Joey Bada$$ has found himself in his own version of a “20 v 1” after taking subtle shots at the West Coast on his New Year’s Day release, “The Ruler’s Back.”
Ever since the track dropped proclaiming there’s “too much West Coast di*k licking” in Hip-Hop after Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 reign, battle rapper Daylyt and TDE signee Ray Vaughn have been at his neck, releasing everything from measured retorts (“HIYA”) to brutal takedowns (“Hoe Era”). The Power actor, however, is no slouch, matching their wit and aggression with extraordinary wordplay of his own on “Sorry Not Sorry,” “The Finals” and other verses released during the war of words.
While Joey found backup in featured artist Loaded Lux and Pro Era comrade CJ Fly, he’s essentially been taking on both rappers solo, in addition to jabs thrown by Reason after being name-dropped within the battle, and later Az Chike. Joey has also been baiting K. Dot himself into a battle, but the multi-Grammy winner seems to be occupied with his current Grand National Tour at the moment.
Check out every track exchanged within the battle thus far below.
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Joey Bada$$ “The Ruler’s Back”
Image Credit: The Ruler’s Back video. Release date: Jan 1, 2025
Notable bars: “Too much West Coast di*k lickin’
I’m hearin’ ni**as throwin’ rocks, really ain’t sh*t stickin’
‘Cause if we talkin’ bar for bar, really it’s slim pickings
I rap like I draw pentagrams and kill chickens, ni**a
F**k around with your soul like ether, quick for a feature
This that black Air Force energy comin’ out your speaker.” -
DAYLYT “HIYU”
Image Credit: Daylyt “Hiyu.” Release date: Jan 7, 2025
Notable bars: “To my ni**as out in Harlem, thanks for all that you’ve done
To them ni**as over the bridge, we tell ’em “Don’t be dumb”
To the uptown, to the downtown, to the midtown, I love y’all
The West up, but I’ll never dub y’all, for real.” -
Ray Vaughn “Crashout Heritage”
Image Credit: Ray Vaughn “Crashout Heritage” video. Release Date: Jan 8, 2025
Notable bars: “What’s with the sneak dissin’? Takin’ shots at us, then hide the Uzi
‘Cause the only badass the world was recognizin’ is Boosie
Please don’t get confused with shootin’ the movies, we really shootin’
Was on Soul album, so if you ask me, you look like a goofy….” -
Joey Bada$$ “Sorry Not Sorry”
Image Credit: Joey Bada$$ “Sorry Not Sorry” Release date: Jan 20, 2025
Notable bars: Ni**as with attitudes
Mad I’m biggin’ up my city, that’s something I had to do (Boo, ni**a)
Do or die, home of the gully where we let lead fly (Bah, bah)
2025, on my bully, I know that men lie (Yeah)
Women lie, but Joey don’t (Uh)
Might Delete Later, I know damn sure that Joеy won’t. -
CJ Fly “HIYU Freestyle”
Image Credit: CJ Fly “HIYU Freestyle” Release date: Jan 27, 2025
Notable bars: “Tell lil’ man don’t f**k with my brothers, we like the Wayans
Homie don’t play that ’cause trust it’s gon’ be a Scary Movie
You wanna be in the spotlight, treat you like Stanley Tucci
We from the Bush just like some hairy coochie
I don’t like your energy, you ain’t a G unless you wearing Gucci
This the reason we don’t f**k with you rapper dudes
That little pup keep barking for attention, look like Scrappy Doo
The bars just lukewarm and the raps is cute
Hands up, you don’t want no static with your nappy roots
No reindeer games, might get nuclear when the button in
Could squabble up like we share a pod, why is you butting in?“ -
DAYLYT “YHRR”
Image Credit: DAYLYT “YHRR” Release date: Feb 3, 2025
Notable bars: “Still couldn’t see me on your best day
Do this sh*t on wax, it be the best way (That be the best way)
Fingers twisted stompin’ with my squad, boy (My squad, boy)
We’ll break bones if you try X-Ray (X-Ray).” -
Ray Vaughn “Impossible Patty”
Image Credit: Ray Vaughn “Impossible Patty” Release date: Feb 8, 2025
Notable bars: “See, I never played tennis but I’m good on the internet
Rappers turned actors, got the nerve of bein’ indirect
I don’t get it yet
Just know they bad for business, based on all they past decisions
Spent a band to make ’em twitch like DJ Akademiks.” -
Joey Bada$$ “Pardon Me”
Image Credit: Joey Bada$$ “Pardon Me” Release date: Feb 18, 2025
Notable bars: “It’s a twenty v. one-man army
These ni**as tried to mark us out like Garvey…How many body bags a ni**a finna pile up?
Just my luck, ready for the smoke, in fact, I’m fired up
I got they notification and now I’m finna slide up
They tryna touch the crown, here, I got some fades lined up
They mind struck, tell ’em step them rhymes up, slime
Know I’m worth y’all time, but y’all just ain’t worth mine
Nobody knows your name, kid, but I know what your aim is
I shoot you, I’m brainless, you shoot me, you famous.” -
DAYLYT “BACKPACK”
Image Credit: DAYLYT “BACKPACK” Release date: April 28, 2025
Notable bars: “It’s too early to end you
I’m still tryna befriend you
Notice I ain’t never say a name
I was just tryna entertain your claim
Beef might be on your menu
The lame in you couldn’t withstand the pain
Of the comments sayin’ every drop you had got abolished
I was too polished (For real)
I hope you pick me, though
You Leopold-lusting-loving-no-pick-me show.” -
Ray Vaughn “Justin Credible’s Freestyle”
Image Credit: Ray Vaughn “Justin Credible’s Freestyle” Release date: May 7, 2025
Notable bars: “You ni**as had a lot to say, don’t think we forgot
Nah, don’t think we forgot
If you land in the city you get tailed like an Ox
Niggas ain’t got a comment but was speaking on dot
F**k that podcast that nobody gon watch
Spin on em like a twister, get you put on the spot.” -
Joey Bada$$, Big Sean, Ab-Soul “Red Bull Spiral Freestyle”
Image Credit: Joey Bada$$, Big Sean, Ab-Soul “Red Bull Spiral Freestyle” Release date: May 13, 2025
Notable bars: “Look, from BK to Carson, I’m bar none (Uh)
Proceed with caution, I spit fire, it’s arson (Yeah)
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
Tryna spark a match but they simply lackin’ the heat
Blasphemy, I don’t need no one to blast for me
Charge into the game, call that shit a catastrophe
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 (All that)
But this ain’t gotta turn to nothin’ else, let’s keep it all rap.”“No fly zone, say oh, is that right?
I ain’t gotta book no flight, I’m still gon’ pack ‘Lyt
I’m over heads like a carry-on and ain’t been checked yet
I’m done playin’, I popped out like a cassette deck
Respect that, they hanging on every bar, tell ’em hang tight
Get ya muscle up ‘fore you think of steppin’ to Swank White
I’m up early on the grind, I shine through the late night
I ain’t gotta lose no sleep to break Daylyt (Chill)
Shouldn’t give you ni**as time of day
But f**k it, shine a light on ’em, I’mma light Ray.” -
Ray Vaughn “Hoe Era”
Image Credit: Ray Vaughn “Hoe Era” Release date: May 14, 2025
Notable bars: “Run, Joey, run, we gon’ aim it at your backpack
Real sh*t, you should act more, you should rap less
Every verse ass, what that BBL cost?
West Coast get in season, now you heavy on the salt (What?)
Catch him at the Staple Center, bet you I’ma spark (What?)
Goofy, don’t let Power get your TV turned off.” -
Joey Bada$$ “The Finals”
Image Credit: Joey Bada$$ “The Finals” Release date: May 15, 2025
Notable bars: “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 (Facts)
And I ain’t gotta talk about how broke you are to fix you
‘Cause when I send shots at you, it’d be hard to miss you (Grr)
Ain’t gotta load a magazine just to press this issue (Nah).”“Caught a couple strays, now it’s time I put ’em on a collar
I let ’em rot while I charge ’em for top dollar
You’re the next nigga gettin’ dropped off thе Top roster (Facts)
And I’ma be the REASON…” -
REASON “The Dead Apple”
Image Credit: REASON “The Dead Apple” Release date: May 16, 2025
Notable bars: “Dear Joey Joe, ain’t expect my name to be spoken
That sh*t really hurt my heart, I can truly say that it’s broken
I get it’s just a bar, but when I sit down and focus
It’s a coast jealousy that you ni**as thought we ain’t noticedY’all used to be the Mecca, you ni**as was really goated
We heard your techniques and applied it while y’all was gloatin’
The sacrificial lamb, the soloist with no band members
Joey Kaepernick, nobody gon’ take a stand with you?“ -
Az Chike “What Would You Do?”
Image Credit: AZ CHIKE “What Would You Do?” Release date: May 19, 2025
Notable bars: “The people’s champ, here bi**h, I’m who they chose
Now it’s time to get your nostrils wiped like a itchy nose
See the chit-chatter, like Chizzle, don’t get busy
It’s the badass’s bots, he can’t f**k with mе
He keep talkin’ ’bout the west, is hе strictly di*k-ly?
Ray got some, I get some, he goin’ fifty-fifty
Tag me in, time to get a ni**a gone
Yeah, you bad to the a**
I’m just bad to the bone
Gave you a lil’ snippet, you ain’t even worth a song
Shout to opium, I’ll destroy you on my lone
How you a pro from your era, still ain’t make a hit song?” -
DAYLYT “WRD2MIMVA”
Image Credit: DAYLYT “WRD2MIMVA” Release dat: May 19, 2025
Notable bars: “I’m, uh, what you don’t know how to be, rap commodity
No skill don’t apply to me, West Coast lottery pick
Oh, they gotta be sick, Jo-Vaughn, no apologies
I’m mad, that’s it
Tray from Don’t Be A Menace
Punching all you badass kids, you heard me
You took Lyt at the start of the summer
Pipe down like the Mario brothers
If Lyt frown, it’s a scar on your mother.” -
Joey Bada$$, Loaded Lux “MY TOWN”
Image Credit: Joey Bada$$, Loaded Lux “MY TOWN” Release date: May 19, 2025
Notable bars: “Look, your days is numbered like days of summer (Uh-huh)
Rain or shine, I’ma bring that thunder
You talkin’ like I can’t see lyt, yeah, okay
The question is it, me v. you or you v. Ray?
Either way these L’s gettin’ passed out
Lights off, when I black out
Swervin’ in the lane with me, better crash out.” -
Ray Vaughn “Golden Eye”
Image Credit: Ray Vaughn “Golden Eye” Release Date: May 20, 2025
Notable bars: “The f**k made you think you close to Vaughn?
I seen that in your posture, you get posterized
CJ Fly dropped a diss too, damn for Pete’s sake, post the guy
Pro Era like a drive thru speaker, broken fry
Just a old-a** ni**as get mad at the up-and-coming (Up-and-coming)
I revived your rap career, I’m why Joey Buzzin’
Ni**a thought he was unique when he clearly wasn’t (Nah)
Had them matching haircuts I know they up to somethin’.” -
DAYLYT “AYO”
Image Credit: DAYLYT “AYO” Release date: May 20, 2025
Notable bars: “All it took for Joe is a cup of coffee
Hard luck, one cup of coffee will get a star buck
Oh, you sweet, for instance
That freak you mentioned, you was in daddy studio taking beat submissions““Body Lux in Times Square, go get a Doctor Manhattan (Oh my!)
Top, I covered all of my tracks to get the play, right? (Hm)
Scientific fact, it take 10,000 lux to equal daylight (Woah)”
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