Joey Bada$$ Honors the Memory of XXXTENTACION on His New Track

March 2022 shows rapper Joey Bada$$ in a more reflective mood than usual. On his new song “Head High,” Joey Bada$$ (real name Jo-Vaughn Scott) returns, precluding an upcoming full-length album by wandering through the slow track with a laidback style and sincere lyrics. To highlight his seriousness on this new song, Scott mentions the names of a few significant losses to his life and the rap community, with one of those names being XXXTentacion. This tribute comes almost four years after XXXTentacion’s death; in 2018, assailants shot and killed the 20-year-old Florida rapper.

Joey Bada$$ has two studio albums, entitled B4.DA.$$ and All-Amerikkkan Bada$$. Both records peaked at #5 on the US Billboard 200 and received praise for their socially-minded lyrics and a great list of producers. Despite XXXTentacion’s controversies, Scott befriended X and set up a collaboration in 2018, though not much seemed to result from their plans. The two are featured together only a couple of times, including one X song and a remix of Kendrick Lamar’s “King’s Dead.”

After a slow unveiling and the signature tag of producer Statik Selektah, Joey Bada$$ bursts forth on “Head High” over a steady R&B-influenced groove. Scott leads to talking about fallen friends through a meandering contemplation on the meaning of life, never landing on a definitive answer as he discusses his friendship with X and reminisces about another lost rapper, Capital Steez.

Joey Bada$$ has confirmed a new album, though the release date and title remain unknown. Until the announcement, check out “Head High” and the rapper’s swaggering first single of 2022, “THE REV3NGE.”