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After these hip-hop geniuses Joe Budden and Joey Bada$$ posted new pictures of them together in fine-casual clothing, headover speculated conversations began to arise about what they might be collaborating on. Budden grabbed the photo himself: the duo standing along a stretch of waterfront with city skyline faintly visible in the back, and it was obvious that it was a professional meeting rather than just a portfolio hangout. The visual collaboration came amidst Budden’s staying power in recent popular media and Joey Bada$$ holding exalted status within actual industry.
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The image is quite captivating. They wore something coordinated but pretty much the definition of casual-wear; going somewhere in the crossroads between sporty and vintage, maybe? Budden is to the left: maroon oversized t-shirt, white pants-with watch and cap to complete his ensemble. Joey Bada$$ to the right completes the look with a vintage-looking baseball jersey going with his jeans and featuring the number ’20’ and another nice cap of his. Combining the waterfront with the cityscape background confers some atmospheric tones on the image, thus steering it towards that of a professional photo shoot rather than just another face-in-the-line street shot.
Budden’s caption, “A couple of good Joeys. 🔥🔥,” invigorated things. The double entendre dances on the names of both guys while putting a slight insinuation that something positive is cooking between them. Followers waste no time in flooding the comment section with excitement and speculation as to what this meeting hints at.
The reactions of the fans came fast and were varied: “Ive been waiting for this 🔥💯,” screamed an opinion that others were agreeing with, as the statement seemed to express long-held anticipation for these two to work with each other. In humoristic fashion, another follower commented to their typical styles: “Is the shirt big or Joe big 😂,” and this grew by way of entire threads about wardrobe choices and weather conditions during the photo shoot.
Some of the glare began being passed on to sharper observations as commenters strangled the atmosphere for laughter. One commented, “Rory and mal won’t like this 😂,” referencing Budden’s sometimes troubled relations with his former co-hosts on the podcast. This was then followed by a clever play on names: “Joey Bada$$ and Joey Gooda$$?,” insinuating that fans are in the process of creating a narrative around this collaboration.
Commenters attacked with some real vitriol about the fashion, with one proclaiming: “This nigga wearing shoulder pads??? 😂😂😂😂” while several came forward defending the choices as deliberate and contemporary. The conversation then turned to a somewhat more contentious topic with one member bringing up Budden’s former mate Mel, igniting a little argument surrounding audience support and podcast dynamics.
The weather has already become profane for the timing. Both Budden and Joey Bada$$ were now quite active in their own right. Budden continues to be the monster embedded in podcast discussions about hip-hop culture while, in keeping with his reverence as one of the finest lyricists within present-day hip-hop, Joey Bada$$ is still really left-leaning on the other side of the spectrum. If these two collaborate on anything, it will be a genuine lift in hip-hop media, whether through music or content.
Judging by the level of professionalism displayed in the photo, this certainly exceeded the bounds of a coincidental hand shake. The coordinated attire, posing, and scenery all rescue the question from the realm of “maybe.” Music? Podcast appearances? Some other sort of content? Your guess is as good as mine, but any clear-eyed observer would undoubtably be watching.
This moment also sheds a bit of light on Budden’s special place in the culture. In the midst of a few controversial runs and industry clashes, the 35 has maintained relationships with artists spanning multiple generations. He represents the longevity behind his ties to someone like Joey Bada$$, who represents a fairly different era and take on hip-hop.
From the sudden fan reaction, it is obvious how much these intersections in hip-hop culture are felt. Comment sections wilt and bloom from simple excitement to humorous observations and almost veiled industry analysis. It is these layered type of engagements which make the corners of these moments that much more exciting to culture watchers.
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One thing is certain while the speculation continues: whatever Joe Budden posts, it gets attention. This picture with Joey Bada$$ is already the talk of the town, in buzz, and anticipation in hip-hop circles. Absolutely anything that will come out of these “good Joeys” will surely be on everyone’s lips! The mention of potential collaboration between a media personality and an esteemed artist gives optimism to both music as well as content.