Ab-Soul isn’t one to shout over noise—he calculates, he strikes, and when he does, the industry listens. His latest untitled release, produced by Low the Great and Python P, comes as a sharp-edged but introspective response to Joey Bada$$’s coast-crossing challenge that’s recently stirred a new wave of lyrical competition in hip-hop.
In this multi-layered track, the Carson-born MC doesn’t just defend West Coast lyricism—he embodies it. While the record refrains from devolving into a full-fledged diss, it’s a precise, bar-heavy demonstration of technical dominance and cultural pride. For listeners who crave rap in its purest form, this track is a reminder: Ab-Soul never left—he was just loading.
Lines like “Catch you a friendly fade, then keep it that way” frame the battle not as beef, but as a sparring match between titans. The track honors late Pro Era co-founder Capital STEEZ, nods to TDE unity, and calls back to the deeper relationships behind the rhymes—highlighting how far back this artistic chessboard stretches.
More than a musical rebuttal, the record also takes aim at DJ Akademiks with unapologetic clarity:
“And I’ma slap Akademiks when I see him”
It’s raw, unfiltered, and carries a resonance that’s increasingly rare in today’s often overly mediated rap ecosystem.
Even more intriguing? A subtle teaser that has fans speculating: the mention of Black Hippy. Yes, that Black Hippy—the iconic collective featuring Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q. While nothing official has been announced, the cultural impact of a potential reunion alone is enough to set timelines ablaze.
The timing is sharp. Joey Bada$$ recently entered the lyrical fray in an attempt to bait Kendrick Lamar into a response, following jabs from Ray Vaughn, AZ Chike, and Daylyt. His appearance alongside Ab-Soul and Big Sean in the Red Bull Spiral freestyle cypher may have been friendly on the surface, but behind the mic, competition simmered beneath every syllable.
And yet, both Joey and Ab-Soul insist this isn’t war—it’s sport.
“Hip-Hop is competitive, it’s a sport… We can get busy and still shake hands”
Ab-Soul told Voke Magazine. That’s the real power of this moment: a reminder that high-level lyricism can be just as exhilarating as it is respectful.
With this release, Ab-Soul reasserts his position as one of rap’s most underrated tacticians, reminding us that when the West Coast speaks, it doesn’t scream—it slices.
