After first previewing the single in December, Joony finally let loose his highly-anticipated collab with Highway this week.
There is no doubt a growing demand for fresh melodic sounds that bridge the gap between hip hop and R&B.
On “Bad Time,” both Joony and Highway show up to prove why they are each frontrunners in their own right within the increasingly popular genre-bending lane that has piqued the interest of both the underground and the mainstream – backed by production from the equally mysterious BoysAreRolling.
The new release comes just one month after Joony’s link up with Kelz on “One Track Minded,” another melodically inclined newcomer quickly rising through the ranks.
While the pair of elusive rising stars might be on “Bad Time,” their complimentary styles sound extremely good together on their new single. Even though the song has an understated feel, Joony’s melodic flow feels hugely dynamic as he chooses interesting lines that ride on top of the busy production. And Highway sounds right at home over the bassy synths as he perfectly matches Joony’s range from deep baritones to light falsettos as he leans into his catchy “both ways” refrain.
In the accompanying visual (directed by Beka Edao) it feels like Joony and Highway exist in a world reserved for the coolest amongst us, looking extra cool as they show off their unique fashion senses and stylistic choices against a white void and various nondescript cityscapes.
It’s also worth pointing out that this one of the most prominent placements yet for BoysAreRolling, the young producer trio quietly taking over the underground from their perch in NYC.
While Joony has been building his sound and his loyal fanbase over the past several years, he fully arrived in 2022 with a national tour following his impressive Pretty in Black album, as well as several notable collabs with Jordan Ward, Sainté, and a recently gold-certified standout performance on Brent Faiyaz’s Wasteland.
Following a strong start to the year with perfectly paired collabs with Kelz and now Highway, there’s no question that Joony is poised for a big year in 2023.
Watch Joony’s “Bad Time” feat. Highway below
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