Newcomers Joey Valence & Brae burst onto the pop scene with an energetic yet emotional record that tackles growing up, change and fame.
Rap duo Joey Valence & Brae (JVB) released their third album, “HYPERYOUTH”. This newest record spans many genres and sounds, while keeping a consistent throughline in terms of intentionality. The record seamlessly combines club bangers with more introspective, moody tracks. The juxtaposition between these two halves results in the feeling of dancing mindlessly in the club, with the occasional bout of rumination towards life.
Joey Valence & Brae faced a meteoric rise in popularity after their first album, “PUNK TACTICS,” blew up on TikTok after its release in 2023. Since then, the duo has released a new record each year, each with its own distinct sound.
Unlike other pop stars, JVB had no experience with fame. The pair met at Pennsylvania State College, quickly becoming friends before experimenting with music.
For “HYPERYOUTH”, JVB takes influence from a plethora of sounds, ranging from 90s East Coast hip-hop to early 2000s indie electronica and modern electronic dance music.
The album consists of fourteen tracks, resulting in a length of 45 minutes, but it doesn’t feel that way. JVB keeps a great balance of pushing their more fast-paced, explosive tracks with slower, more introspective tracks.
The first song, “HYPERYOUTH,” lays out the underlying themes immediately with a spoken word:
“Does growing up just change your body? Or also your soul… Maybe I could just stay the same forever.”
A dizzying harmony of dreamy chords accompanies a command by JVB to “dance” and “bounce”. Almost like a generator kickstarting, the song transitions into really punchy drums that demands a reaction from the listener.
The track acts as a reintroduction for the duo. Since their previous album (“NO HANDS”), JVB has amassed a dedicated fanbase, even performing at Lollapalooza this year with popular artists like Sabrina Carpenter and The Marias.
The second track, “BUST DOWN,” keeps the same flow as the previous track, but goes for a production that sounds like early Timbaland or Nelly. Rap artist TiaCorine performs with verses that perfectly complement the track.
A big appeal of the duo is their immature attitude. A hilarious example of this is in the verse: “Sydney Sweeney called me and I hang up.”
“GIVE IT TO ME” harkens back to the sound of their first album (think Beastie Boys).
In this track, JVB are comparing themselves to popular figures who are regarded as the best in their field, like Michael Jackson or LeBron James. The chorus that screams “GIVE IT TO ME, GIVE-GIVE IT TO ME” is really catchy.
Their fourth track, “IS THIS LOVE,” is the first track that truly delves into their current emotional state on the record. There’s a piercing chorus the duo sampled (one of many samples in this album) that sticks with the listener long after the song ends.
Most of the more mature songs on that album give a “crying in the club” feeling that’s only exacerbated by the flip-flopping to club bangers.
“SEE U DANCE” is another catchy song with a similar beat to “BUST DOWN”. Most notable on this song is the incredible performance by artist Rebecca Black.
“LIVE RIGHT” sets the tone for the rest of the record, acting as a halfway point where JVB reflects on what they’ve been rapping about all along. This song diverts from the hiphop influences and takes more inspiration from indie electronica musicians like MGMT. The chorus of the song reiterates the fear of growing up: “I’m kinda scared to admit I’m afraid of growin’ up. No one here wants to dance, things are changin’.”
“HAVE TO CRY” is the least interesting track on this album. Besides the excellent use of a sample, it doesn’t bring anything new to what they’ve been exploring.
The final track on the album is ironically titled “DISCO TOMORROW“. Disco notoriously died in the 1980s, but fans of the genre swear it’s coming back. The title of the track almost acts as a false promise to party tomorrow, knowing full well that the busyness associated with growing up prevents that.
The song is essentially a closer for the album. It’s very ambient, taking influence from dream pop artists like Beach House. JVB reminisces about their rise to fame over a mesmerizing arpeggiating synth.
Ultimately, the pair doesn’t answer any of the questions they raise throughout the album. No one knows the changes that growing up will bring, but maybe that’s okay.
For fans of JVB who are in their early mid-20s, this record will resonate with them. For everyone else, JVB shows significant promise as artists who will continue to innovate, as shown by their substantially complex production and vocals.
“HYPERYOUTH” was released on Aug. 15.