Joey Bada\$\$ revealed his desire to battle Kendrick Lamar to prove who’s truly the best, while addressing the backlash he faced for quoting a provocative Jay-Z line, highlighting the ongoing tensions and respect within hip-hop’s competitive culture.

In a recent interview that’s quickly making waves across the hip-hop world, rapper and actor Joey Bada$$ opened up about his long-speculated rivalry with West Coast artists—revealing that he once wanted to lyrically go head-to-head with none other than Kendrick Lamar.

The surprising revelation came during a candid conversation with Gillie Da Kid, where Joey didn’t hold back about his competitive spirit, his respect for rap history, and the controversy he sparked when quoting a legendary yet inflammatory Jay-Z line.

“I just wanted to see who was really the best,” Joey admitted when asked why he had previously shown interest in battling Kendrick.

The Brooklyn-born MC emphasized that it wasn’t about beef, disrespect, or drama—it was about skill. “Iron sharpens iron,” he said, echoing the old-school ethos of rap battles being about lyrical dominance, not personal attacks.

The line that caused the most backlash, however, had nothing to do with Kendrick directly—but with a lyric Joey chose to quote from Jay-Z’s infamous “Super Ugly” diss track: “too much West Coast d**k lickin’.” That one phrase, lifted straight from a decades-old East Coast vs.

West Coast feud, lit a firestorm on social media, especially from West Coast fans and artists who felt the jab was both outdated and unnecessarily provocative.

Joey explained that he used the line purely in a lyrical context, as a nod to classic hip-hop history—not as a diss to today’s West Coast artists.

But nuance doesn’t always land in the age of viral soundbites, and the quote quickly snowballed into accusations that he was reigniting regional tensions. “People took it the wrong way,” Joey said. “It wasn’t about disrespect—it was about bars.”

His comments stirred fresh discussion around rap rivalries and lyrical boundaries in the modern era.

With Kendrick Lamar himself recently returning to the center of rap battles—most notably through his high-profile clash with Drake—Joey’s name has been thrown back into the mix as someone who could potentially hold his own in a lyrical face-off with the Compton titan.

Still, Joey was clear: his admiration for Kendrick runs deep. “Kendrick is one of the best of our generation—no question,” he said. “But at the same time, I’ve never backed down from competition.

I’ve always wanted to test myself.” He compared the idea to legendary matchups in boxing or basketball—Ali vs. Frazier, Kobe vs. LeBron—where mutual respect and fierce competition go hand in hand.

This isn’t the first time Joey Bada$$ has brushed up against controversy for speaking his mind. Since bursting onto the scene in 2012 with his acclaimed mixtape 1999, Joey has built a reputation as both a student of classic hip-hop and a sharp-tongued lyricist unafraid to challenge the status quo.

Whether through politically charged tracks, his unapologetic interviews, or his outspoken views on the state of the culture, he’s never shied away from uncomfortable conversations.

That same courage, however, has often landed him in hot water. In 2017, he caught heat for comments about not needing to look directly at the eclipse, later clarifying his sarcasm.

In 2020, he reignited debate about “real hip-hop” vs. commercial rap with a series of tweets that many took as shots at trap artists. Now, with his latest statements, Joey once again finds himself walking a fine line between lyrical honesty and perceived disrespect.

The timing of the conversation is especially interesting, as the rap scene continues to simmer with tension and competitive energy. Kendrick Lamar recently dominated headlines with his “Not Like Us” diss, aimed directly at Drake, sending fans into a frenzy and revitalizing interest in lyrical warfare.

Many in the industry have suggested that this is a renaissance moment for hip-hop—where skills, pen game, and raw authenticity are once again being placed above streaming numbers and viral dances.

Joey Bada$$ seems eager to embrace that wave. Though no official “battle” with Kendrick has ever happened, fans are already imagining what it would look like.

Two of the most respected lyricists of their generation, both capable of intricate wordplay and powerful storytelling, trading bars not out of malice but mutual respect? That’s the kind of energy hip-hop purists have been craving.

Still, some observers caution that the East Coast vs. West Coast framework—however historic—might be outdated for today’s generation. “The culture has evolved,” one fan posted online.

“We don’t need another coast war—we need sharp lyrics and healthy competition.” Joey, to his credit, seems to agree. His comments suggest he isn’t trying to revive old divisions but rather pay homage to an era where rap battles elevated the game, not divided it.

For now, Joey Bada$$ is focusing on music and acting, with recent appearances in critically acclaimed TV shows and whispers of a new album on the way.

But if this interview proves anything, it’s that his lyrical fire hasn’t dimmed—and that he’s still ready to go bar for bar with the best of them.

Whether or not a battle with Kendrick Lamar ever materializes, one thing is clear: Joey Bada$$ is not afraid to speak his truth, challenge the greats, and defend the art of real hip-hop—even if it means quoting lines that stir up a little controversy along the way.