[In Rotation] Paypa, Joey BadA$$ & tabi Bonney

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By Kaitlin Balmert

Paypa, Joey BadA$$ and tabi Bonney have all recently put out some great work that we’re keeping them In Rotation. Read on to see why these artists will immediately have your musical attention.

PAYPA / HENNY ON THE ROCKS 2

Chicago bred and California raised artist, Paypa, has really got me tuned in to his music. His recent release, the mixtape sequel to Henny On The Rocks, is a quality project with noteworthy features from Chip Tha Ripper, Emilio Rojas, Raekwon, JD Era & more. My favorite off of the mixtape; the track, Turnt Up featuring Chip, is a feel-good weekend song that immediately has you bobbing your head. The track No Cosign, is an anthem for artist’s independence from the realm of cosigns and overnight internet fame. An authentic song for the unspoken, Paypa lets everyone know he isn’t going to fade away; he’s working hard for his own success, relying on his own talent and not the fame of someone else.

Maybe it’s Paypa’s ability to consistently maintain a solid delivery and flow on all songs or perhaps it’s his enticing hooks that make him an artist that hip hop needs more of. Post mixtape release, Paypa let go a new BINK! produced song entitled Alright that is steady making its climb to the top of my Most Played chart on Itunes.

JOEY BADA$$ / 1999

Leading up to the release of Joey’s debut solo project, 1999, I was captivated by this young artist’s talent. For being a hip hop freshman, Joey is making major moves in the rap game. The Cinematic Music Group signee is 17 years young with an old school sound that is contrastingly refreshing. His rhyme schemes and flow are seemingly from another time. Coincidentally Joey is a Brooklyn native and dare I make the comparison, but Joey reminds me of a young Illmatic Nas.

Easily seen and heard in the video Survival Tactics, Joey has a raw appeal and makes bold statements with his music, freeing from the commercial rap sound. 1999 is everything I hoped it would be, it’s one of those solid projects from beginning to end. This mixtape is exactly what hip hop needed. Production from MF Doom, J Dilla, Statik Selektah and more are perfect fits for Joey’s rhymes schemes and flawless flow. You can catch Joey along with his Pro Era crew at this year’s Smokers Club tour.

TABI BONNEY / THE ENDLESS SUMMER

Tabi recently released The Endless Summer, a re-release of the deluxe edition of his project The Summer Years. With features from Curren$y, Mos Def, Murs and produced entirely by Ski Beatz, this is a smooth listen full of mellow music perfect for the summer time. What really stands out to me is tabi’s lyrical content, it is enlightening and music for daily life rather than redundant talk of drugs, sex, violence and money. Stand out tracks from the project include Parachute, Castle on a Cloud, Winner’s Parade and On Jupiter, a song he collaborated on with his father, Itadi Bonney.

The Endless Summer is free of electronic and manufactured sounding music; instead the production and song instrumentals incorporate a mixture of musical elements that together make for aesthetically pleasing music thanks to the talented Ski Beatz. Tabi is an artist whose uplifting music can put you in the right state of mind with its charismatic and chill vibes.