Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$, born Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott in 1995, is an American rapper, actor and producer from Brooklyn, New York. Emerging in the early 2010s as part of the Pro Era collective, he became known for a rugged, boom-bap-rooted sound that consciously revived 1990s East Coast hip-hop aesthetics while staying lyrically sharp and socially engaged. His breakout mixtape «1999» (2012) earned critical acclaim for its throwback production and technical rapping, setting the tone for a career built on authenticity rather than chasing trends.

His debut studio album, «B4.DA.$$» (2015), released on his 20th birthday, cemented his reputation as one of the leading voices of the new-school boom-bap revival, blending jazzy, sample-heavy beats with dense wordplay. Later projects saw him broaden his palette toward more melodic and politically charged material, addressing race, justice and identity in songs like «Land of the Free». Alongside his solo work, Joey has remained closely tied to Pro Era, touring internationally and mentoring fellow members of the crew.

Beyond music, he has built a parallel career as an actor, appearing in television and film, which has widened his cultural footprint beyond hip-hop circles. Across his catalog — spanning mixtapes, albums and countless features — Joey Bada$$ is consistently cited as a torchbearer for lyricism-focused rap in an era of shifting mainstream trends.