Joey Bada$$ 'Lonely at the Top': Every song ranked from best to worst

Joey Bada$$ has released his new album 'Lonely at the Top' this past Friday. Lonely At The Top is an 11-track record featuring guest appearances from Westside Gunn, Bri Steves, A$AP Ferg, Kelz2busy, Ty Dolla $ign, Rome Streetz, Kai Ca$h, CJ Fly, Ab-Soul, and Rapsody and totals 40 minutes of playing time. It is Joey's first full-length album in three years and marks the successor to 2022’s 2000.

In May, Joey Bada$$ revealed how he almost signed with Jay-Z‘s Roc Nation back in 2010, and how it got botched by his management at the time. He told Red Bull,

“It was a chain of communication that I didn’t have any part in. Jay is my favorite rapper, even to this day, and within a year of being in the game, he wanted to sign me. But he didn’t want to sign me as an artist, he wanted to manage me. I had a manager at the time and I always wonder if that’s how it got botched.”

Joey Bada$$ will be going on his "Dark Aura" tour in October, making it his first tour since 2022.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

Joey Bada$$'s Lonely at the Top album

Joey Bada$$, whose real name is Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, wrote on X, formerly Twitter,

“Made this album in under 6 months in the spirit of a mixtape. Really just wanted to get some raps off and feed the core, nothing more. But in the process, I felt the need to give it some more experimentation and some introspection.”

Bada$$ further added, “Really love all the records on there. I’ll tell yall my favs next week although it’s subject to change. All in all, it’s something for everybody on there. Every type of fan of mine. Only 11 tracks because I believe in easy listens and projects that can be consumed in under 40 min. Hope yall enjoy.”

LONELY AT THE TOP

Starting with the title track, Lonely At The Top takes the cake with its moody, steady beat, where he revisits his Brooklyn roots, sharing it like a survival story and cautionary anthem all at the same time. It shows the rapper at his most vulnerable yet commanding, making the song a centrepiece to the album and its story.

SUPAFLEE, Bri Steves

Supaflee is an anthem of dominance, charisma, and pure energy from Joey Bada$$'s perspective. Over Kirk Knight, the producer's beats, Jo delivers razor-sharp bars full of bravado, while at the same time Bri Steves’ hook adds an edge and flow. The song is about the celebration of being at the top of the game.

SWANK WHITE, Westside Gunn

This collaboration with Westside Gunn has a nostalgic 90's flow energy and vibe to it. Joey Bada$$'s smooth rap and Gunn's soft flow melded together in perfect harmony. In simple terms, he raps like a man who’s seen both sides and is turning his journey into “fine art.”

"'Salla ma, this deeper than rap, yo, this that fine art/Since a lil' nigga had a lion heart/Always get the lion share/Got my mind clear now I'm buying stocks/Meetings out in Bryant Park"

HIGHROLLER, A$AP Ferg & Kelz2busy

A collaborative number with A$AP Ferg & Kelz2busy, Highroller is an upbeat track, raw storytelling with smooth hooks from Kelz2busy and an energetic verse from A$AP Ferg. Lyrics switch between gritty street moments, the price of ambition, and luxury, making it a sharp motivational anthem.

READY TO LOVE, Ty Dolla $ign

In one word, this song can be described as sultry. Joey Bada$$'s simple verses and Ty Dolla $ign's contributions in the chorus make the track the perfect blend of smooth rap and R&B flow, and the lyrics just add to it.

"I'm too grown to be so alone (Yeah)/I get a love jones when you call my phone (Right)/Missed calls, unknown, baby, fix your tone (Fix your tone)/Talk to me nice or, baby girl, I'm gone (Facts)"

UNDERWATER

Another softer, more sultry track, though Underwater brings a bit of soul and softness to the album, it doesn't add much to the album overall. Simply, not too bad, but not quite as out there either.

STILL, Ab-Soul & Rapsody

Adding a melancholic edge to the album, the track offers power and struggle without any loud declarations. It's a defiant anthem that is carried by Rapsody's ad-libs. A few lines in the verses truly hit home and create an impact:

"Family connected to me indefinitely/Enemies close, I'm a devious host/Smarter martyr disguised as a remarkable author/Take a glass of absinth in my absence It may just make your heart grow fonder or at least, grow stronger"

SPEEDIN' THROUGH THE RAIN

Speedin' Through the Rain is nostalgic in the way that the pandemic reminds you of Lo-Fi and slowed, reverbed versions of all your favourite songs. Basically, it is moody and creates a vibe, but definitely not memorable. The constantly repeating beats also end up becoming tiring.

3 FEET AWAY

The initial beat drop, fade out with "3 feet away" and the soft "Lord knows I've been tryna be a better man" create the impact that Joey Bada$$ is going for, and while 3 Feet Away carries a strong message about faith and resilience, it falters in execution compared to stronger tracks on the album.

BK'S FINEST, Rome Streetz, Kai Ca$h & CJ Fly

BK's Finest is essentially a heavy ode to Brooklyn as Joey Bada$$ touches upon his roots, and features Rome Streetz, Kai Ca$h & CJ Fly. However, the production leans heavily into Statik Selektah’s trademark boom-bap and ends up losing the energy in repetition and the hook.

DARK AURA

The album opener, Dark Aura, starts quite strong with a slow 80s City Pop vibe. It holds its own as the introduction to the album, but essentially, that is all it does. It doesn't quite pull you straight into the world of the album. But it does lead you into the world of Lonely At The Top with its outro.

"Spirit guide me on every quest (Aha)/The journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step/Uh, I keep my foot on these niggas' necks/Head up on a swivel, stayin' ready for whatever's next"

Titled as a rising star in the world of Rap, Joey Bada$$ has quite a lot more to show and tell. In the release post of his album, Joey Bada$$ also added an abstract interpretation of the album, stating,

"This image does not force the listener to see a world that you see, because they cannot see what you see. They are not at the top. If they look up; and they look hard enough; they still will not understand your world. They may think they see everything, when really they see nothing. Just you, and your spirit."

This is written by artist Jahlil Nzinga, who also designed the cover art of Joey Bada$$'s album.