Joey Bada$$ disses West Coast rappers while crowning himself “king of New York”
Joey Bada$$ is coming for the West Coast on his new single titled ‘The Ruler’s Back’. Released on January 1st, the track finds the Brooklyn rapper subliminally dissing lyricists on the other side of the US, claiming certain artists aren’t pulling their weight.
During the second verse of the song, produced by Griselda affiliate Conductor Williams, he raps, “Too much West Coast dick lickin’/ I’m hearing n*ggas throwin’ rocks, really ain’t shit stickin’/ ‘Cause if we’re talking bar for bar, really it’s slim pickings.”
He continues, “I rap like I draw pentagrams and kill chickens, n*gga/ Fuck around with your soul like Ether, quick for a feature/ This that black Air Force energy comin’ out your speaker.”
Joey goes on to boldly crown himself the king of New York, claiming his superiority in the rap game is clear as day. “I’m back by popular demand and world domination/ I’m finna bomb on n*ggas’ plans, fresh off my vacation/ I was sitting back, watching from an eagle eye/ Trying not to react, just give me one reason, I swear I’m on full attack/ East Coast n*gga ’til I die it’s/ Clear who the heir apparent King of NY is, n*gga,” he raps.
The title of the song, ‘The Ruler’s Back’, shares its name with Hov’s 2001 track from The Blueprint and Slick Rick’s 1988 song from The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. The track was released as a YouTube exclusive through a music video directed by Waqas Ghani.
Joey’s last album was 2000 in 2022, which was released just days after the 10-year anniversary of his debut mixtape, 1999. In March 2023, he stated that he was deep into the recording process for his next album.
“I am actively knee-deep in working on my new album, and I’m trying to get it to y’all as soon as possible,” he said on Instagram Live at the time. “I ain’t gonna say no dates cause I don’t wanna let you motherfuckers down and get y’all hopes up but I am working on it.”
Prior to ‘The Ruler’s Back’, Joey’s last single ‘Tell Me’ was released in September and served as a collaboration with Chlöe, also known as Chloe Bailey from Chloe x Halle.