Joey Bada$$ and Ab-Soul recently brought their lyrical prowess to the spotlight as they went head-to-head in Red Bull’s new Spiral Freestyle series. With Big Sean joining them in the cypher, all eyes were on Joey and Soul as they addressed lingering tensions between the East and West Coasts—tensions reignited by Joey’s perceived critique of West Coast rap earlier this year.
Ab-Soul opened fire with a sharp verse referencing the back-and-forth that had already begun earlier in 2024, particularly from his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate Rey Vaughn. He rapped: “Lyt was heavy and Ray definitely stepped / But this is Hip Hop, you know we still on that / It was healthy for the sport, sticking to the roots, keeping it competitive / Just be lucky that Soul ain’t stepping in.”
Joey Bada$$ wasted no time in responding with his signature bravado and wit, issuing a warning to challengers: “They don’t want the war with the Martian, they sendin’ they troops / At the general, but I’m the one who Ab salute / They obsolete, can’t compete ’cause I’m too elite / Tryna spark a match but they simply lackin’ the heat.” His bars showcased a calculated dismissal of any threats coming his way, blending confidence with wordplay.
Doubling down, Joey addressed the perceived coastal rivalry directly, referencing past shots from the West and asserting his dominance: “First off, I could never hate the West Coast / But since n**s comin’ for Joe, f* it then, let’s go.” He threw in a nod to Kendrick Lamar’s infamous “Control” verse, hinting at how competitive fire can still spark controversy.
The New York emcee didn’t hold back as he took verbal jabs at TDE, Daylyt, Rey Vaughn, and even Top Dawg himself. His closing lines carried layered shots: “I ain’t gotta lose no sleep to break Daylyt / Shouldn’t give you n**s time of day / But f* it, shine a light on ’em, I’mma light Ray / Now how can I say this all in a nice way? / If you need the attention, tell Top he gotta pay.”
The root of this lyrical standoff can be traced back to Joey’s earlier single “The Ruler’s Back,” where he seemingly downplayed recent successes of California hip hop artists, sparking backlash and reigniting old flames between East and West Coast talents.
While fans debate whether this clash signals a deeper divide or just lyrical sport, one thing is clear—Joey Bada$$ and Ab-Soul are keeping the competitive spirit of hip hop alive, delivering sharp rhymes that reignite memories of past coast-to-coast rivalries, while pushing the culture forward through healthy confrontation.
