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Music

Joey Bada$$ Reworks Prince's "When Doves Cry"

"When Thugs Cry" was supposed to be on 'All-Amerikkkan Bada$$,' but nobody could clear the sample.
Image via screenshot

Joey Bada$$ is Australia right now, rounding a months-long tour behind his second studio album, All-Amerikkkan Bada$$. He stopped by Australian radio station Triple J to play a Like a Virgin set and the videos came out today. Backed by a sizable band that included Melbourne’s Harts on guitar, members of laid-back Sydney R&B group Winston Surfshirt on horns, and Nkechi Anele among the backing singers, the Brooklynite played "Temptation" and a reworked version of Prince's "When Doves Cry."

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"Temptation" worked well with the full band, but the interesting thing here is the half-cover. (Which he called "When Thugs Cry." No relation.) He replaced the verses, slow-rapping through the sort of socially-conscious lyrics that dominated All-Amerikkkan Bada$$, only keeping the outline of Prince's chorus. According to Triple J, it was supposed to make it on the record, too, but he couldn't get the sample cleared. "Besides 'Temptation,' this was my favourite song that was supposed to be on the album," he said. Watch both performances below.

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