The Brooklyn vs. Carson Clash

Ah, rap beef!

This sacred sport of lyrical jousting where bars are the blades and microphones the battlefield. In the latest chapter of hip-hop's competitive tradition, two cerebral spitters Joey Bada$$ by Pro Era and Ab-Soul by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE)  find themselves at the heart of a verbal fight as poetic as it is petty.

What started as tension during the Red Bull One Take Cypher turned into a real lyrical feud, culminating in the latest single MY TOWN by Joey Bada$$ (with the battle rap legend Loaded Lux) and the response ofAb-Soul, Joey Bada$$ Diss.

But how did it get here? And is this Brooklyn vs. Carson duel just another chapter in the illustrious history of hip-hop's lyrical wars?

Let's look at the two artists, the bars, the decor and, yes, the beef.

Who is who?

Joey Bada$$ (Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott)

Straight out of Brooklyn, Joey Bada$$ appeared on the music scene like a time capsule from the 90s to the early 2010s. Founding member of the collective Pro Era, Joey made a splash with his mixtape 1999, released in 2012, revealing a boom-bap sound that was both nostalgic and refreshing. Since then, he has become a multifaceted artist, actor (Mr. Robot, does that mean anything to you?) and label director without losing his sharp pen.

Key Features: Outstanding lyricist, nostalgic boom-bap vibe, politically engaged.

Biggest projects: 1999, B4 DA $$, All-American Bada$$, 2000

Ab-Soul (Herbert Anthony Stevens IV)

Originally from Carson, California, Ab-Soul is the philosopher outsider by TDE. Known for his dense lyricism, spiritual undertones, and hard-hitting conspiracy references, Soul is a fan favorite who appreciates bars that are both high-concept and high-concept. A core member of TDE alongside Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock, Ab-Soul often goes unnoticed, until he decides not to do it anymore.

Key Features: Poetic, solitary but formidable word game ninja, masters syllables like Sudoku.

Biggest projects: Control System, These Days…, Do What Thou Wilt., Herbert

The Red Bull One Take Cypher

The stage was set for the Red Bull One Take Cypher, with Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul and Big SeanThe event was supposed to be a lyrical celebration, but fans sensed a storm brewing.

Ab-Soul, behind his usual dark glasses and filled with a calm intensity, delivered a a verse that is both subtle and brutally honest.

Joey Bada$$ began with clever wordplay and his trademark laid-back aggression. His bars hinted at small jabs sneaky.

Their exchange wasn't just lyrical: it was also a matter of body language, tone, and tempo. The tension was palpable.

Big Sean, to his credit, opened the cypher. His verse was excellent, but he wisely avoided the fire.

Although there were no direct rhymes between the two artists, fans noticed the clash. The poker face of Ab-Soul during the verse Joey's? Undeniable. Joey's post-cypher tweets like: 

“certain MCs not keeping up". Undeniable too.

The seeds were sown. The sequel, inevitable.

The song “MY TOWN” feat. Loaded Lux

Joey Bada$$ followed the cypher with MY TOWN, a track meant to fly the New York flag until it started taking on West Coast MCs. Over classic boom-bap production, Joey asserts his dominance over the borough while taking a dig at the not-so-subliminal West Coast.

Lines like:

“Y’all love them coastlines but can’t handle real weather / I bring a storm with every letter…”

Translate to: Your sunny bars have no depth, my metaphors are accompanied by thunder. It didn't take long for fans and West Coast rappers to catch on.

This wasn't Joey's first time attacking the West Coast. He'd already thrown several darts at tracks like:

Land of the Free: denounces fake activism, widely interpreted as a criticism of Los Angeles rappers using images devoid of substance.

Survival Tactics : a verbal attack that seems like a challenge to anyone who doesn't have New York blood in their bars.

Paper Trail$ : critiques commercialism in rap with coastal undertones.

Joey Bada$$ Diss from Ab-Soul

Ab-Soul had heard enough. In Joey Bada$$ Dias, he criticizes Joey's nostalgic aesthetic, his moralizing attitude and even questions his writing.

“ You still stuck in '99, I'm out here in the Metaverse… ”

Translation? Joey's style may be authentic, but it's dated, and Soul isn't afraid to force it into the present.

Why the Ab-Soul did he feel compelled to react?

1. Disrespect for the West Coast: TDE built his reputation on his lyrical dominance. Joey's shots weren't just about geography: he was questioning a legacy.

2. Family loyalty: The TDE works like a blood pact. You disrespect one, the others notice.

Soul took it personally and professionally.

The beef is real, so is art.

Listen, we love clashes in rap because they push the creative boundaries of artists. It's the art of diss, not the destruction of careers. Joey Bada$$ and Ab-Soul come from different backgrounds but both are brilliant MCs with cult followings and legacies.

 "Let's not forget: These are bars. "

And in that spirit, let's remember that a rap clash, when done right, isn't a war. It's a heavyweight sparring session where iron sharpens iron.

If this is what opera competition looks like in 2025, we're here for it.

No injuries, just verses incredible.

And who knows? Maybe one day, like Nas and Jay-Z, they will share the stage and laugh about it.
In the meantime, press play, peel back the bars and enjoy the artwork.