Release Date: 27 February 2026
Song Count: 20
Duration: 1 hour, 0 minutes, 32 seconds
Rating: 8.3/10
Description:
Okay, this is getting ridiculous now.
A duo of rappers I have been paying attention to in recent times, Joey Valence & Brae, or commonly simply JVB, have become a household name in the world of alternative hip-hop since their song "PUNK TACTICS" first broke out into virality a few years back, and have since been practically unstoppable. With the semi-recent drop of their third album, HYPERYOUTH, as well as the deluxe version deemed an "afterparty" later on the dreaded date that we are now reviewing, the two Pennsylvanian men behind the name, Joseph Bertolino and Braedan Lugue, have been on a further roll the past couple of months as well, providing their dedicated and still rapidly increasing audience with plenty of danceable hip-hop tracks to listen to through these releases.
The signature hyper and bombastic flavour of music with head-bopping beats and intense grooves that JVB has prided themselves on through their biggest hits are in full swing within this set of tracks, albeit mixed in with other energies sprinkled in to keep variety and take well-needed breaks between the party anthems. A collection of hit-worthy songs running one right after another, the album brings in plenty of enjoyment the entire way through with both its main contents and its 6 deluxe-only tracks at the first part of the record, keeping everything cohesive, organic and most of all fun all around. This naturally doesn't apply to every single track as reaching that level of quality for 20 entire songs is another tall order on its own, but it radiates through more than enough of them to leave a highly positive impact on the music as a whole.
The charm and lightning-in-a-bottle effect that permeates through JVB's most successful output is found in bulk throughout HYPERYOUTH (afterparty) and includes practically everything that makes many listeners, including yours truly, drawn into their music - the unmatchable energy, seamless inclusion in elements from old-school hip-hop and rap music from decades past, cheesy yet unique lyricism and general flair that makes it stand out from anything else one may ever hear. Albums like these where so many things about it work as well as they do here are incredibly rare to find, so to witness one from a duo of music artists in my radar is especially pleasurable. Truly a package filled with talent, appeal and tons of fun overall.
(Note: Hey there, Kai from the future here. While writing this, I completely forgot to mention the fact that several collaborators, including a past subject of a review, JPEGMAFIA, are also in here lending their talents. Sorry about that blunder, and enjoy the rest of your read.)