist. 🤷🏿♂️
@wdea427
“Kenny Joey and Cole” I need that collab ASAP 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@panorisholidaythe3rd791
Spitters. I'm a joey fan more so. It's a new York thing I guess🤷♂️
@thedon0516
Would love it but Kendrick comes off as if he don't really want to rap or collab any more lol. After The Big Steppers tour, he night take a long break from rap. Hopefully I'm wrong
@jazzroyale7260
He def forgot Mick in there but facts !!!
@hoodiej2884
@@thedon0516 Facts😭