Joey Bada$$ reignited his coastal rap war with the release of a new diss track titled “The Finals” on Thursday, aiming direct shots at Ray Vaughn and continuing the beef that’s been brewing since early this year. The Brooklyn MC didn’t hold back, delivering sharp bars that challenge Vaughn’s credibility and the influence of his label, Top Dawg Entertainment.
The feud first gained traction in January when Joey dropped “The Ruler’s Back”, a bold track that took aim at Kendrick Lamar and the West Coast as a whole. That record marked a clear stance from Joey, signaling his intent to challenge the current hierarchy in hip-hop.
Now, with “The Finals,” the Pro Era rapper continues his offensive. In one of the track’s most talked-about lines, he spits:
“What kinda Top Dawg is you? / You more Shih Tzu, you was cloned in the lab, dog, you artificial / You known for your label, not because your art official.”
He doesn’t stop there. Joey mocks Ray Vaughn for defending Kendrick Lamar without seemingly having direct access to the Compton icon, rapping with a tone that suggests Vaughn is out of his depth.
The diss quickly lit up YouTube, where fans flooded the comments section with praise. One user wrote, “Kinda crazy that Joey is just months older than Ray Vaughn but been in the game 10-13 years and always kept it RAP! Time for the game to give this man his DESERVED FLOWERS!!!” Another echoed the excitement, saying, “I am a fan of both Joey and Ray — this is what we needed this year.”
Ray Vaughn, signed to TDE and representing the West Coast, wasn’t quiet either. He responded earlier in the week with his own track titled “Hoe Era,” in which he took direct aim at Joey’s credibility and consistency:
“Run, Joey, run, we gon’ aim it at yo’ backpack / Real sh*t, you should act more, you should rap less,”
“Every verse ass, what that BBL cost? / West coast get it season, now you heavy on the salt (What?)”
The back-and-forth has become one of the more exciting lyrical rivalries of 2025, with fans appreciating that both artists are keeping the conflict rooted in music rather than drama.
The tension originally spiked during Joey’s viral appearance on the “Red Bull Spiral Freestyle” alongside Big Sean and Ab-Soul, representing the East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast respectively. In that freestyle, Joey rapped:
“Since ‘Ruler’s Back,’ they been tryna measure up / Look, my name ain’t Rick, but I talk Slick, don’t press ya luck / And I ain’t taking no words back, I’m with all that / But this ain’t gotta turn to nothin’ else, let’s keep it all rap.”
Both Ray Vaughn and Ab-Soul are part of Top Dawg Entertainment, making Joey’s pointed lyrics all the more personal for fans of the West Coast powerhouse label.
As of now, there’s no telling how far this lyrical feud will go — but if “The Finals” and “Hoe Era” are any indication, the rap game is in for a summer full of bars, jabs, and sharp wordplay. One thing’s clear: Joey Bada$$ has no intention of backing down.
