Joey Bada$$ and Ray Vaughn Spark New East vs. West Coast Hip-Hop Feud

23 May 2025

Jerritt Clark/Getty Images.

In a dramatic twist that has reignited age-old regional rivalries, a fiery lyrical feud between East Coast rapper Joey Bada$$ and West Coast emcee Ray Vaughn has captured the attention of the hip-hop community. What began as a pointed diss has escalated into a multi-artist conflict involving prominent names, aggressive tracks, and symbolic shots at entire collectives, echoing the legendary East vs. West beefs of hip-hop’s past.

The drama was first sparked by Ray Vaughn, a rising rapper signed under Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), the iconic West Coast label once home to Kendrick Lamar. In his newly released track titled "Hoe Era," Vaughn took explicit aim at Pro Era, the Brooklyn-based rap collective led by Joey Bada$$. His bars didn’t just throw shade they directly called out CJ Fly, a core member of the Pro Era group, insinuating irrelevance and accusing the collective of fading into obscurity since their peak in the 2010s.

Never one to back down, Joey Bada$$ retaliated with a blistering response in his track "The Finals." More than just a rebuttal to Ray Vaughn, Joey expanded the battlefield. His verses threw punches at Top Dawg Entertainment’s current and former roster, calling into question the credibility of the label's new generation. Joey even fired subtle lyrical shots at Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, the label’s founder, suggesting that TDE had lost its edge since Kendrick Lamar’s departure. Kendrick himself didn’t escape the fire either, Joey's lyrics, while indirect, seemed to challenge the Compton rapper's decision to leave TDE and questioned his silence amid rising tensions.

The fallout from these two tracks quickly snowballed. Artists on both sides began jumping in with their own diss records, turning what started as a two-man spat into a full-blown regional conflict. Daylyt, another California-based lyricist known for his wild personality and unmatched battle rap skill, entered the ring. CJ Fly came forward with a sharp response in defense of both his crew and himself. Reason, AzChike, and Hitta J3 added more fuel to the fire, releasing their own tracks and effectively creating a chain reaction in what many fans are now calling the "2025 Coast War."

Fans on social media have been split, with hashtags like #TeamJoey and #VaughnSeasontrending across X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Some have praised the battle as a return to raw, competitive lyricism, something the genre has been said to lack in recent years. Others worry that the beef could evolve beyond music, invoking memories of past rivalries that turned dangerous.

Critics and music journalists have pointed out that this feud highlights deeper generational and stylistic differences within hip-hop today. Joey Bada\$\$, known for his lyrical consciousness and traditional boom-bap style, represents a branch of hip-hop grounded in New York’s golden era. Ray Vaughn, on the other hand, embodies the slick-talking, punchline-heavy aggression of modern West Coast rap, emphasizing bravado, flair, and mainstream appeal.

The involvement of Kendrick Lamar even peripherally has also drawn speculation. Some fans interpret Joey’s bars as bait, hoping to draw Kendrick into the arena. Given Kendrick’s historical affinity for tightly-crafted diss verses and his habit of dropping surprise responses (as seen in past beefs with Drake and Big Sean), some believe he could still address the situation. For now, however, Kendrick has remained silent.

As the lyrical volleys continue, the hip-hop world watches with fascination. Will the feud fizzle out after a few tracks, or is this the beginning of a more intense and long-lasting rivalry? With so many big names now attached and the legacy of regional pride on the line, the next move could shift the course of modern rap beef.

In an era where hip-hop is increasingly influenced by viral moments and algorithmic appeal, Joey Bada$$ vs. Ray Vaughn is a reminder that nothing grabs attention quite like a classic, gritty, no-holds-barred rap battle.