The Breakfast Club — Joey Bada$$ Interview: New Project, West Coast Tension, The 'Big 3', Fatherhood, Therapy & More

Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: Charlamagne Tha God, Nyla Simone (DJ Envy out), Jess Hilarious
Guest: Joey Bada$$

Overview

In this episode, The Breakfast Club welcomes multi-hyphenate rapper and actor Joey Bada$$ to discuss his forthcoming album Lonely at the Top (due August 29th), his creative journey, recent tensions with West Coast rappers, the state of rap’s “Big 3,” fatherhood, therapy, financial literacy, and his evolution as an artist both in music and on screen. The conversation is candid, reflective, and often humorous, offering not only insight into Joey’s artistry and philosophy but also his dedication to growth, well-being, and community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fatherhood & Maturity

• Joey is a father of two and shares how fatherhood refines and matures him.

  “I won’t say it changed me as a man. I say it refined me ... it’s maturity. I ain't got the bandwidth, bruh ... for the bullshit no more.”
  (03:11, Joey Bada$$)

• He contrasts his preparedness and mindset with his first child versus now, acknowledging greater readiness and the value of experience.
• Quote:

  “It’s like going navigating the street and knowing where the bumps is at.”
  (04:45, Joey Bada$$)

2. New Album & Label Frustrations

• Lonely at the Top was delayed by the label, frustrating Joey because he values transparency and consistency with fans.

  “I was put in a position where I communicated a date, and then I had to change that ... because I worked so hard on that relationship with my fans.”
  (05:24, Joey Bada$$)

• Why the delay? The label claimed they wanted to “put more into it,” but their process was poor.

  “The execution of it wasn’t the best … I could say that their intentions were good, but the execution wasn’t.”
  (07:04, Joey Bada$$)

3. Chasing “The Record” & Artistic Integrity

• There’s a recurring narrative among fans and industry types that Joey “just needs a record” (i.e., a huge single). He neither actively chases nor ignores this, preferring organic success.

  “I definitely have an awareness of that ... but I won’t say I chase it.”
  (08:25, Joey Bada$$)

• Joey resists dropping too many singles, preferring listeners hear full projects unspoiled by previews.

  “I really want you to experience the body of work like I intended it to, and I want it to be fully new when people hear it.”
  (09:15, Joey Bada$$)

4. New York vs. West Coast, Rap as Sport

• Joey addresses the tension following his track “Ruler’s Back,” clarifying it wasn’t an attack on the West Coast:

  “My intention was never to come for the West Coast. ... it was really in the spirit of, like, y’all having your moment, but New York got something to say too.”
  (10:34, Joey Bada$$)

• The spirited back-and-forth with West Coast rappers was, in Joey’s words, “never about no bodily harm … it was friendly competition.”
  (48:07, Joey Bada$$)

5. The “Big 3” Conversation

• Discussion of the changing “Big 3” in rap and whether Joey belongs in that class.

  “I kind of do, but I’m so much younger than anybody else. Everybody else in that class got me by like 8 to 10 years.”
  (13:40, Joey Bada$$)

• Joey’s approach is about finding his lane, staying authentic, and appreciating a longer career runway because of his youth.

6. Commercial Success vs. Artistic Fulfillment

• Joey reflects on balancing making “commercial” music and authentic expression.

  “I don’t put out a lot of commercially poised music. ...Even though I had the success [with 'Devastated'], I’m like, ‘Is this feeling worth it? Do I want to be attached to a song I don’t love?’” (15:01, Joey Bada$$; 15:12, Joey Bada$$)

• He’s seeking a “sweet spot” — making art true to self that can also have popular appeal.

7. Mental Health, Pressure & Therapy

• Joey emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, therapy, and accountability:

  “When I’m wrong, I learn ... self-reflection, self-correction ... that makes me better, makes me stronger.”
  (17:22, Joey Bada$$)

• Music is therapeutic, but therapy provides a deeper understanding:

  “The music gives me the outlet to talk about what is happening, but therapy gives me the outlet to understand why things are happening.”
  (32:57, Joey Bada$$)

• His first experience with therapy was public, through Noisey’s “therapist” series, and led him to connect with Dr. Siri, his therapist for five years:

  “I end up like crying in interview and ... after that, I actually connected with him, and that’s who became my therapist.”
  (38:32–39:02, Joey Bada$$)

8. Acting: Career Shift & Creative Influence

• Success in acting rekindled music as “art” rather than “job.”

  “Success in acting has supported music being art again for me ... it being like, just do what you want, because you good.”
  (19:25, Joey Bada$$)

• He describes approaching his roles with a "method acting" mindset:

  “I’m not interested in acting. I’m interested in living ... I become the role and live it out on film, if you will.”
  (22:20, Joey Bada$$)

• Stories from Raising Kanan and juggling music/touring schedules. He nearly left the show, but reversed the decision after advice from his mother:

  “My mom dropped some wisdom ... 'One in the hand is better than two in the bush.'”
  (25:00–26:00, Joey Bada$$)

9. Staying True in a Changing Musical Landscape

• Joey resists industry pressure to chase trends, standing firm in his New York sound and unique path.

  “I don’t feel the pressure to do anything that anybody else is doing ... if it don't feel authentic, I feel off, I feel out of balance.”
  (28:41, Joey Bada$$)

10. Mentorship, Community, & Giving Back

• Joey discusses starting the Impact Mentorship program and being the youngest-ever artist-in-residence at NYU.

  “I'm very big on sharing ... going back to the navigation analogy, ‘I’ve been down this road, there’s a pothole right there, make sure you go left.’”
  (30:31, Joey Bada$$)

• He stresses the importance of passing on wisdom, particularly to men of color.

11. Financial Literacy & Investing

• Strong urge for Black youth and peers to gain financial savvy, particularly with stocks and crypto.

  “I’m screaming off the mountaintop right now to all my people: get into these stocks ... before they find a way to lock us out. There’s so much money in it and it’s so accessible nowadays.”
  (57:16–59:11, Joey Bada$$)

12. Lonely at the Top: Title & Meaning

• Homage to Gang Starr’s “Moment of Truth.” The loneliness at the top is about the isolation and survivor’s guilt that can accompany success.

  “When you get to the pinnacle ... you’ll find that it is lonely. ... Sometimes the isolation is necessary for you to get to a certain place, ’cause certain people or energy will hold you back.”
  (60:19, Joey Bada$$)

13. Final Reflections: Balance & Substance

• Modern music industry undervalues substance; Joey urges young artists not to sacrifice substance or mental well-being for success.

  “We live in a very godless world, godless society. It’s very vain, so I think the music is a reflection of that.”
  (54:28, Joey Bada$$)

• He emphasizes knowledge, self-education, authentic artistry, and the importance of embracing both the light and dark aspects of life:

  “How would you even know what light is if you ain't know what dark was?”
  (62:04, Joey Bada$$)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I don't put out a lot of commercially poised music...the ones I did, like 'Devastated,' that's probably one of my least favorite songs.”
  (15:08, Joey Bada$$)
• “My intention was never to come for the West Coast. ... It was really in the spirit of: y'all have your moment, but New York got something to say too.”
  (10:34, Joey Bada$$)
• “Music gives me the outlet to talk about what is happening, but therapy gives me the outlet to understand why things are happening.”
  (32:57, Joey Bada$$)
• “I'm not interested in acting, I'm interested in living.”
  (22:20, Joey Bada$$)
• “We live in a very godless world, godless society. It’s very vain ... I think the music is a reflection of that.”
  (54:28, Joey Bada$$)
• “How would you even know what light is if you ain't know what dark was?”
  (62:04, Joey Bada$$)

Important Timestamps

• 02:28 — Joey joins, discussion begins
• 03:10–04:53 — Fatherhood and maturity
• 05:12–07:55 — Label frustrations & album delay
• 08:41–09:53 — Anticipation, cliffhangers, and album sequencing
• 10:34–12:04 — West Coast “battle” and rap as sport
• 13:06–14:14 — The “Big 3” and Joey’s class in rap
• 15:01–16:56 — Artistic integrity vs. commercial music
• 17:22–18:54 — Coping with pressure, protecting peace
• 19:18–21:53 — Acting’s influence & creative inspiration
• 22:20–23:57 — Method acting approach
• 25:00–26:35 — Almost leaving Raising Kanan; Mom’s wisdom
• 28:41–30:23 — Authenticity amid trends & Drill music
• 30:23–31:47 — Impact Mentorship & NYU residency
• 32:57–34:06 — Music, therapy, and mental health
• 38:32–39:02 — How Noisey's therapy video led to real therapy
• 39:14–41:10 — Privacy, family protection, and fame
• 54:28–55:28 — On substance in modern hip hop
• 57:16–60:19 — Financial literacy, stocks, crypto
• 60:19–61:57 — Album title meaning: “Lonely at the Top”
• 62:03–62:38 — Balancing the light and dark

Takeaways for New Listeners

• Joey Bada$$ is thoughtful, values artistic and personal integrity, and is unafraid to stand alone if that means being true to himself.
• He’s deeply invested in mental health, both his own and for the Black community, and is vocal about the importance of therapy.
• Upcoming album Lonely at the Top is shaped by both adversity and growth, reflecting Joey’s desire to balance light and shadow in life and art.
• He believes in passing knowledge forward — whether it’s wisdom from the streets, the industry, or the stock market.
• The episode is enriched by Joey’s openness, comedic rapport with the hosts, and his continuous push for substance over spectacle.

Album due August 29th — “Lonely at the Top.”
Closing words:

“King, like wise. Absolutely. Thank y’all for having me today.” (62:46, Joey Bada$$)