STREAM: Joey Bada$$- "B4.DA.$$"

Written by: Bradley Johnson

Sounding poised and polished as ever, Flatbush, Brooklyn's own Joey Bada$$ returns with his debut studio album "B4.DA.$$".

Released January 20th on Joey's 20th birthday, it's a fitting farewell to the Pro Era generals teen years as he sounds more mature and focused than ever before.

While previous projects "1999" and "Summer Knights" had Bada$$ reminiscing on his life as a kid growing up in Brooklyn, "B4.DA.$$" finds the rapper staking claim to being one of the best emcees in the game with rhymes like "See these foes biting the flows, they even jooks the pose/I guess my CD really shaking the coast", found on the track "Big Dusty". The boastful raps don't stop there as Bada$$ continues to distinguish himself as one of the best out on tracks like "No. 99" and "Christ Conscious".

The album isn't all bombastic rhymes however, as many tracks find Joey spitting retrospective bars about his childhood and life in general. Highlights from the tape include "Escape 120" featuring Raury, "O.C.B." and "Curry Chicken".

Overall "B4.DA.$$" is a solid debut album and should please longtime Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era fans, as well as those new to the rappers music.