Temptation (Joey Badass song)

"Temptation"
Single by Joey Badass
from the album All-Amerikkkan Badass
ReleasedJune 13, 2017
GenreConscious hip hop
Length4:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Joey Badass singles chronology
"Land of the Free"
(2017) 		"Temptation"
(2017) 		"500 Benz"
(2017)
Music video
"Temptation" on YouTube

"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.

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

Chart (2017) Peak
position
New Zealand Heatseeker Singles (RMNZ)[14] 5

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[15] Gold 45,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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