Joey Bada$$ Confirms Ab-Soul Feature on New Album Lonely at the Top After Past Tensions
Joey Bada$$ has revealed that Ab-Soul will appear on his upcoming album Lonely at the Top, just months after the two traded shots in a series of diss records. The album is set for release tomorrow, August 29, and includes a track titled “Still,” which features both Ab-Soul and Rapsody.
This feature comes as a surprise given Joey’s history of lyrical jabs aimed at several West Coast rappers in 2025, including Kendrick Lamar, Rey Vaughn, and Ab-Soul. His feud with the West Coast became one of the recurring narratives in hip hop this year, though Joey now says the intent behind his words has been misunderstood.
Speaking on The Breakfast Club, Joey explained his perspective on the conflict. “My energy was more connected to, like, it was really in the spirit of, ‘Yo you having y’all moment, but New York City got something to say too.’ People had their complications with that, like, ‘Oh y’all had y’all moment. We ain’t say nothing.’”
He clarified that his approach was more competitive than personal. “It’s 2025 and it’s playful. It was a playful nature for me. This rap shit is a sport and I have so many allies on the West. From my perspective, if you really seen it, I didn’t mean no disrespect. That wasn’t my intention, but I’m like ‘Yo we rappin’.”
The Brooklyn rapper even admitted to enjoying one of the West Coast’s most celebrated records of the year. “I was Crip Walking to ‘Not Like Us’ all summer,” he said, referring to Kendrick Lamar’s hit single.
Despite his more recent reconciliatory tone, Joey’s earlier tracks carried sharp criticism. On “The Finals,” he addressed Kendrick directly with the lines, “I salute you Kenny but I know you well aware / You lookin’ for some competition? Then just know that I’ll be right here.”
The track also targeted TDE’s Rey Vaughn with lyrics questioning his loyalty to Kendrick and suggesting he chases clout. These bars stood among Joey’s harshest comments during the height of the tension.
With Lonely at the Top now set to drop, the Ab-Soul collaboration signals a possible shift in tone. Hip hop fans will be watching closely to see how the album balances Joey’s aggressive competitive streak with the spirit of unity suggested by his latest statements.
