Joey Purp

Joey Purp

Joey Purp is a Chicago rapper and real name Joey Davis. He is part of the SAVEMONEY collective and is one half of the rap duo Leather Corduroys with Kami de Chukwu. He is associated with hip hop and has also worked across rock, trap and neo-soul elements in his recorded output.

Early work and influences

Purp grows up in Chicago with a wide range of influences, from JAY-Z, Kanye West, André 3000 and Wu-Tang Clan to The Velvet Underground, which he names as his favourite group. In 2012 he releases his first mixtape under his own name, The Purple Tape, while also recording with SaveMoney, whose line-up includes Chance The Rapper.

Leather Corduroys and solo releases

With Kami de Chukwu, Purp forms Leather Corduroys, and the duo releases Season in early 2015. The project shows the breadth of his style, drawing on rock, trap and neo-soul. His second mixtape, iiiDrops, is released in May 2016 and includes contributions from Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, Mick Jenkins, Saba, Teddy Jackson and The MIND. The release receives strong critical attention and is named by Rolling Stone as one of the 40 best rap albums of 2016. Complex also includes it among its best albums of the year.

Public profile

Purp appears on Hannibal Buress’s Comedy Central show Why?, which helps broaden his profile among critics and listeners. In 2017 he performs at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, and also appears with Whitney at Lollapalooza in Grant Park. His set at Pitchfork is described as one of the weekend’s most entertaining performances, while his Lollapalooza guest appearance is seen as one of the festival’s standout moments.