In a heated moment on the Club Ambition Podcast, host SOUND and the crew dove deep into the escalating East Coast vs. West Coast tension, sparked by Joey Badass’ recent proclamation as the “king of New York.” Joey’s remarks—specifically his criticisms of what he saw as too much “West Coast dick licking”—seemed to be aimed squarely at Kendrick Lamar, igniting a firestorm of back-and-forth responses from artists across the country.
The drama quickly took a turn when Rayvon, the rising TDE artist from California, responded with a freestyle over Kendrick Lamar’s “Heart Part 6.” The track became his stage to address Joey Badass, calling him out for his indirect disses and jab at the West Coast. Rayvon didn’t hold back, pointing out how Joey appeared on Ab-Soul’s album while throwing subliminal shots, calling it “goofy.” He also took aim at Tory Lanez, criticizing his past shots at the West Coast, particularly Kendrick Lamar, and mocking his involvement with DDG.
SOUND and the crew couldn’t help but notice Rayvon’s fiery approach. They praised his directness, pointing out how Rayvon wasn’t afraid to call out Joey and Tory for what they saw as cowardly moves—taking shots without addressing the issues face-to-face. While the hosts speculated that Joey Badass might not respond, they did agree that Rayvon’s freestyle had ignited something significant. “It’s a whole different kind of energy,” SOUND remarked, “and that’s the kind of energy you need in this game.”
The conversation shifted to Rayvon’s rising star status, with the podcast crew suggesting that the attention his freestyle garnered could be the catalyst for a full TDE project. They likened him to the early days of Dreamville artists like JID, signaling that Rayvon could be primed to take off. “TDE has a star on their hands,” the hosts said, “and the way this freestyle has gone viral, they might as well roll out an album now. The momentum is crazy.”
In addition to Rayvon’s bold response, the crew briefly discussed a more subtle take from West Coast battle rapper Daylyt, who dropped a song that indirectly addressed the East Coast-West Coast drama. However, the hosts pointed out that Daylyt’s approach didn’t have the same direct heat as Rayvon’s freestyle, which added fuel to the fire.
The situation only seems to be heating up, as the hosts questioned whether Drake, the Toronto-based artist, might get involved. With all the layers of this conflict—East Coast, West Coast, and even Toronto—it’s hard to predict where the chips will fall. “Is Drake gonna stand with Joey? Is he gonna stay neutral?” SOUND asked. “The way this is shaping up, it’s gonna be wild to see how it all plays out.”
As for the beef itself, it feels like the return of a classic rap rivalry. Fans are waiting with bated breath to see whether Joey Badass, Tory Lanez, or anyone else in the mix will respond. As the rap scene watches closely, the East Coast-West Coast battle is only getting started—and it looks like Rayvon is ready to make his mark.
The Club Ambition Podcast hosts summed it up perfectly: “This is East Coast vs. West Coast, 2025 style. Let’s see who’s really about it.”
