Oh… Really? Joey Bada$$ has officially entered the lyrical arena and he’s calling out one of the genre’s most formidable names—Kendrick Lamar.
With the release of his fiery new track “The Finals,” the Brooklyn rapper turns up the competitive spirit, offering a direct challenge to the Compton icon.
FTR, “The Finals” is HIP HOP!!!
“I salute you Kenny but I know you well aware / You lookin’ for some competition? Then just know that I’ll be right here,” Joey raps, laying down the gauntlet for what could be one of the most exciting lyrical face-offs in recent memory.
Get this, Kendrick isn’t the only one catching heat. Joey also throws pointed bars at Top Dawg Entertainment’s Ray Vaughn, delivering a scathing critique:
“The way you let Dot d*** sit in your mouth / This that same d*** linkin’ I was talkin’ about… I bet you ain’t even got his number / It’s funny how the thirst is bein’ disguised as hunger.”
ICYMI, this isn’t the first time Joey’s aimed at the West Coast. Back in January, he stirred the pot with “The Ruler’s Back,”where he rapped:
“Too much West Coast d*** lickin’… ‘Cause if we’re talking bar for bar, really it’s slim pickings.”
That record prompted responses from Ray Vaughn, battle rap legend Daylyt, and TDE lyricist Ab-Soul. During a cypher, Ab-Soul hinted at the brewing tension, saying:
“Lyt was heavy and Ray definitely stepped… Just be lucky that Soul ain’t stepping in.”
But Joey wasn’t about to be silenced. In a subsequent verse, he fired back without hesitation:
“First off, I could never hate the West Coast / But since n*s comin’ for Joe, f it then, let’s go… These bars could put bad boys on death row / Kinda crazy how Suge and Puff in jail, though.”
Well, the ball is in their court. Joey made that clear.