7/10

In the early days of Joey Bada$$, it was always clear that something big was going to arrive from the rapper. His fresh and powerfully politically verses had earned him a reputation as one of the more progressive names on the scene and his 2017 sophomore LP 'All-Amerikkkan Bada$$' cemented him as a true visionary and social thinker. But after a number of years pursuing an acting career, his music took a backseat, releasing the odd single and EP since then. And now he returns with his long-awaited third studio album '2000', a record that brings back more of that proficient direction.

The obvious fear of an artist in his position to wait five years before dropping another album is to prove that you haven't lost your bite and tenacity for big and inventive ideas. Thankfully '2000' looks to prove his critics wrong as he once again puts together a sprawling collection of visceral flows and kinetic energy that bring his forward-thinking ideals up to present day. It may not have the same venomous bite as his previous outing, but still showcases him as a fresh and charismatic name that is always looking to surprise and thrill his audience throughout.

'2000' marks the ten year anniversary of his debut mixtape '1999', and clearly looks to hark back to those hungry days at the start of his career. And while the ambition remains clear and focused from start to finish, he does sometimes find difficulty keeping the momentum moving forward in places.