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From Chappell Roan and Doechii to Baby Keem and 4batz, the next generation of musicians has been growing for quite some time now. One of these standout artists is the high-energy hip-hop duo known as Joey Valence and Brae.
Joey Valence (Joseph Bertolino) and Brae (Braedan Lugue) are an American hip-hop duo from State College, Pa. Bertolino and Lugue met in their freshman year in college at Pennsylvania State University. They released their first single “Crank It Up” in 2021. Since then, the duo has been on a roll in the world of music.
In 2022, the two released a single called “Punk Tactics,” their most popular song to date. This was the track that skyrocketed Joey Valence and Brae into stardom. It was after this that they would release their initial studio album of the same name the following year. Since then, they have released two more studio albums and collaborated with stars such as JPEGMafia and IDK to create iconic singles.
The musical style of Joey Valence and Brae is described as similar to that of the Beastie Boys and other alternative hip-hop artists of that era. The two include references to pop culture in their songs such as: memes, video games and other current media. The way they wear their interests on their sleeve has gained them the support of their fans, many who are nerds just like them.
Joey Valence and Brae have never been afraid to be themselves. Their fashion sense in promotional material and album covers reflects this well. For example, Joey Valence styles his hair in liberty spikes on occasion, a popular statement in the world of punk music. This makes the two stand out when compared to their peers in the music industry.
The duo’s main source of growth has come from their songs becoming popular on short form content platforms such as TikTok, with “Punk Tactics” gaining the most traction out of all of them. It became so popular that it is used in the trailer for the 2026 “Street Fighter” film. This was the first time a track by the two has been used to promote something as big as a movie.
With the deluxe version of their third studio album “HYPERYOUTH,” dubbed “HYPERYOUTH (afterparty),” scheduled to be released on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, Joey Valence and Brae consistently gain more listeners every day. Although they only began their career a few years ago, the two have already left their mark on the hip-hop scene. Fans and critics alike await with bated breath to see what the impressive duo will create next.
RECOMMENDED WORKS: “Punk Tactics” / “Watch Yo Step” / “Club Sandwich” / “DROP!!” / “HOOLIGANG”
