Whether Joey Bada$$ wearing his influences like honor badges is cause for celebration or critique depends on the listener more than “the lyrical New York City bandit.” Like the mixtapes preceding it, official debut full-length B4.DA.$$ revels in East Coast golden era nostalgia despite the fact that the 20-year-old rapper was conceived roughly the same day Illmatic dropped. Bada$$ leaves a trail of musical breadcrumbs for those who know their history: a lyrical nod to Nas (“One Love”), a bassline winking at A Tribe Called Quest (“Scenario”). A nimble, melodic wordsmith, Bada$$ casts his effortless flow over a loose collection of jazz and boom-bap backdrops: “This kid ain’t been the same since Biggie smacked me at my christening.” (4:10pm, Blue stage)

***.5

This article appears in November 6 • 2015.

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Thomas Fawcett has been freelancing for The Austin Chronicle since 2007. He likes good music and does not fake the funk.