There are moments in hip hop when the torch isn’t just passed, it’s demanded. Joey Bada$$’s new album ‘Lonely at the Top‘ is precisely that kind of moment. For years, Joey has been the keeper of the flame, carrying that real NewYork sound into every era he’s touched. Now, it’s time to call it for what it is: Joey Bada$$ is the heir to the throne.
Many of us grew up on Wu-Tang, Biggie, Mobb Deep, The LOX, Nas, and Jay-Z. That gritty, raw, lyrical soul of New York hip hop raised me, and every time Joey steps to the mic, he brings that same energy back. This isn’t nostalgia—it’s preservation. This is what New York has been missing: a king to spread the city’s sound and carry the history of hip hop into a new generation.
The Album: Lonely at the Top by Joey Bada$$
From the opening moments of Lonely at the Top, Joey is in peak form. He’s not chasing trends; he’s dictating the pace. Songs like “Speeding Through the Rain” hit with a weight and atmosphere that makes you sit back and nod like the ’90s never left. His flow, his wordplay, his impact on a record—it all feels deliberate, sharp, and commanding. Then you get to “Still,” featuring Ab-Soul and Rapsody—and suddenly you’re transported straight into the golden era. The chemistry, the depth, the layered verses—it feels like a lost classic. The kind of song you’d imagine sandwiched between The Infamous and Illmatic, and it holds its own. That’s no small statement.
The wild part? This album almost feels like a teaser. Joey gives us 12 rounds when we know he’s got 15 in the chamber. It leaves you wanting more, but that’s the point. He’s showing us the crown is within reach, and the reign is only beginning.
The Legacy in Motion for Joey Bada$$
What makes this run even more undeniable is that Joey’s been rapping like this since he was a teenager. Go back and listen to “Killumanati,” his response to Kendrick’s Control verse. He was only 19, and he rapped like a prince ready to inherit the throne. That was over a decade ago. Now, he’s no longer just the prince—he’s the one.
The consistency is what seals it. Album after album, verse after verse, Joey never compromises the craft. He doesn’t just remind us of what hip hop was—he reminds us of what it is and what it can be.
This year alone, Joey has taken on the West Coast wave single-handedly, proving that the New York sound is alive and untouchable in the right hands. In an era where lyricism often gets pushed to the side, Joey Bada$$ stands tall, demanding respect through nothing but skill, authenticity, and impact.
The Verdict
So the question isn’t, can we crown Joey Bada$$? The question is, why haven’t we already?
Lonely at the Top isn’t just another project—it’s a statement, a reminder, a coronation in motion. Joey Bada$$ has proven himself time and again, but this album feels like the turning point where we stop calling him underrated and start calling him what he is: the king of New York’s new era.
And if this is just the beginning of his reign? Hip hop is about to get a whole lot healthier.
Written By: Joe Ellick
