Joey Bada$$ | |
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Joey Bada$$ performing in 2013
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Born |
Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott January 20, 1995 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Other names |
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Occupation | |
Years active | 2010–present |
Website | joeybadass |
Musical career | |
Genres | Hip hop |
Labels | |
Associated acts |
Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (born January 20, 1995), better known by his stage name Joey Bada$$, is an American rapper and actor.
Raised in Brooklyn, New York, he is a founding member of the hip-hop collective Pro Era, with whom he has released three mixtapes. He released his debut mixtape, 1999, in June 2012 to critical acclaim and recognition, followed by Rejex in September, and Summer Knights on July 1, 2013. His debut studio album, B4.DA.$$, was released January 20, 2015. In July 2016, he made his television debut on the USA Network series Mr. Robot. His second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ was released on April 7, 2017.
Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott was born on January 20, 1995, and was the first of his immediate Caribbean family to be born in the United States. His family originated from the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean on his mother's side. He is Jamaican on his father's side. He was born in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He was raised in Bed-Stuy and attended the Edward R. Murrow High School. He originally enrolled at Edward R. Murrow to study acting, but transitioned towards music around the time of 9th grade, with a focus on rapping.
He started rapping under the name "JayOhVee", but eventually changed it to Joey Badass. He says that the name change is due to the media's focus on rappers with more cynical names, saying it was "what sounded cool at the time, what fit [his] mood". He claims to have first started writing poetry and songs at the age of 11. Along with CJ Fly, he is a founding member of the collective known as Progressive Era, or Pro Era for short, which was formed by his high school friends Capital Steez and Powers Pleasant.