In my portfolio I wanted to focus on the music that I enjoy the most. Joey Bad$$’s 2000 an album that I spent many hours listening to. Also, my love for the West Indian music I grew up on and currently listen to today. Wrapping it up with my Memoir Mixtape, of songs relating to the people in my life.
Joey Bada$$ Review – Portfolio
“To The Ceiling” is a beloved song to me. I remember being nine years old in 2007; hearing this at a party my family was throwing and just being enamored with Isaac Blackman’s distinct sound.
This is a reggae song, and for many years I misinterpreted the lyrics due to Isaac’s Creole English accent, One of the line’s I thought I heard was “Girl come and take away all my pain” only to find out instead of “Girl” it was “God”. This led me to learn that it was also a Gospel Song.
The song starts with an intro line by Isaac and get’s into the chorus. From there a line that sticks out is “always defend me when I’m under attack” which sounds like melismatic singing due to being sung in one breath and changing in pitches. This delivery is present throughout parts of the song’s verses as well. Isaac’s voice has some roughness to it, but doesn’t have a low pitch that is present among other West Indian artist (referring to the males). It almost sounds like he’s purposely trying to keep his voice light to avert the natural harshness he has. Paired with his accent Isaac’s voice comes off as unique, also with the ability to make me feel his infectious cheerful attitude that’s evident in other gospel songs.
Like most West Indian song’s, an important aspect are the drums. It has a bass kick and sharp percussive elements that cut thought the mix. These parts are scattered among the tracks stereo mixing, but keeps a consistent rhythm, and supports the other aspects of the music. A distant soft simple guitar melody plays and periodically is covered by the high end percussion but at times when it drops, the guitar can be picked up on again. An interesting sound that I don’t know how well to describe, other than a quirky groovy synth lead is another element that comes and goes, its the first sound that plays in the song and is also the last. These components are what gives this song character, and add to it’s genuine sound.
Reggae – popular music of Jamaican origin that combines native styles with elements of rock and soul music and is performed at moderate tempos with the accent on the offbeat.
Gospel – a traditional genre of Christian music.
Melismatic – phrase or composition employing several distinct pitches for the vocalization of a single syllable.
Chorus – part of a song that is repeated after each verse, typically by more than one singer.
Pitch – the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.
Rhythm – a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.
Artists use many different techniques in order to creatively express themselves. A singers vocals are generally the most apparent while, the production supports them in the background. Majid Jordan, an R&B duo from Toronto; had a unique approach involving the melody in their song “OG Heartthrob”. Allowing it to stand out and become one of the most interesting parts of the track.
Starting at the introduction of the song the main melody starts faintly, following is the first verse where it gradually gets louder as it progresses. Finally it crescendos at the chorus. This same pattern is used throughout the song, and each time it returns to the original starting point after each chorus; only to climb back up again.
During the verses the melody has a similar rise, since they are roughly 30-35 seconds long. The only exception is the third and final verse due to it being a hasty 19 seconds. Overall this creative production choice; makes it one of the highlights of “OG Heartthrob”.
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFQ2biDfr8/JgsbuJF_hGkuwUB6u8NVVQ/view?utm_content=DAFQ2biDfr8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink
The audio file is colored cool to warm, representing the intensity of the melody as the song goes on to the chorus. Red being the peak. Above is a depiction of how the melody travels throughout the song, compared to a wave-form.
Link to the song:
“A hundred thousand hours and you *expletive* only mastered masturbation, Y’all some pros at procrastination” a line from “Zipcodes” I couldn’t help but find relatable. But especially happy, to see Joey Bada$$ keep his sense of humor in the same album, where he deals with death, guilt and remorse. Joey released 2000 in July, 2022 to honor the ten year anniversary of his mixtape 1999.
Joey Bada$$ a hip hop artist and Brooklyn native delivers his first project in five years with blunt and clear lyrics in addition compelling production, like in “Make Me Feel”. This song starts with a sample of Stephanie Mills – Something In The Way (You Make Me Feel) which directly shows up in the intro and outro. During the one and only verse; it showcases the more consistent parts of the song, those being the low pitched kick drum alongside a high pitch snare that has slight reverb and Hi-Hats that are moderately panned right, While Joey’s voice is slightly panned left, which is most clear when listening with headphones. Under the kick is the bass-line that plays from the start to the end of the song. “Make Me Feel” is an enjoyable lighthearted track, yet Joey casually mentions a serious subject he dealt with, that being the death of friend and cousin, only in two separate lines:
“Rest in peace to STEEZ and Jun, they put the battery inside my back”
“47 shit, Steezy lookin down smilin”
Later Joey finally faces the topic of death he so carefully mentions throughout the album, with the very meaningful and smooth track “Head High”. This special song has similarities to “Make Me Feel” in terms of the drums, they sound alike but “Head High” sounds like a slower tempo. The song also contains a very fitting synth lead that’s panned right, which occasionally drops out and when it does, the main chord progression sticks out more. Also there are reoccurring harmonizing voice drops during the verses which altogether sound exceptional and well- balanced.
During the verses in “Head High”, Joey makes parallels to his daughter being born and death of a friend and fellow rapper who was shot and killed, although it wasn’t in depth, touching on was enough. Joey relating two serious moments in his life were both interesting and unique and together it’s tied together with a memorable chorus:
“So I hold my head high Till they put me below”
“best know till the day I die I’mma keep my heat close”
In the song “Survivors Guilt” Joey elaborates on feelings of guilt and remorse, dealing with the fall out from the suicide of his friend Capital Steez, He explained how they bonded over the shared dream of becoming rappers, This song joey takes a stance of honesty with his thoughts and feelings, ranging from mourning to annoyance with how people in Steez’s own family perceived Joey. Also Steez’s own battle with mental health and how he blames himself for not intervening and doing more during a time when it wasn’t as acceptable, he raps:
“sometimes I gotta shed a real tear”
“you see the truth about steelo he lacked the mental health”
“But try to tell people way back in 2012”
“But now it’s a mainstream topic:
“Im guessin I can finally talk about it”
The subject matters that joey Bada$$ touches on are powerful, particularly death and guilt and if not relatable now, they maybe in the future. Coming from a mature artist who is so acquainted with loss, makes for thought-out and a quality album filled with good songs.
Links to songs:
“Zipcodes”
“Make Me Feel”
“Head High”
Survivors Guilt
