Joey Valence & Brae are a Pennsylvania duo who jumped from dorm-room uploads to packed rooms with a sound that favors big drums and bigger hooks.
Dorm-room roots to viral shout-alongs
Their sound blends 90s boom-bap drums, rave tempos, and cheeky bars built for call-and-response. Rather than reinventing with new members or a long break, they have doubled down on DIY energy, bright breaks, and elastic flows. Expect
PUNK TACTICS early,
DOUBLE JUMP mid-set, and peaks around
WATCH YO STEP and
STARTAFIGHT.
What the room feels like
The crowd skews mixed and friendly, with college kids, local rap fans, and skate kids up front bouncing in loose circles while the back half nods and laughs at the punchlines. They cut their teeth at Penn State house parties before clubs, and many early uploads later became the versions you hear now with only small polish. Hooks that seem like turntable scratches are often chopped vocal bits layered to mimic a DJ cut, which keeps sample clearances simple. Note: the songs and staging details mentioned here are informed guesses based on recent shows, not a fixed plan.
The bounce and the in-jokes
Throwback color, present-tense pace
The scene blends ages, with baggy cargos, skate tees, and retro runners next to bright windbreakers that nod to 90s videos. People near the front form loose bounce rings during hooks rather than hard pits, and strangers tap shoulders before a push. Call-and-response lines hit on cue, especially the quick hey bursts and name-check bars between verses.
Shared rituals
Phones come up right before the drop and go down when the drums return, which keeps the pulse moving. Merch leans bold and simple, with block-font tees, beanies, and sticker packs that mirror the duo's color palette. Post-show chatter often centers on which break slapped hardest and who nailed the fastest tongue-twister. Newcomers clock the humor, but they also leave talking about breath control and the tight timing that held the room together.
Breakbeats first, flash second
Hooks that sprint
Live, the vocals sit upfront, with tight doubles on hooks and most verses delivered clean on single mics for clarity. Beats lean on crunchy break drums, rounded sub bass, and simple riff synths so the bars cut through without clutter. The DJ runs stems in Ableton and kills the music under punchlines, which makes space for crowd shouts before slamming the beat back in. Tempos often tick a few BPM faster than the studio cuts, which gives
DOUBLE JUMP a trampoline feel.
Small tricks, big impact
They like to flip endings into quick drum-and-bass tags, turning short songs into mini sprints without overplaying the bit. A neat detail is how choruses lift with a filter-and-octave trick instead of a full key change, so the rise feels gritty, not glossy. Lighting rides snare-timed strobes and neon washes that support the music without stealing attention.
Adjacent vibes, same stomp
Adjacent sounds that click
Fans of
Run The Jewels will recognize the punchy back-and-forth rapping and big chant hooks, even though this duo leans brighter and faster.
Logic crossover makes sense because of crisp, on-beat delivery and clean mix choices, plus their shared cut
WATCH YO STEP nods to that lane. If you like the kinetic, bass-forward energy of
Denzel Curry, the breakbeat drops scratch the same itch, just with more wink and less scowl. Internet-savvy hip-hop heads who show up for
bbno$ will appreciate the playful wordplay and meme-ready moments that still hit live.
Why these lineups overlap
All four acts draw crowds who care about energy more than tight genre borders, and they balance mosh-lite movement with smart pacing. That overlap means openers from dance or punk scenes do not feel out of place, and the room tends to buy into new tracks quickly.
