Kendrick Lamar Gave Ray Vaughn Advice During Battle With Joey Bada$$

Rising West Coast lyricist Ray Vaughn has shed light on the behind-the-scenes guidance he’s received from Kendrick Lamar amid his lyrical clash with Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$—a battle that has sparked renewed tensions between East and West Coast rap camps.

In a recent interview with Bootleg Kev, Vaughn opened up about Lamar’s mentorship and strategic input throughout the feud, revealing that he’s been in close contact with the Compton legend during critical moments of the lyrical back-and-forth.

“I’m on the phone with him when I’m going at Joey. ‘Hey, do you f**k with this?’” Vaughn shared, reflecting on his exchanges with Kendrick while crafting his responses.

He continued, “I always get feedback. Sh*t still don’t come out just like [that]. It’s still got a protocol.”

Though Kendrick has stayed out of the fray publicly, Vaughn noted that Lamar’s influence can be felt through the lyrical polish he’s urged on his protégés. “If anything, it’s like, take something out,” Vaughn said, noting that Kendrick’s advice often centers around editing and tightening bars to sharpen the message.

While Kendrick hasn’t dropped a track in this specific skirmish, his name looms large. The conflict first ignited when Joey Bada$$ fired shots at Lamar and the broader West Coast on “The Ruler’s Back,” criticizing Dot’s perceived dismissal of the East Coast in his recent victory lap following last year’s widely publicized beef with Drake.

Ray Vaughn quickly entered the fray with a response track, “Crashout Heritage,” defending Kendrick and the West, which prompted Joey to unleash a new barrage of disses.

On “The Finals,” Joey calls out Vaughn’s allegiance to Kendrick, rhyming: “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 didn’t stop there, mocking Vaughn’s relationship with Lamar with particularly pointed bars.

“The way you let Dot d**k sit in your mouth/ This that same d**k linkin’ I was talkin’ about/ You ni**as would do anything for the clout/ Crash out over ni**as who won’t even let you in they house/ I bet you ain’t even got his number/ It’s funny how the thirst is bein’ disguised as hunger.”

Despite the biting shots, Vaughn remains undeterred, choosing to lean on Lamar’s coaching as he sharpens his craft amid the heat. While Kendrick watches from the sidelines—for now—his legacy and influence remain front and center in the ongoing coast-to-coast lyrical chess match.

Watch Ray Vaughn’s Bootleg Kev interview below.