Eng : Joey Bada$$ Calls 50 Cent "Genius," Says Hip Hop Being Raped For Dollars "

Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ addressed fellow
New York lyricists 50 Cent and DMX during a
newly-released interview with Montreality . In
regards to 50 Cent, Joey called the G-Unit
helmsman a genius and revealed that due do the
credit and respect the rapper has received in Hip
Hop, he watches 50 Cent interviews more than he
listens to 50’s music.
While speaking on DMX, Joey stated that DMX is
another artist he pays close attention to via
interviews. But in regards to the way the rapper is
portrayed in the media, the Pro Era lyricist stated
that the way he’s portrayed may be his own
fault.
“Me personally, I like 50 for his genius,” Joey
Bada$$ said. “For his mind. At this point it’s not
really about the music because he done earned
his respect. He done got his credit. You feel me?
He got his hits. And he can keep making hits, but
he already got like—He been got my respect. I
watched 50 Cent interviews more than I listen to
50 Cent music.
“The story of X itself is an incredible and
uncomparable one,” he added. “Just from the
start and dating back to when he was seven-
years-old. He’s a very influential person to me.
He’s another one who I listen to his interviews. I
listen to what he got to say. When he was on
‘Def Poetry Jam’ and all that. X preaches the
realest shit…I’m a firm supporter of X. I just—I
don’t know. I can’t really say how I feel on how
the media treats him because part of it is his own
fault.”
Joey later offered his thoughts on the current
state of Hip Hop shortly after being asked about
the status of his upcoming album, B4.Da.$$ ,
which he says is about 90 percent done.
According to the Brooklyn lyricist, the art and
culture of Hip Hop is being raped by those who
are in it for the money.
“It’s definitely about 90 percent done at this
point,” Joey said. “Everything else is sample
clearances, features and all that…Don’t even get
me started with the Hip Hop game today. I’ll go
on for years. You guys know that shit. Long story
short, I just feel like today people allow the art of
Hip Hop and the culture of Hip Hop to be raped
for fuckin’ dollars, yo. Straight up. Mad mediocre
shit ruling. That don’t even make no sense. [You]
look at these cats’ lyrics they not even saying
shit. You feel me? But it sounds good and all
that. Word up. It gets you to turn up.”
The controversial Pro Era logo was also brought
up during Joey’s conversation with Montreality.
Despite the controversy surrounding the logo,
Joey shared his belief that the logo is genius.
“I always thought it was genius,” the rapper said.
“It’s genius, you know. I see it different now than
I seen it two years ago. I’ll admit that. Cause two
years ago I was like—Well, three years ago when
he first formed the symbol and everything and we
started putting up the stickers. I’m like ‘Yo, shit
is getting real.’ With the red and the white and
black. We all know of course it looks like a
swastika, but that was the point. You feel me?
That got your attention. If it was anything else it
would not be as it is now. So, that’s why I think
that it’s genius…The meaning of it it’s peace and
love, but it’s also balance. Even if you look at the
symbol it’s equally balanced.”
Lastly, Joey Bada$$ shared a memory of Capital
Steez, his friend and Pro Era member who passed
away on Christmas Eve 2012.
“We used to always smoke in my staircase in my
old apartment building.” Joey said. “He’d just
come through and I’d be like sitting at the
computer right by the window and he’d just
scream ‘Yeah!’ I’d go in the staircase and he’d
just light it up and shit like that. That was back
in the day when I was still getting in trouble for
smoking. So yeah, good times right there.”