pro-era Archives

Joey Bada$$ & Maverick Sabre Make A Soulful Counter To Police Profiling (Video)

After Joey Bada$$ & Maverick Sabre's B4.Da.$$ collaboration, single "On & On" received a video inspired partly by police brutality, the pair extend the conversation. "We Don't Wanna Be" shows footage of protesting, and police confronting citizens. Sabre and Badman also appear, in the United Kingdom, showing that the plight... Read more

March 9, 2015 Video

Joey Bada$$’s J Dilla & The Roots-Produced Cut Gets A DMX-Inspired Visual (Video)

With the Dilla Day spirit on high, Joey Bada$$ unleashes the visual for "Like Me." This is his B4.Da.$$ showpiece, boasting production by The Roots and a posthumous J Dilla credit. With the just-released video, it's especially interesting that Badman quite obviously presents his take on DMX's 1998 breakthrough video... Read more

February 11, 2015 The Bridge

Pro Era’s Kirk Knight Gets Rowdy On His First Album Single (Audio)

With Joey Bada$$ making maneuvers on the charts, Heads can expect the Pro Era team to be ramping up retail production. Kirk Knight, who's been a star within the circle, might just be next. Although details are extremely slim surrounding Kirk's album—including so much as a title, the Brooklyn, New... Read more

February 9, 2015 Audio

Joey Bada$$ Links with Dance Music Sensation Kiesza on Teach Me (Lyric Video)

Often times, an album's bonus cut is its rawest, most on the fringe inclusion—something that either the label or the artist was unsure about, for whatever reason. In the case of Joey Bada$$' chart-grabbing B4.Da.$$ debut, "Teach Me" was quite the opposite. The Kiesza-assisted song is among Joey's most Pop-leaning... Read more

February 9, 2015 Video

On His 20th Birthday & B4.Da.$$ Release Date, Joey Bada$$ Reflects In Song (Audio)

In just 20 years on Earth, Joey Bada$$ has accomplished a ton. That being said, January 20, 2015 may be the biggest day in his life to date. Hours ago, the Brooklyn, New York released his debut album, B4.Da.$$, and turned 20 years old at the same time. The benchmark... Read more

January 20, 2015 Audio

Joey Bada$$ Is Taking A Big Step This Week. He’s Ready, With A Freestyle (Video)

Today (January 20) welcomes Joey Bada$$' debut, B4.Da.$$ to the marketplace and music shop shelves. Backed by Sony Red, the Cinematic/Pro Era release includes production contributions from DJ Premier, The Roots, and Statik Selektah, among others. The moment also capsules a five-year rise to prominence, since the Brooklyn, New Yorker... Read more

January 20, 2015 Video

Joey Bada$$ Drops Wisdom While DJ Premier Drops A Scorching Beat (Audio)

"B4.Da.$$" is the title of Joey Bada$$' studio debut, releasing this coming Tuesday (January 20) on Pro Era/Cinematic/Sony Red. The Brooklyn, New York MC reflects this title, not just as a conveniently clever time-capsule of his rise to stardom, or an ah-ha to the doubters and skeptics. Rather, the Pro... Read more

January 17, 2015 Audio

Joey Bada$$ Rocks His Dilla & Roots-Produced Track With The Roots (Video)

Quite curiously, Joey Bada$$'s debut album, B4.Da.$$ (January 20) includes a track co-produced by The Roots, and the late J Dilla. While the snippets of the Sony Red-distributed LP were promptly pulled from YouTube, many Heads are curious how the Brooklyn, New York millennial would sound alongside the iconic collaboration... Read more

January 14, 2015 Fresh, Video

With Sounds By The Roots & J Dilla, Preview Snippets Of Joey Bada$$’s B4.Da.$$ (Audio)

Over the weekend, the full artwork, tracklisting and production credits for Joey Bada$$' studio debut, B4.Da.$$ (January 20) were released: 1. Save The Children (prod by Statik Selektah) 2. Greenbax (prod by Lee Bannon) 3. Paper Trails (prod. by DJ Premier) 4. Piece of Mine (prod by Freddie Joachim) 5.... Read more

December 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joey Bada$$ Rolls Deep. They Terrorize The Borough & The Beat (Video)

Just one day after releasing "No. 99" in audio, Joey Bada$$ drops the video for his Statik Selektah-produced sophomore single. The visual features a faux Brooklyn news report of a menace on the loose. "Badman" is none other than Joey, who with his Pro Era crew is causing mass destruction... Read more

December 9, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ Unleashes A New Album Single. He & Statik Selektah Have Chemistry (Audio)

For an artist who puts art above image, music above interview antics, and the engaged live show above dedicated social media presence, January is a great month to release an album. Slow burn and long consideration will go a long way for Cinematic's longtime emerging star. With January 20, 2015... Read more

December 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

5 Years In The Making, Joey Bada$$’s Debut Album His Its First Single (Video)

It's no secret or hidden fact that Joey Bada$$ (and much of Pro Era) pulls from an early-mid 1990s New York City Hip-Hop sound. The language, the subject matters, the deliveries, the choruses, the fashion, and even the videos feel like art that could have been unearthed from a Nervous... Read more

September 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ Is Just Trying To Get Paid (Audio)

Coupled with the beginning of his B4.Da.$$ Tour with Vince Staples and Pro Era affiliates CJ Fly, Kirk Knight, and Nyck Caution, Joey Bada$$ drops some fresh new music for the fans with his latest single, "Get Paid." The cut itself is a loosie that won't appear on his upcoming... Read more

September 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Nitty Scott, Chris Webby, Smoke DZA & CJ Fly Cypher With Conviction (Video)

One day after the 2014 BET Hip-Hop Awards' Digital All-Stars Cypher (Emilio Rojas, Andy Mineo, Dreezy, Dillon Cooper, Retro Jace, Conceited) premiered, RAW rolling papers' shows another healthy, talented crop of MCs. Nitty Scott, MC, Pro Era's CJ Fly, Chris Webby, and veteran Smoke DZA represent the NY tri-state lovely,... Read more

September 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Pro Era Gets Industrial In Their Incredibly Polished Hail Razor Visual (Video)

CJ Fly, Dessy Hinds, and A La $ole show some Pro Era depth in the complex visual to "Hail Razor." The video features additional bandmates, as they go to an abandoned mill/assembly line to show just how rooted in the grit they are. This from the Scion A/V-backed The Shift... Read more

September 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ Says He’s Bringin’ Brooklyn Back In A Tony Touch Freestyle (Video)

Some things just make sense. If Joey Bada$$ was around, in the industry, in the late '90s, he would have sounded right and exact on Tony Touch cassette tapes. The Taino Turntable Terrorist and the Pro Era front-man linked on Toca Tuesdays. On a loop-based beat made famous by Lootpack... Read more

September 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

CJ Fly & Joey Bada$$’s New Visual Features Some Elaborate Settings (Video)

Pro Era's visuals have always been part of their attractive package to the fans. For "Sup Preme," CJ Fly and Joey Bada$$ seemingly leave their streets of Brooklyn for a bricked private school, find an old Cadillac sedan to load into, and some playing to the camera. Joey takes a... Read more

September 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

You Can Feel The Dust In Joey Bada$$’s Latest Visual (Video)

Joey Bada$$'s "Big Dusty" captures just how the Brooklyn, New Yorker channels those obscure '90s styles implemented by acts like The Artifacts, Cannibal Ox, and Smif-N-Wessun. Youthful, unpredictable, and clever, Joey's video complement finds the MC on an inward journey, surrounded by night moves, vivid back-lit colors, and melting herb.... Read more

August 12, 2014 Fresh, Video

Ab-Soul & Retch Kick Some Cool Verses as Pro Era Looks On (Video)

Statik Selektah drops a smooth beat just in time for Retch and Ab-Soul to lay down some slick rhymes on Shade 45's Showoff Radio. In between verses, Pro Era's Joey Bada$$ and Nyck Caution walk into the room prompting Ab-Soul to kick some spirited bars of his own. Ab says... Read more

August 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Check My Style Is The Anthem On Joey Bada$$’ Big Dusty (Audio)

Joey Bada$$ continues to channel the sounds and influences of the 90's with his latest single, "Big Dusty." Just a few days removed from the release of his short film, No Regrets, with director Rik Cordero, the Pro Era captain utilizes the cut to set the tone for the upcoming... Read more

August 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joey Bada$$ & Statik Selektah Play An Hour-Long Mix Of Pro Era’s Finest Moments (Audio)

Statik Selektah has been one of the early adopters to the Pro Era sound. The ShowOff CEO and longtime radio (terrestrial and satellite) staple dropped quite a few needles on Joey Bada$$ and his cohorts before labels, big studios, or major features were ever involved. As Joey lends his mic... Read more

July 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joey Bada$$ Has No Regrets In New Film Trailer (Video)

Joey Bada$$ and Green Label Sound release their official trailer for the Rik Cordero directed short film, No Regrets, today via Complex. No Regrets, scored entirely by Statik Selektah, features Bada$$ in the future as a billionaire philanthropist who uses time travel to relive his youth and find out what... Read more

July 11, 2014 Fresh, Video

Pro Era Uncovers Unreleased Music From The Late Capital STEEZ (Audio)

Retro samples from MF Doom's "?" and retro flows from the late Capital STEEZ and Jakk Tha Rhymer, who began their rapping careers as the group 3rd Kind in 2009, hit the airwaves in the form of the track, "Shooting Stars." STEEZ's bars have been cleaned up for the single,... Read more

July 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joey Bada$$ & Freddie Gibbs Carry On With An AZ Scratch-Chorus For Statik Selektah’s New Single (Audio)

"Carrying on tradition" is an appropriate way of describing both Joey Bada$$ and Freddie Gibbs. Each MC is a bit out of step with their peers, far more interested in preserving the brands of Hip-Hop they grew up listening to. For the Pro Era MC, this includes the free-form linguistics... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joey Bada$$ & Pro Era Call For The Shift (EP Stream)

Through Scion A/V, Joey Bada$$ and his Pro Era clique surprised Heads with a five-song EP, The Shift. Released today (May 27), this release includes Joey, Kirk Knight, CJ Fly and the rest of the gang. As the group shies away from formal releases, how do you think this holds... Read more

May 27, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Boot Camp Clik Meets Pro Era, As Buckshot Crosses Paths With Joey Bada$$ & CJ Fly (Video)

Whether it be with Black Moon, Boot Camp Clik, or just on his own two as the B.D.I. Thug, Buckshot Shorty has been dropping music for over two decades and has worked with a slew of notable artists including 9th Wonder and KRS-One. To add to his extensive catalog, the... Read more

May 22, 2014 Fresh, Video

Raekwon & Jay Electronica To Headline 2014 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

With past lineups including headliners such as EPMD, KRS-One, Q-Tip, and Busta Rhymes, the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival has became a staple in the New York City summer scene. Artists including Kanye West, Group Home, Das EFX, Grand Puba, Greg Nice, and Kendrick Lamar have also performed over the years. As... Read more

April 15, 2014 Fresh

Joey Bada$$ & Kirk Knight Go Back & Forth In The Booth For 10 Minutes, Over Classic Instruments (Video)

Stopping in London recently, Pro Era's Joey Bada$$ and Kirk Knight hit the recording studio for the "Fire In The Booth" series. Kirk gets a coming out party, noting that he doesn't even have a project available, while the pair play games with the BBC's Charlie Sloth, implementing some homegrown... Read more

April 7, 2014 Fresh, Video

Here’s a New Compilation From Pro Era. Check out Secc$ Tap.e 2 (Audio)

The Pro Era crew released 7 new tracks this week, as part of their ProEraWeek. Joey Bada$$, Kirk Knight, Dessy Hinds and more made contributions. They've released a compilation of all 7 tracks, which you can stream below. Check out Secc$ Tap.e 2 below. Related: The Pro Era Cypher (Video)... Read more

February 15, 2014 Audio

Joey Bada$$, Dyemond Lewis & A La $ole Drop Off Some Heat for Christmas. Check Out Sol Luna (Audio)

Pro Era's Joey Bada$$, Dyemond Lewis & A La $ole drop off some 90's-influenced goodness as Christmas winds down. Sol Luna draws on the hook from A Tribe Called Quest's Jazz and features dark chords and BOOM BAP drums that would make Pete Rock proud. Check it out. Related: Capital... Read more

December 25, 2013 Audio

The Pro Era Cypher (Video)

Rather than complain or whine about not being included in the BET Hip-Hop Awards cyphers, the Pro Era Crew did what a group of MCs is supposed to do: take it to the mic. Featuring DJ Statik Selektah on the turntables, Pro Era delivers an 11 minute cypher showcasing the... Read more

October 17, 2013 Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ Talks Voice Changes, Working With DJ Premier (Video)

In Peter Rosenberg's latest installment of The Process, Brooklyn's Joey Bada$$ breaks down his years (or year) of juggling a high school education with obligations, and those of a budding mainstream Rap career. Joey opens up about getting high for the first time, and penning one of his most-cherished songs,... Read more

October 9, 2013 Video

CJ Fly – Sadderdaze ft Ab-Soul

Pro Era and Black Hippy pop off a coast-to-coast collaboration over a sample quite familiar to Reasonable Doubt lovers, CJ and Soulo offer a link from Thee Way Eye See It, which is slated to be on hard-drives by this weekend. Both of these crews are able to make simple... Read more

September 30, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Joey Bada$$ – Killuminati Pt. 2 (Kendrick Lamar Response)

It might have taken a little longer than anticipated, but one of the most vocal artists on Twitter when it came to “Control” has dropped the hashtags and picked up the mic. On the track “Killuminati Pt. 2,” Pro Era captain Joey Bada$$ steps up to the plate with the... Read more

August 26, 2013 Audio, Fresh

The Smokers Club & Jonny Shipes Present: OIL: 710 (Mixtape)

Here's a new mixtape from The Smokers Club and Jonny Shipes (who manages artists such as Big K.R.I.T, Smoke DZA, Joey Bada$$, Pro Era and more). The mixtape features music from DZA, Joey, CJ Fly, Boldy James and more. You can listen to and download The Smokers Club & Jonny... Read more

July 10, 2013 Mixes

CJ Fly – tug-at-war

If you need some underground hip-hop in your life after the Jay-Z takeover weekend, Pro Era member CJ Fly has you covered. Check out his dope new song tug-at-war. Related: CJ Fly – The Error (Audio)... Read more

July 7, 2013 Audio, Throwback

Joey Bada$$ – Amethyst Rockstar ft Kirk Knight (Prod. DOOM)

DOOM blesses Pro Era brethren Joey Bada$$ and Kirk Knight with a beat. Check out Amethyst Rockstar. Related: Joey Bada$$ – 95 Til Infinity (Audio)... Read more

June 25, 2013 Audio

Pro Era – Like Water (Video)

Pro Era handle the absence of Capital STEEZ with grace and respect in the new video for Like Water, which features Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly and STEEZ. RIP Captial STEEZ. Related: Pro Era – Overseas (Video)... Read more

June 1, 2013 Video

Dessy Hinds (of Pro Era) – P. Enlightenment

Dessy Hinds is yet another talented MC from the Pro Era crew. Like his brethren Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly and the late Capital STEEZ, Dessy likes to rock over jazzy 90's throwback beats. This track fits the bill. Check out P. Enlightenment. Related: Pro Era – School High (Video)... Read more

May 8, 2013 Audio

Pro Era – School High (Video)

Here's a new video from Pro Era's stellar PEEP: The Aprocalypse mixtape (truly one of the best of 2012). Check out School High. Related: Pro Era – Overseas (Video)... Read more

May 1, 2013 Video

Pro Era – Overseas (Video)

Here's a video for one of the toughest joints on the Pro Era mixtape (and that's saying a lot). Check out Overseas. And, if you've been sleeping, you can listen to and download the Pro Era mixtape here.... Read more

April 15, 2013 Video

Joey Bada$$ & Pro Era ‘The Backroom’ Freestyle

Joey Bada$$, Nyck Caution, Dessy Hinds, A La $ole, Kirk Knight, Dyemond Lewis, and CJ Fly all stepped up to the mic and displayed why their team is definitely one to be reckoned with. Check out the footage from BET's 'The Backroom" and let us know who you think had the best... Read more

March 28, 2013 Video

Pro Era – Maxwell

Some members of Pro Era (Dirty Sanchez, Rockamouth and the late Capital STEEZ) go in over a RIDICULOUS flip of a choice Maxwell cut. Aptly, the track is called Maxwell. Take a listen below, and get ready to press rewind. Related: Pro Era – Toca Tuesdays Freestyle (Video)... Read more

February 28, 2013 Audio

Pro Era – Toca Tuesdays Freestyle (Video)

Joey Bada$$ and the Pro Era crew cypher for nearly 12 minutes over classic DJ Premier beats. It just gets better and better. Check out the video. Related: Pro Era in the studio making PEEP: The Aprocalypse (Video)... Read more

January 30, 2013 Video

Pro Era in the Studio Making PEEP: The Aprocalypse (Video)

Here's a behind the scenes look at Joey Bada$$ and the Pro Era crew in the studio during the making of their PEEP: The Aprocalypse mixtape. Check out the video. Related: Pro Era – PEEP: The Aprocalypse (Mixtape)... Read more

January 28, 2013 Video

RIP Pro Era’s Capital Steez

Tragically, the Pro Era standout took his own life at the age of 19. This comes right on the heels of the release of Pro Era's critically acclaimed PEEP: The Aprocalypse. Our deepest condolences go out to Pro Era and his family. You can celebrate his life through listening to... Read more

December 24, 2012 Food for Thought

Pro Era – PEEP: The Aprocalypse (Mixtape)

Here's a dope new mixtape from Joey Bada$$ and his Pro Era crew. Like Joey's solo projects, this is also filled with 90's-influenced beats and straight SPITTIN'. Pro Era just staked an early claim to 2013. You can listen to and download all of PEEP: The Aprocalypse below. Related: Joey... Read more

December 21, 2012 Mixes

Joey Bada$$ – Fromdatomb$ ft Chuck Strangers (Video)

Here's another dope video from Joey Bada$$' incredible 1999 mixtape. Consistent with the 90's theme of the mixtape, the video takes on the visually stylistic look of videos from the 90's hip-hop era. Check out Fromdatomb$ featuring Chuck Strangers. Related: Joey Bada$$ – Rejex (Mixtape)... Read more

October 31, 2012 Video

Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era Cypher (Video)

Here's a good old-fashioned cypher from Joey Bada$$ and his Pro Era crew. Make no mistake, Joey is not the only one with skills in the crew. The cypher kicks in at about the 2:20 mark. Check out the video. Related: Joey Bada$$ - 1999 (Mixtape)... Read more

August 28, 2012 Video

Joey Bada$$ & The Pro-Era speak with VICE (Video)

Here's a tight piece that VICE did on Joey Bada$$ and his Pro-Era crew. If you're not familiar with Joey Bada$$ yet this is a great look at an MC who has the chops to be in the game for several years. Once you've seen the video, check out Joey's... Read more

March 28, 2012 Food for Thought, Video