Temptation_(Joey_Badass_song)

Temptation (Joey Badass song)

Temptation (Joey Badass song)

2017 single by Joey Badass

"Temptation" is a song by American rapper Joey Badass, sent to urban contemporary radio on June 13, 2017, as the third single from his second studio album All-Amerikkkan Badass (2017).[1] It was produced by 1-900 and Kirk Knight.

Quick Facts Single by Joey Badass, from the album All-Amerikkkan Badass ...

Background and composition

In an interview with GQ, Joey Badass chose "Temptation" as a track from All-Amerikkkan Badass that he was particularly proud of, saying "When I made that song, instantly it was my favorite song ever. Not just out of songs that I have made, literally my favorite song ever."[2]

The song features excerpts of nine-year-old girl Zianna Oliphant's tearful speech on police brutality to the Charlotte City Council following the killing of Keith Lamont Scott and subsequent protests.[3][4][5] Joey stated he saw a video of the speech on Instagram and it "just really struck a chord in my heart." He added, "When I first saw it I didn't even think I was going to use it in a song, but then when 'TEMPTATION' got near the final stages I just had an idea that the video would go perfectly. I literally put it in GarageBand and mashed it up myself, and it turned out perfect."[2]

Joey Badass includes sung vocals in the song.[6] Lyrically, he describes feeling helpless and being tempted to engage in bad behavior due to the injustices on Black people,[4] also begging "Tell me Lord can you help me / I said Lord can you help me?"[7] He addresses his own experiences of being racially discriminated against,[8] advocates for his people to improve themselves through taking action,[9] and chides people who are "complaining all day but in the same condition" and mentally "enslaved by their religion."[5][10]

Music video

An official music video was released on August 14, 2017. Directed by Joey Badass himself and Nathan Smith, it sees Joey visiting his hometown of Brooklyn, opening with a grainy clip of the city from the Brooklyn Bridge.[8] It then shows the rapper walking through a church and a group of children running home and playing with each other while the police conduct a stop-and-frisk search outside of their brownstone apartment and harass Black men on sidewalks.[8][11][12] Badass begins rapping on the stairs of the home as his lyrics depict the lives of people in the household;[11][13] he watches a mother laying down and a man in another room packing his gun with him before heading to work.[11] Badass accompanies a little girl, taking a stroll through the neighborhood with her as they meet a group of men on the sidewalk who start dancing to the song. After dropping off the girl with her mother,[11][13] Badass gives an outdoor performance with a band that is shut down by police,[11][12] and joins others inside a church.[13]

Charts

More information Chart (2017), Peak position ...

Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...

References

  1. [1]
    "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. [2]
    Greeley, Shakeil (April 13, 2017). "Joey Bada$$ Is Still All-American". GQ. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  3. [3]
    Harmony, A. (April 5, 2017). "Joey Bada$$: All-Amerikkkan Bada$$". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  4. [4]
    Whitt, Greg (April 6, 2017). "Joey Bada$$ – All-Amerikkkan Bada$$". Consequence. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  5. [5]
    Christgau, Robert (January 19, 2018). "Robert Christgau on Joey Bada$$'s Timely Consciousness". Vice. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  6. [6]
    Hatchman, Jonathan (April 7, 2017). "Joey Bada$$ – ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$". Clash. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  7. [7]
    Yeung, Neil Z. "All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ – Joey Bada$$". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  8. [8]
    Gore, Sydney (August 14, 2017). "Joey Bada$$ Takes On Police Misconduct In His New Video For "Temptation"". Genius. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  9. [9]
    Glaysher, Scott (April 14, 2017). "Joey Badass Empowers the People on 'All-Amerikkkan Badass'". XXL. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  10. [10]
    Strauss, Matthew (April 10, 2017). "Joey Bada$$: All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  11. [11]
    Penrose, Nerisha (August 14, 2017). "Joey Bada$$ Journeys Back to His Hometown of Brooklyn in 'Temptation' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  12. [12]
    "Video: Joey Bada$$ - 'Temptation'". Rap-Up. August 14, 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  13. [13]
    India, Lindsey (August 14, 2017). "Joey Badass Returns to His Brooklyn Roots in "Temptation" Video". XXL. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  14. [14]
    "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  15. [15]
    "American single certifications – Joey Bada$$ – Temptation". Recording Industry Association of America.
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