Joey Bada$$ has gone off on Columbia Records over them delaying the release of his new album Lonely at the Top.
Speaking on Instagram Live, the New Yorker did not mince words when talking about his relationship with the label.
He said: “Shit go back, it’s no joke. That’s why it’s lonely at the top, for real. Because it’s just you. My shit got pushed back because the label pushed my shit back. My album is signed, sealed and delivered over a month ago. This ain’t cause of no sample clearances, this ain’t cause of no features, this ain’t cause of no clashing with another artist on the date.
“This is literally an exhibit A of a label getting in an artist’s way. I’m signed to Columbia Records but for the longest time, I just ain’t been fucking with them. All they do is get in my way. They really don’t fucking contribute to nothing. Especially this year, all of my releases have been on YouTube. It’s been that way because I ain’t got time to wait on nobody.”
Joey Bada$$’ new album is no longer dropping this week — he blames his label for the delay.
“I’m signed to Columbia Records, but for the longest time I just ain’t been f*cking with them.” pic.twitter.com/js9jpZIoTX
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) July 30, 2025
Columbia are yet to comment on Joey’s statements.
Joey has been in a feisty mood all year picking clashes with the entire West Coast as well as more specifically Kendrick Lamar and Rey Vaughn.
On recent diss track “The Finals”, Joey raps: “I salute you Kenny but I know you well aware / You lookin’ for some competition? Then just know that I’ll be right here.”
The track, which is mainly aimed at TDE rapper Rey Vaughn, also includes bars such as: “The way you let Dot dick sit in your mouth / This that same dick linkin’ I was talkin’ about / You n-ggas would do anything for the clout / Crash out over n-ggas who won’t even let you in they house / I bet you ain’t even got his number/It’s funny how the thirst is bein’ disguised as hunger.”
Things kicked off between Joey and the West Coast as a whole when he dropped “The Ruler’s Back” in January.
On the song, he rapped: “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 / 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.”
