Joey Bada$$ Talks Style, Activism, and Crystals

Yeah.

[Off Camera] Yeah, for real.

(soulful hip hop music)

She s like, Oh my God, a fucking rap video.

(laughing)

This is like one my favorite spots to come to and eat.

I m really tight with the owner.

I mean, the whole All Amerikkkan Bada$$ thing

is more just being clever.

Yeah, yeah. (laughs)

But the music is a reflection

of however I m feeling at the moment.

My feelings is more in the space

of what was going on in the country.

Joey Bada$$.

It s really just a name.

It s more just about being bold and not,

not holding back.

I m always going to speak on what I thinks need to speak on.

I m always gonna fight for what

I think needs to be fought for.

That s where the badass comes from.

It s less about breaking windows (laughs).

When it comes to my style,

I make sure there s not a dull moment.

I m not a guy who shops for brands.

Like I m not just going to Gucci because it s Gucci.

[Interviewer] Right.

If I buy something from Gucci (laughs),

like the belt I have on,

it s because I just really like the design.

It could be fucking $800

or it could be $8 from the thrift store.

I was watching a Muhammad Ali interview one time, right?

And he was just talking about the way he carries himself.

And the reason why people see him in Rolls-Royces

and luxuries and things like that.

He said, If I pull up to a stoplight, right,

and I m in my Rolls Royce, I m shining, I m stunting,

you re more likely to listen to that man than a man,

if I was Mohammed Ali and I pulled up in a raggedy thing.

You know what I m saying?

I gotta make what you see attractive enough

for you to even wanna be interested

in hearing what I gotta say.

I ain t gonna lie, that s why it took me so long

to fucking get here today.

Because I m like yo, this is Vogue.

I m like what the fuck?

I gotta wear something crazy.

Tried five different outfits on.

I m like yo, you know what?

Cancel it.

(laughing)

To me, style is like something you re born with.

You purchase fashion.

Ey, what s good, my brother?

[Driver] (mumbles)

How you doing?

I m chilling, man. Good yeah you better--

Yeah, he s a fan but he s a friend now.

Bro, and I ll tell you

like every New York show, he s been to.

I was just driving by, I m going to work right now--

Aw, no doubt.

[Driver] Who s that, bro?

I was like, it s Joey. Yeah, that s my man.

Like I look out for that kid like.

The fact that I have a voice

and I can speak for people who don t have a voice

is my superpower.

I always wanted to deliver something positive

that maybe a listener can gain something from it.

Benefit the listener, or learn, or motivate, or inspire.

I get inspired by a lot of negative things,

and I almost wanna flip it, I wanna reverse the energy.

We are in a collective conscious.

I have a very holistic type of way of thinking.

I m a very spiritual person.

Crystals are like my philosopher stones.

They release electromagnetic frequencies and vibrations

that help lift your frequencies and vibrations.

There used to be a point where I wouldn t leave my house

without wearing a crystal.

There s a amethyst, real tiny amethyst on my pinky ring.

I ve become the crystal.

I always viewed things from outside of my body.

You know, I just,

I like to keep it real with myself.

Like, yo if I wasn t me, would I fuck with this (laughs)?

That s how I judge my music.

I don t think I ve ever felt comfortable in life

and I feel like the fulfillment of my dreams

makes me feel comfortable

because the main reason why I don t feel comfortable

is because I m so anxious to get what I,

what I wish to get done, done.

That makes me restless.

(souful hip hop music)