Joey Purp is stepping out of Chance The Rapper’s shadow
Joey Purp is one of Chicago’s most exciting up and coming stars.
Joey Purp is one of Chicago’s most exciting up and coming stars. Joey is also a member of Chance the Rapper’s Savemoney Crew. iiiDrops is his second mixtape which was released in 2016 and follows up his debut The Purple Tape which was released in 2012. Though Joey might not be as famous or have same main stream success as Savemoney Crew members, Chance the Rapper or Vic Mensa, this mixtape shows he has all the skills necessary to make it to the top. iiiDrops was listed by Pitchfork media in their best new music section upon release.
iiiDrops is an excellent project, with funky beats, jazzy chords, and Purp’s rare blend of humor, passion, vivid storytelling, and technical skill.
The album opener, Morning Sex is a direct view into Joey’s life. I done witness both sides of the murder, I done seen a nigga killed, and seen a nigga kill a nigga. He openly speaks about his crime and violence which is part of everyday life on the streets of Chicago. He provides us with an insight into a life which involved money, crime and murder.
The second song on the album is a complete change in mood and tempo. Girls Ft. Chance the Rapper is an upbeat catchy, fun filled song with both Joey and Chance trading verses about their ideal women. Both rappers show how they can combine humour and their rapping skills, to produce a fun upbeat track.
Joey jumps back into a more thoughtful zone on track number three Money and Bitches. Despite the cliché rap title, the song deals with a cycle of greed and materialism. Joey like his crew members Chance and Vic released iiiDrops for free and he repeats on this track It don’t cost a dollar to listen, pay me attention. Therefore he is encouraging the listener to listen to his opinions on the topics of money, greed and materialism.
On When I am Gone Joey delivers quick fire verses regarding his thoughts on the system and the powers that be. Teddy Jackson interrupts this verses with the line All I wanna know is what they gon’ do when I’m gone. Joey’s verse are mini stories regarding the system in which many young black people in Chicago suburbs find themselves in My boss is telling me I decide to show up late one more time I’mma be filling out applications. Though a short track joey finds time to attack politicians, the police and the public system within America which has failed so many and is part of the reason many young people in Chicago become involved in the gang scene. The system just made a victim out of innocent people, Set us up for failure and teaching us that we not are equal
The next track changes the tone of the album again. Photobooth is a poppy edgy track, with a very catchy beat. Joey’s charisma and humour is a highlight of this track. If the devil wears Prada than my bitch been sinning
On Cornstone, Joey and fellow Chicago rapper Saba trade verses about the dark side of the windy city in which they both grew up in. We see Joey’s story telling ability in his verses. Chiraq look like the Middle East And white kids deal with problems that we never knew to bother. Both recall what they witnessed during their childhood in Chicago and the troubles they lived through. The last thing that I heard was the news of a murder, that wasn’t more than a couple blocks from where I rest my head.
Again Joey switches things up on the track Say you Do. We get this latin jazz sample. Say you Do is tracked which seems to be more hook than verse. The lyrics don’t offer much in terms of substance but however it is still a fun track with a very catchy clever beat. Say, Sunday morning, you a good girl, Saturday night superstar
Goodbody is perhaps the hardest cut on the album. Joey issues a warning to all his hatters and people who don’t respect him as an artist. Yeah, and the nerve of you mother fuckers, The nerve of you mother fuckers think you can touch me. Goodbody is the braggadocios track of the album. Godbody is a slang name for the members of the urban, Black empowerment, youth movement called the Five Percenters. It was founded circa 1964, in Harlem. So his comparing himself to Muhammad Ali while claiming Savemoney as a black empowerment movement. Muhammad with the stick and move, The Godbody only speak the truth
Kids is track which focuses on the relationship between kids and drugs within Chicago. Though it is my least favourite song due to the fact it feels like the song has more hook and then verse, one has to admire Joey for changing things up and trying to do an auto tune track in his own way.
Winners Circle, once again sees Chicago’s crime and murder problems as the main theme. This time Joey enlists the help another Chicago favourite Vic Mensa. Every day, new young nigga dead on the news clip, every hood, same old niggas don’t ever do shit. This is where Joey is at his strongest exploring serious topic on top of a heavy beat. Joey pleads for change with his home city and looks for a brighter future.
Escape the final track on the album ties everything in Joeys life together. Joey reflects on his home town of Chicago, his life and what he has achieved. I need to escape now, now the repition of this line for the chorus is Joey claiming need to escape from the problems and dark side of Chicago and put his family and Savemoney Crew first before everything else.
iiiDrops though has it flaws with more hook than verse on certain tracks, it is defiantly an album which features some solid rapping from Young Purp and the albums production is excellent throughout . The album also showcases some of Chicago’s exciting new talents. Tough it can be a bit goofy and humorous at times, the album also deals with more hard hitting serious subjects which can be expected from most Chicago rappers. It is safe to say that Joey is one of the hottest artist in Chicago at the moment and iiiDrops is just a stepping stone towards bigger and greater things.
