2000

2000, the third studio album from Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$, is a sequel to his debut mixtape, 1999, intentionally designed to follow his first project in style and concept, down to being released almost ten years to the day after its 2012 predecessor. Much like 1999, 2000 is a showcase of musically rich throwback production, with jazz-flecked instrumentals and smooth boom-bap beats backdropping Joey’s controlled bars and lyrics of New York City life.

The old-school beats are made up of dusty piano loops and samples of distant saxophones, setting the same kind of summery mood that bloomed on 1999, while guests like JID, Larry June, and Diddy stop by to contribute vocal cameos. “Brand New 911” is among the best tracks on the album, serving up a relaxed instrumental that sounds beamed in from 1995, while Westside Gunn offers a fiery verse to compliment Joey’s cool-headed flow. “Zipcodes” is another standout, with hard drums offsetting jazzy samples and fluid, MF DOOM-referencing lyrics.