Rapper reflects on playful East vs. West Coast rivalry and praises K. Dot’s viral hit
Joey Bada$$ has clarified his stance in the wake of his back-and-forth with the West Coast rap scene — and specifically Kendrick Lamar — admitting that he’s still a fan of the Compton rapper’s chart-topping diss track, “Not Like Us.”
Appearing on The Breakfast Club, the Brooklyn rapper explained that his series of lyrical jabs over the past year came from a competitive, not disrespectful, place.
“My energy was more connected to, like, ‘Yo, y’all having y’all moment, but New York City got something to say too,’” Joey said. “This rap shit is a sport… I have so many allies on the West. From my perspective, I didn’t mean no disrespect. That wasn’t my intention — but I’m like, ‘Yo, we rappin’.’”
Despite calling out Kendrick by name, Joey confessed: “I was Crip Walking to ‘Not Like Us’ all summer.”
Earlier this year, Joey dropped several diss tracks — including “The Ruler’s Back” and “The Finals” — taking aim at both Kendrick and other West Coast artists like Rey Vaughn.
Still, he insists it was all in the name of healthy competition. “I salute you Kenny, but I know you well aware / You lookin’ for some competition? Then just know that I’ll be right here,” he rapped on “The Finals.”
With tensions cooling and mutual respect resurfacing, Joey’s latest comments signal that his coast-to-coast jabs were more about raising the lyrical bar than igniting old-school beef.