Joey Bada$$ interview: ‘I dig Skepta, Krept & Konan and Stormzy’

Joey Bada$$ has made a name for himself for not biting his tongue when it comes to voicing his opinion through his charismatic hip hop bangers.

The energy in the Brooklyn rapper’s delivery is not lost in conversation as he predicts the state of the music industry over the next few years.

“I see myself on top of the rap game man,” the 20 year old says. “I'm the motherf*****g dinosaur on top of the food chain, and the game will be in the palm of my hands.”

Badas$$ is currently deep in his World Domination tour following the release of his debut studio album, B4DA$$ and affirms that nothing can stop his mission.

“This year I've toured a lot and now I feel like an actual established artist,” he says. “It's amazing, I've got the torch and I'm running with it, I will break any barrier that they put in front of me.

“My mission is to push my message to the masses and change the world with my music. I want to show the people that they can do anything that they want – they just have to listen to their heart and trust their gut.

“I just want to inspire the kids where I'm from, because they need the help the most. I want to make sure my message is delivered to them properly, without the blockades that the industry puts in front of us.”

Bada$$’s album peaked at #1 on the Billboard hip hop charts despite Joey being an independent artist, and he’s the current leader of the Pro Era collective – but that’s not the only scene he’s interested in.

He’s got his eye on the London grime scene, and says he’s keen to collaborate with a few of the UK’s biggest stars.

“I love London, every time I come through,” he says. “It has amazing energy, and I dig Skepta, Krept & Konan, and Stormzy because he’s dope.”

There are parallels drawn between the renaissance of both the London and New York rap scene and the MC signs off for us to keep our ears open this year: “Stay tuned in 2016, we’re coming with those triple-entendres”.

B4DA$$ is out now