By Billy McGee
February 24, 2026
A week out from the release of HYPERYOUTH (Afterparty), the deluxe edition of their third studio album, rap duo Joey Valence & Brae stopped in Charlotte for a sold-out show at The Underground on Friday night as part of their 2026 tour.
The pair, who met while attending Pennsylvania State University, began making music together in 2021 and went viral on social media with early singles that made playful pop culture references and sampled memes in their production. Their 2022 single “PUNK TACTICS” garnered even more attention, leading into their debut album of the same name in 2023. Their early work featured more break-heavy beats and vinyl scratches, drawing comparisons to the foundational New York hip-hop group Beastie Boys for a similarly cheeky and bombastic lyrical style.
The duo released their second album, NO HANDS, in 2024, dipping their toes into more uptempo, hyperpop styles, while staying true to their core old-school hip-hop sound, featuring Danny Brown on the track “PACKAPUNCH.” On their most recent album, HYPERYOUTH, they leaned further into a club and dance-style production with a handful of more mellow tracks while maintaining their lyrical style fans have become familiar with, and also featuring North Carolina rapper TiaCorine on the punchy, Y2K-era-reminiscent track, “BUST DOWN.”
The opening act of the evening was Charlotte native rapper Joshua Raw. Raw, a versatile artist known for layering a variety of flows over dreamy, whimsical hip-hop production, showcased his range, rapping and shifting cadences over his more atmospheric beats. The Charlotte native started gaining recognition as a solo artist in 2022 with singles “Blowing Steam” and “PUPPY,” as well as his feature on Congolese-Canadian rapper jev.’s track “and then i got revenge.” He is also a member of the North Carolina alternative hip-hop trio Biking With Francis, alongside Garrett Sparrow and Max Leonard. The group began gaining traction while attending UNC Charlotte with their three EPs — HONEYDEW, BRUNETTE and SUNROOF — all released within a little more than a year.
Dressed in regalia inspired by his most recent EP, SASQUATCH, he took the stage primarily performing songs from his two 2025 projects, DOGFOOD demos and the aforementioned SASQUATCH, both featuring production from Sparrow and Leonard. The crowd became increasingly engaged throughout the set, joining in on hooks for “ALL AMERICAN” and “and then i got revenge.,” as well as participating in a call-and-response chant, shouting “Raw” whenever he said “Joshua.” The Queen City native made a connection with the audience, mentioning his recent graduation from UNC Charlotte in December 2025.
He shouted out his group, Biking With Francis, during the set and had Sparrow and Leonard join him for part of the performance. Between songs, he made multiple comments about staying hydrated and kept the audience engaged, wrapping up his set performing “SASQUATCH.”
Following Raw’s performance, JVB’s tour DJ, EWOOK came out for a 15-minute set positioned behind the HYPERYOUTH disco ball, getting the crowd primed, playing music that inspired the making of the album, including plenty of 2010s pop, before wrapping up with Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’.” The conclusion of EWOOK’s set led directly into the title track of JVB’s newest album, HYPERYOUTH, as the duo came out from opposite sides of the stage, jumping on the beat drop — Valence dressed in a plain white tee and a hat, while Brae wore a pink short-sleeve button-up shirt over a black tank top to match his dyed pink hair.
Throughout the show, concertgoers were kept engaged and energized, constantly being encouraged to jump and dance to the music. The audience loudly sang along to the lyrics, with Joey Valence & Brae occasionally turning the mic towards the crowd for their more memorable lines, such as “Sydney Sweeney called me and I hanged up,” “Who’s got the high ground now Obi-Wan?” and “I’m half amazin’ and half Asian, I’m so good you could say I’m Amasian.”
Between songs, Brae asked the crowd where the best place in the area was to get ice cream, prompting one audience member to shout out Cook Out. Brae then went on a brief tangent about the North Carolina-based fast food chain’s corn dogs and milkshakes. Brae also mentioned having family in the area before they played “LIVE RIGHT,” bringing out his younger cousin — whose voice can be heard on the track’s intro saying, “When I grow up, I wanna be like JVB” — to deliver her line leading into the song. The duo also played an unreleased song titled “bustamove” to give fans a preview of what is to come on their deluxe album.
They ended their set with their breakout single “PUNK TACTICS,” before leaving the stage and returning for an encore, performing “THE BADDEST” from NO HANDS and closing the night with “DISCO TOMORROW” from HYPERYOUTH. As the show came to an end, the two made their way along the barricade to sign items for fans.
The night felt like a party, with Joey Valence & Brae creating a lively atmosphere that encouraged attendees to make friends, dance, and lose themselves in the music, while being treated to the high-energy, fun-filled performance the duo is known for.
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