The album opens with a sample taken from BMO from Adventure Time: “But does growing up just change your body? Or also your soul?”
This serves as the main theme of the third studio album from rap duo Joey Valence & Brae. I have been following the two since 2021 when they released their semi-viral song “Double Jump.” I loved it on first listen, it felt like a modern revival of Beastie Boys, arguably one of the most popular and influential rap groups of the 80s and 90s with hit songs such as “Sabotage” and “Intergalactic.”
All that to say, as they’ve been releasing more music, they’ve just gotten better and better at discovering their sound. While their newest album is certainly not perfect, it marks a new chapter for the duo.
To start, the production on this is stellar. Without a doubt the best Valence has done yet. There’s dance on “IS THIS LOVE” and “GO HARD,” hardcore hip-hop on “HYPERYOUTH,” pop rap on “LIVE RIGHT” and heck, even house on “THE PARTY SONG” and “DISCO TOMORROW.” No matter what your music taste is, I’m sure you will be able to find a song you enjoy on here. Every song is as if it was a love letter to its respective genre. Packing in tons of samples, interpolations and references ranging from OutKast to Skrillex, all artists that the duo grew up with.
I couldn’t write this review without mentioning the amazing features. TiaCorine, who I have never heard before this album, she absolutely popped off with her verse on “BUST DOWN,” adding a super smooth and groovy flow. Rebecca Black (yes, the girl who made “Friday”) comes in on “SEE U DANCE” to take over the chorus, reminding me of some of my favorite pop songs from the early 2000s like Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous” with Timbaland. And without the best feature of the album, rapper JPEGMAFIA on “WASSUP.” The chemistry the three have on this song is unmatched as their verses tightly bounce off of each other.
Through the album’s 43 minutes runtime, Valence & Brae show just how much they love doing what they do: having fun. Please go check this album out, you won’t regret it.
Listen, buy merch and purchase tour tickets here: https://www.jvbsucks.com/