Joey Valence & Brae - Punk Tactics

Originally self-released in 2023, Punk Tactics is the "breakout and defiant" debut studio album from the American rap duo Joey Valence & Brae. Emerging as a "visceral and addictive" force in the modern alternative scene, the duo has crafted a record that serves as a bridge between "old-school boom-bap" and "modern-day bass culture." It is a "major triumph" of independent spirit—a record that bypassed the traditional industry gatekeepers to become a viral phenomenon, fueled by the duo’s "unfettered charisma" and "razor-sharp lyrical interplay."

The album is a "genre-blurring masterclass," primarily fusing punk rap and rap rock with a production style that leans heavily on the "classic textures" of the Beastie Boys, Heavy D, and Quad City DJ's. Produced entirely by Joey Valence, the tracks are "jagged and rhythmic," incorporating "modern-day drum and bass" influences that give the record a "shimmering and urgent" edge. Housed in a premium gatefold jacket, this vinyl pressing captures the "physical weight and high-fidelity grit" of a duo that is "shaping the vocabulary" of a new era of hip-hop.