Joey Valence & Brae’s live show is a high-octane blast of throwback chaos, blending early-2000s Beastie Boys energy with Gen Z absurdity. From the moment they hit the stage, the duo detonates into movement, flinging themselves across the stage like hyperactive cartoon characters armed with MPCs and mosh calls. They’re self-aware without being ironic, ridiculous without being gimmicky.
Their chemistry is electric—Joey’s machine-gun delivery paired with Brae’s off-kilter charm turns each track into a rapid-fire volley of punchlines, Nintendo-core samples, and breakbeats. As mentioned earlier, they share the same angst-ridden cadence as Ad-Rock and Mike D of the Beastie Boys, but modernize it with beats from Run The Jewels and Charli XCX’s “365.” The set feels like a DIY LAN party fused with a backyard rap battle, wrapped in a Hot Topic hoodie. Somehow, it works. Joey Valence & Brae may be nostalgic, but they’re not stuck in the past—they’re flipping it, glitching it, and stage-diving straight into the future. For a duo that has just started getting more known, especially over Instagram, this rap duo delivered the goods for old and new fans of hip hop.
Photos courtesy of Osheaga / Benoit Rousseau
