Is this a warning shot?
If you’re tapped into hip-hop right now, you already know the tension brewing between New York and LA. And by that, I mean Joey Bada$$ vs. every TDE affiliate. While it’s still playful at the moment, things could get uglier than Esther if the right (or wrong) people decide to tag in.
One name that instantly comes to mind? Ab-Soul. He was in the vicinity when Joey sent a few bars at Ray Vaughn, and if this sparks into something bigger, Ab is the type to jump in with firepower. But before that happens, he’s already reminding us who he is with a new lyrical exercise titled “SPAR 003,” a raw collaboration with KIIA.
Let’s keep it real—this might be the grimiest rap track of the year so far. Over a cold, eerie beat that sounds like it was made for back-alley cipher sessions, Ab-Soul and KIIA trade verses like seasoned warriors. They talk legacy, hunger, divinity, and even their fine wine equivalents—all while dropping punchlines that land early and often.
Lines like “E-R-A, Ab-Soul, abstract a-hole” hit with that classic mix of cleverness and edge. Meanwhile, the wordplay? So dense it’ll fly over your head like a halo. This isn’t just a flex—it’s a reminder: there are levels to this rap game, and Ab-Soul is operating on a plane few can reach.
So yeah, can we all agree Ab-Soul is one of the best to ever touch a mic?
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
