Album Review: Joey Bada$$ “Lonely At The Top”

From the gritty streets of Brooklyn, New York – East Flatbush to be exact – Pro Era’s founder Joey Bada$$ is continuing to plant his flag and make his mark in the vast world of hip hop. Since grade school, Joey – whose real name is Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott – has aspired to be one of the leaders of the new school hip hop class. Born on January 20th, 1995, he’s been considered one of the youngest on the mic to keep New York hip hop alive. His mother – who’s originally from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia – introduced her son to some legendary acts such as Prince, Biggie, Jay Z, and Beenie Man. This gave Joey the inspiration to explore rap and ever since, he’s been able to stamp his brand amongst some of the most elite hip hop artists in present day. Some of his influences range from the likes of Nas and 2Pac to the roots of Black Thought and MF Doom.

His latest album, “Lonely At The Top”, which he released on August 29th, 2025 with Columbia Records, is one of his most developed and directionally clear projects to date. His maturity and level of consciousness speaks volumes throughout this record. There’s a sound and there’s a vibe about this LP that gives us an insight into Joey’s growth and evolution, both musically and personally. It has that satisfying feeling of achieving something that you’ve intentionally put all your focus, attention, and hard work towards. The album includes a number of well-known producers such as Boi-1da, Hitmaka, Massachusetts native DJ Statik Selektah, and Pro Era’s in-house producer Chuck Strangers. For features, Joey recruited the likes of Ty Dolla Sign, Westside Gunn of Griselda Records, TDE’s Ab-Soul, and Rapsody to name a few.

One song that I really thought set the tone with this project was the intro track, titled “Dark Aura”. In this song, Joey raps over this cinematic-like production, giving us a glimpse into his inner thoughts through his introspection. He’s lyrically heavy in this one, intentionally drawing his listeners in close with his braggadocious but enticing lifestyle. Another song that grabbed my attention was “Ready To Love”, featuring Ty Dolla Sign who beautifully lays it out in the hook. The only song on the album catered to the ladies, “Ready To Love” gives the project a balance that presumably mirrors Joey’s current lifestyle. The young hip hop genius seems to be at a point in his life where he can finally say that he’s “ready to love” another young lady. It has a romantic, R&B feel with a smooth and laid back hip hop vibe that you can find yourself dancing to. The other song that stood out to me was “Still”, featuring Ab-Soul and Rapsody. There’s a melodic loop in the background of the production that hypnotizes you and keeps you there for the entirety of the track. Joey really got in his bag on this one. He gives us raw emotion, refined lyricism, and vulnerability that Rapsody nurtures in the chorus. Ab-Soul adds an introspective verse that clearly signifies him and Joey’s bond. Listen to “Ready To Love” below.

Overall, I think “Lonely At The Top” is Joey’s display of evolution and he makes it clear that he’s here to stay. He’s grown out of the days of procrastinating and he’s on pace to clear his path to become one of hip hop’s youngest legends. Listen to the album here.