What happens when you take Dragon Ball Z, a group of hip hop artists from Brooklyn, NY, and mix them together? You get critically acclaimed rapper, Joey Bada$$ and the hip hop-based collective, Pro Era… who all happen to be huge anime fans.
“Got Dragon Balls like my name was Vegeta” is one of the lines from Joey’s new song, “Christ Conscious” (available now on iTunes) so it only made sense that Joey and Pro Era members CJ Fly, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution and Dyemond Lewis paid a visit to the FUNimation office recently, while in Dallas, TX for Joey’s B4.DA.$$ tour.
But after hanging out with the Pro Era crew for most of the afternoon, we quickly discovered that they don’t just like Dragon Ball Z. The classic anime is actually a source of inspiration for many of them and a direct point of connection with fans — something we definitely understand all too well.
Check out the video below for our interview with Joey Bada$$ and tour of FUNimation with some of the coolest guys in hip hop.
There’s just one more US stop on the Pro Era Tour before the guys head out across the globe. Click here to check out the tour schedule for a show near you. Â And keep an eye out for Joey Bada$$’s debut studio album, B4.DA.$$, dropping later this year.
Want to keep up with Pro Era on Twitter? Be sure to follow:
Pro Era – @thefckingera
Joey Bada$$ – @JoeyBADASS_
CJ Fly – @FLYestintheeERA
Kirk Knight – @kirkknight
Nyck Caution – @NyckCaution
Deymond Lewis – @DyemondLewis