Due to an apparent new East Coast-West Coast feud, Joey Bada$$ and Ab-Soul had the chance to speak face-to-face.
When Joey and Big Sean appeared on Red Bull’s new Spiral Freestyle series, they sparred about Joey’s alleged problems with the West Coast, which earlier this year had led to Soul’s TDE stablemate Rey Vaughn calling him out.
“This is Hip Hop, you know we’re 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,” said Ab-Soul in a spat during the cypher. “Lyt was heavy and Ray definitely stepped.”
“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,” the Pro Era star then expressed his opinions on the matter in a detailed poem. They’re trying to light a match, but they just don’t have enough heat. I don’t need someone to blast for me, blasphemy. Go for the game and declare the situation a disaster.
“First of all, I could never despise the West Coast,” Joey continued. “But since n-ggas are coming for Joe, screw it, let’s move on. N-ggas must have forgotten what Dot said on ‘Control.'” There are still a number of sensitive rappers wearing pyjamas. This isn’t an East vs. West debate, I suppose. I simply believe I’m the best—in fact, I know. These bars may put terrible boys on death prison. I was at the party, but I never saw a freak off (Woah) or a battle rapper on stage flaunting his cheeks (Ayo). It’s kind of weird that Suge and Puff are in jail, but (Damn) (Woah).
With scathing allusions to Vaughn, Daylyt, and TDE chief Top Dawg, he ended: “I ain’t gotta waste no sleep to shatter Daylyt (Chill) / You shouldn’t give you n-ggas time of day, but screw it, light up ’em, I’ll light Ray. / How can I put this nicely? Tell Top that he must pay if you need the attention. Look, I said, “What’s a little pup to a K9? It’s game time.”
Joey’s song “The Ruler’s Back,” in which he downplayed the success of California rap in the past year, brought the apparent problems between him and the West Coast to light.