DMV underground music trailblazer Joony is ready to stake his claim as one of the new stars of Hip-Hop’s next generation. Fresh off the announcement of his exciting partnership with Red Bull Records, Blxst’s Evgle imprint and his homegrown collective 211, the “Drifting In Tokyo” emcee is unleashing his new 10-track EP, MEMENTO. After building substantial steam with a slew of showstopping features with acts like Brent Faiyaz, Jordan Ward, and Highway, the fast-growing Maryland-born recording artist is prepared to solidify his spot in the ever evolving music industry.
MEMENTO is a Y2K-influenced collection of music that boasts exciting features from artists like Tony Shhnow, TTM Dawg, Lancey Foux, and Lil Candypaint. Like the critically-acclaimed early 2000’s film, MEMENTO is a direct representation of fleeting thoughts that invade the brain of the talented 22-year-old rising superstar. The EP’s interludes successfully tie together the wide-range of sounds that showcase Joony’s undeniable versatility.
When discussing the project, Joony exclaimed, “The project ‘MEMENTO’ is somewhat of a memento in and of itself. I made all of the music during a part of my life where I was traveling the country with the homies, making memories and diving deeper into the next phase of my career. All the interludes are excerpts from real life moments and conversations recorded throughout the creation of the project, hence ‘MEMENTO’.”
The project’s first two tracks, “INTRO(Hotel)” and “NEED IT,” quickly set the tone for the sonic adventure that follows. The opener draws listeners into a movie-like scene featuring audio from a stranger interacting with Joony and his crew before quickly leading into the sobering track, “NEED IT.” The passionate song includes heartfelt lyrics about Joony’s journey to reach the fame and success he knows he’s destined for. The next track, “CLASSY,” featuring Atlanta’s Tony Shhnow, spotlights his lyrical prowess and instinctive ability to craft infectious hooks.
The visual for “CLASSY” sees Joony hosting a lowkey kickback that morphs into a jumping party. Tony Shhnow makes an appearance just before the music cuts and the camera pans to blood dripping from the ceiling. Plot twist, the women at the party are in fact, vampires. An unexpected eerie closer that fits the Halloween season perfectly. Watch the video HERE.
Additional songs like “ACT UP” and “EXPENSIVE CLOTHING” bring MEMENTO a more energetic nature. The upbeat production serves as a perfect example of Joony’s dynamic range. His vocal inflection is comparable to Juice WRLD as his voice pierces through the tantalizing production throughout the EP. Drawing inspiration from Lil Wayne, Joony’s soulful auto-tune-infused verses shine through on tracks like “CHEAP.” The project’s outro, “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” strongly indicates that Joony is here to stay and has limitless potential. Paving the way for the next generation of scene-shapers, Joony will not stop until he’s met his aspirations for love, success, and the desire to have it all.
Fans of Joony can also see him live as he supports Lil Tjay on the European/UK leg of his ‘Beat The Odds’ tour, which kicks off November 2 at London’s iconic OVO Arena Wembley. Tickets are on sale HERE.
Check out the European/UK ‘Beat The Odds’ tour itinerary below:
11/2 London, UK – OVO Arena Wembley
11/3 Birmingham, UK – 02 Academy
11/4 Glasgow, UK – 02 Academy
11/7 Manchester, UK – Mayfield Depot
11/11 Tilburg, NL – Poppodium 013
11/12 Luxembourg, LU – Rockhall
11/14 Dusseldorf, DE – Mitsubishi Electric Hall
11/15 Frankfurt, DE – Jahrhunderthalle
11/16 Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
ABOUT Joony:
Joony, aka Jonathan Negero, is a first-generation Ethiopian-American recording artist, songwriter, and entrepreneur who exemplifies what it is to be a multi-faceted creative with art that emits every emotion. Joony uses his haunting vocal range to share truthful stories about love, fashion, and making it in music without much guidance. Having grown up in Silver Spring, Maryland, about 15 minutes outside Washington, D.C., Joony’s hometown pride is strong. His latest album, #SHITUMSS, was an ode to the native sound that helped set the foundation for his start as an artist. His forthcoming Red Bull Records/Evgle debut project, MEMENTO, is an excellent next taste of the eclectic artist’s thinking. Joony’s free-flowing but calculated nature helps create a bevy of introspective lyrics that accurately illustrate the depths of his mind. MEMENTO also proves that Joony is in a class of his own. He does not color inside the lines and allows himself to take risks musically while pushing the boundaries of rap in a way that the game-changing artists he draws inspiration from have done in the past.
Joony rose to recognition for his impeccable consistency and dynamic contribution to Brent Faiyaz’s record-breaking album, WASTELAND. Since securing his first Billboard Top 100 hit with “FYTB,” the stage has been set for the SoundCloud-era-inspired emcee to further carve a lane for himself within music’s ever-changing landscape. His work with rising creatives like Jordan Ward (“IDC”), KELZ (“One Track Minded”), Highway (“Bad Time”), and more has led him to build up over 550K monthly listeners on Spotify. The “Baby Joon” recording artist has performed at various festivals, toured with Lancey Foux, and even completed an international headlining tour.
Furthermore, Joony has received co-signs from multi-platinum acts and A-list stars like BLXST, Kevin Durant, Shy Glizzy, Babyface Ray, and others. The writing is on the wall for his looming superstardom and MEMENTO is the only thing left to solidify him as a force within music. Joony’s talents and interests are beautifully conveyed throughout the 10-track EP. The project’s first two tracks, “INTRO(Hotel)” and “NEED IT,” quickly set the tone for the sonic adventure that follows. The opener draws listeners into a movie-like scene featuring audio from a stranger interacting with Joony and his crew before quickly leading into the sobering track, “NEED IT.” The passionate song boasts heartfelt lyrics about Joony’s journey to reach the fame and success he knows he’s destined for. The next track, “CLASSY,” featuring Atlanta’s Tony Shhnow, spotlights his ability to go bar for bar with other lyrical titans while still crafting an infectious hook.
Additional joints like “ACT UP” and “EXPENSIVE CLOTHING” bring MEMENTO a more energetic nature. The upbeat production serves as a perfect example of Joony’s dynamic range. His vocal inflection is comparable to Juice WRLD as his voice pierces through the tantalizing production throughout the EP. Drawing inspiration from Lil Wayne, Joony’s soulful auto-tune-infused verses shine through on tracks like “CHEAP.” The project’s outro, “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM” strongly indicates that Joony is here to stay and has limitless potential. Paving the way for the next generation of scene-shapers, Joony will not stop until he’s met his aspirations for love, success, and the desire to have it all.
As the newest artist from Red Bull Records in partnership with Blxst’s Evgle imprint and his own collective 211, Joony is putting underground rappers from the DMV on the map. Not many artists have the range and ability that Joony has cultivated, with this next project driving his quest to create without bounds. Joony’s dedicated fan base anticipates excellence, and MEMENTO rises to the occasion.
For more information, contact:
Ahmad Davis
FOLLOW JoonyInstagram | Twitter | Website
