Ever since Kendrick and Drake got the rap competitive as a sport again in the mainstream, rappers from both the east and west coasts have been going at it.
This, of course, includes the back and forth between Joey Bada$$ and Ray Vaughn on ‘The Ruler’s Back’ & ‘Crashout Heritage’ respectively — something Joey initiated, but something that Ray Vaughn stepped up to just fine.
Now, with Joey and Ab-Soul on the same freestyle (courtesy of RedBull), there was no way the tension wouldn’t be discussed. However, instead of it turning ugly, the rappers proved to take their verses in the spirit of sportsmanship and competed, while simultaneously smoothening things over in terms of any rivalries beyond music. Big Sean, too, showed up in excellent form, stating he’s loved from the East to the West.
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Big Sean even jokingly said, “And your wifey said I’ll wash you,” referring to Ab-Soul, who joked back saying, “I told that to you in confidence, big bro.” While this was a cool moment, the true highlight was the direct addressing of a beef brewing. Ab-Soul started this address by rapping:
The ruler’s back in fact I never left,
In which case Joey
You put me in a sticky predicament
I had to show solidarity to my syndicate
(Come on Soul – Joey)
Nah you know anybody can get it
In such a way that it will make any physician conflicted
But listen the 47s still on my tricep
Pass the parliament skillet I’m quiet the chef
Pro era the masters that ain’t ever incorrect
But it’s still TDE till 3000 and forever
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 steppin it
All of y’all would of had to shoot
The boat with an ocean view
You know what I came to do
Ay yo Sean let me get that hat again
And ask Nene who her favorite rapper is
With that, he even got back at Sean for saying what he did in his verse. Joey followed with his own onslaught with the following section:
They don’t want the war with the Martian, they sending they troops
At the general but, I’m the one who ab salute
They obsolete, can’t compete cuz I’m too elite
Trynna spark a match but they simply lacking the heat//It’s blasphemy!
But I don’t need no one to blast for me
I charge it to the game call that shit a catastrophe
Since Ruler’s back, they been trynna measure up
Look, My name ain’t rick, but I talk slick don’t press ya luck
S*** I aint taking no words back, I’m with all that
But this ain’t gotta turn to nothing else let’s keep it all rap
First off, I could never hate the west coast
But since n***** coming for Joe, f*** it then lets go
N***** must’ve forgot what Dot said on Control
Still a bunch sensitive rappers in they pajama clothes
I guess.
This ain’t no East vs West, I just think that I’m the best, as matter of fact I know
These bars could put Bad boys on Death row
He even mentioned Diddy’s alleged Freak Offs, saying “Kinda Crazy how Suge and Puff in jail tho, yo, I was at the party but I never seen a freak off— Instead a battle rapper on stage showing his cheeks off.”
All in all, the freestyle ended in healthy camaraderie. Unsure Joey meant to do with the Diddy mention though. What do you think?
