the school auditorium, Joey set out to work on his own project. With the support of Shipes and Cinematic, Joey put out his first real song, “Survival Tactics,” featuring Capital Steez. The video, uploaded in February 2012, put faces to the flows and visuals to the aggression, depicting the crew rapping in warehouses and walking down Wall Street wearing panda ski masks. “It reminds me of us, of Gang Starr, the whole Foundation,” says DJ Premier. “And I loved it. I thought that was so dope.”

Joey’s debut mixtape, 1999, appeared that June and through his connection with Shipes, Joey spent the summer touring the country with Juicy J on the 30-date Smokers Club Tour, while major labels came calling. On an off day in Denver, Jay Z flewof Joey’s sound were still present, but the tone was darker, more bitter. While 1999’s aggression was born from a cocky self-assurance, his flows on Summer Knights felt like they were bred from anger, like he was lashing out at the world around him. It was a strong tape, but wasn’t received with the acclaim of 1999.

Pro Era spent the rest of 2013 on tour, first with Wiz Khalifa and A$AP Rocky on the Under The Influence Of Music Tour through the summer, then headlining the Smokers Club Tour with Ab-Soul that Fall. Then Joey’s album, originally slated for release at the end of 2013 on Cinematic/Sony Red, was pushed back. The year was effectively lost.

This year has been all about regaining the swagger that made Joey such