Joey Bada$$ Switches Up His Flow on 'Teach Me' Featuring Kiesza

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Ever since dropping the Lewis Parker-produced single ‘Hardknock’ a few years ago, Joey Bada$$ has been praised for his early ’90s flow. He was hailed as one of the saviors of East Coast hip-hop, a description he revealed he didn’t like.

This might be the reason he dropped ‘Teach Me,’ a song from his forthcoming album. ‘B4DA$$,’ slated to come out Jan. 20.

Featuring Canadian singer Kiesza, the cut is an uptempo dance record, on which the Pro Era MC drops a double-time flow over a beat that sounds more like club music than boom-bap hip-hop.

Plus, Joey suspends the complex rhymes and goes with more playful lyrics instead.

“Life’s like, just like a tango, tango / You gotta move that, move that, don’t break an ankle, ankle / Tell me if you see me, see me from your angle, angle / I’ll be your genie, genie, you be my angel, angel,” he spits, bouncing his voice around faint horns and sped-up drums.

‘Teach Me’ is an important record for the Brooklyn, N.Y. rapper because it not only proves that he’s versatile — straying from his usual East Coast rap sounds — but he doesn’t sound contrived or forced when playing in other genres.

Kiesza’s light, airy vocals give the effort a sort of pop-feel, which works well against the rapper’s deep vocals.

Learn a thing or two from Joey and Kiesza below.

Listen to Joey Bada$$’s ‘Teach Me’ Feat. Kiesza

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