A stand-out star in rap’s Beast Coast movement, 23-year-old Brooklyn native Joey Bada$$ brought The Amerikkkana Tour to San Francisco on Tuesday, May 8, with support from up-and-coming LA rappers Boogie and Buddy, thrilling the packed Regency Ballroom crowd with his gritty and spirited performance.
The young artist and co-founder of the Brooklyn-based collective Pro Era caught mainstream attention in the summer of 2012 with his critically acclaimed debut mixtape 1999. He has since developed a cult following thanks to his intricate rhyme schemes laid against ’90s-rap-style, boom-bap beats and a maturity far beyond his years.
After kicking off the show with the instant aggression of Rockabye Baby, featuring Schoolboy Q, and Ring the Alarm, two of his hardest tracks to date, the Badmon weaved his way through introspective tracks from his second mixtape Summer Knights, his debut album B4.DA.$$, and a couple of fan favorites featuring the late Pro Era founder Capital STEEZ.
The crowd was more than ready when it came time for the politically-charged works from his sophomore album All-Amerikkkan Bada$$. Shirtless and dripping with palpable artistic energy, Joey kept all eyes glued to the stage as he asserted his rightful rage in Temptation, Land of the Free, For My People, and others, focusing on the struggles of life as a black American.
With his politically and socially-focused work sitting right alongside popular singles such as 500 Benz, Pull Up featuring A$AP Ferg and produced by fellow Pro Era co-founder Powers Pleasant, as well as the platinum smash Devastated, Joey Bada$$ has cemented himself as one of rap’s strongest lyricists and his path seems to be leading straight to the top of hip hop’s upper echelon.
The Amerikkkana Tour continues through the month of May. Find the stop closest to you below.
5/11/18 – ROSELAND – PORTLAND, OR
5/12/18 – VOGUE THEATRE – VANCOUVER
5/13/18 – THE SHOWBOX – SEATTLE, WA
5/15/18 – THE COMPLEX – SALT LAKE CITY, UT
5/17/18 – OGDEN THEATRE – DENVER, CO
5/18/18 – THE TRUMAN – KANSAS CITY, MO
5/19/18 – FIRST AVE – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
5/20/18 – TURNER HALL BALLROOM – MILWAUKEE, WI
5/22/18 – DELUXE – INDIANAPOLIS, IN
5/23/18 – CONCORD MUSIC HALL – CHICAGO, IL
5/24/18 – ST. ANDREWS HALL – DETROIT, MI
5/25/18 – PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE – TORONTO, ON, CA
5/26/18 – M TELUS – MONTREAL, QC, CA
5/27/18 – DANFORTH MUSIC HALL – TORONTO, ON, CA
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