| Artist | Joey Valence & Brae |
|---|---|
| Cover | Punk Tactics cover.jpg |
| Released | September 8, 2023 |
| Studio | Joey Valence's bedroom, State College, Pennsylvania[1] |
| Genre | Rap rock · punk rap · hardcore hip-hop · nerdcore |
| Length | 31:16 |
| Label | JVB Records |
| Producer | Joey Valence · Brae · Patrick Nissley |
| Prev year | 2022 |
| Next year | 2024 |
Punk Tactics is the debut studio album by the American rap duo Joey Valence & Brae, self-released on September 8, 2023. It follows the virality of their 2022 single "Punk Tactics" and contains guest features from Logic and Bonjour Señor.
Background and recording
Joseph Bertolino and Braedan Lugue met in 2021 when they were both freshmen at Pennsylvania State University. Their first single, "Crank It Up", was also in that year. After releasing an EP, The Underground Sound, in February 2022, they released the single "Punk Tactics" in April, which went viral. Many of the tracks on Punk Tactics were conceived outside of organized writing sessions; the duo once hung out for a week with their manager and ended up making the songs "Dance Now", "RN", and "Kill Bill".[2]
Production and composition
Overview
The album is primarily a rap rock and punk rap album. Joey Valence's production style is influenced by old-school hip-hop artists including the Beastie Boys, Heavy D, and Quad City DJ's and modern-day drum and bass and dance musicians. Video game music was also a large influence in the album, with Valence being inspired by game soundtracks such as ones from Wipeout 2097 and Ape Escape. The lyrics also reference or mention games such as Mortal Kombat, Super Mario Bros., and Super Smash Bros. Melee, in addition to other aspects of popular culture.[3][4][5]
Songs
There are a variety of genres represented in Punk Tactics. "Gumdrop" ventures into hyperpop, and "Drop!!" and "Startafight" both have elements of rave. In "Tanaka 2", Logic enters for a highly technical verse.[6][7]
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews. Finlay Holden of Dork rated the album a four out of five, noting the infectiousness of the duo's personality throughout the album.[8] Luke Nuttall of The Soundboard noted the extreme similarity of the duo to the music of the Beastie Boys and the variety and playfulness of the production. He also stated that the duo's main distinction is their confidence.[6]
Track listing
Notes
- All tracks are stylized in all caps.
Charts
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums Breakers (OCC)[9] | 14 |
References
- ^ Major, Michael (2023-09-08). "Joey Valence & Brae Release Debut Album 'PUNK TACTICS' & Announce 2024 Tour". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Shah, Rishi (2023-09-11). "Joey Valence & Brae: "Every show we play is like a giant house party"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Ombler, Mat (2022-06-20). "Joey Valence & Brae: "There's always going to be a huge link between video game culture and music culture"". NME. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Weinert, Dylan (2024-01-18). "Hooligang, Who? A Preview of Joey Valence & Brae at Subterranean". Newcity Music. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Holden, Finlay (2023-09-12). "Joey Valence & Brae - PUNK TACTICS". Dork. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Nuttall, Luke (2023-09-08). "ALBUM REVIEW: Joey Valence & Brae - 'PUNK TACTICS'". The Soundboard. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Carey, Shawn (2023-09-20). ""PUNK TACTICS:" an album overshadowed upon release". The Beacon. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ Holden, Finlay (2023-09-11). "Joey Valence & Brae - PUNK TACTICS". Dork. Archived 2023-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Breakers Chart on 13/3/2026 – Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2026.