RAP BEEF TIMELINE · 2013–2013
Lil B vs. Joey Bada$$
“I’m The Bada$$” vs. “Don’t Quit Your Day Job”
A Capital STEEZ lyric and Joey Bada$$ tweet trigger a fast, funny track-for-track exchange. The internet makes the heat feel bigger than the artists later say it was; Joey eventually describes himself as a Lil B fan.
THE RECORD
The moments
Social media · disputed account
A Pro Era lyric becomes a direct problem
Capital STEEZ’s “Survival Tactics” line about the Based God is later shared by Joey Bada$$. Lil B reads the circulation of the lyric as disrespect and takes it personally.
“Tell the Based God don't quit his day job.”Capital STEEZ, “Survival Tactics”
▶ Watch “Survival Tactics”Diss track
Lil B answers with “I’m The Bada$$”
Lil B quickly turns the dispute into a direct record, using Joey’s name and image as the target. The response puts a very online disagreement squarely on wax.
▶ Listen to “I’m The Bada$$”Diss track
Joey counters with “Don’t Quit Your Day Job”
Joey Bada$$ answers with his own direct diss, completing the exchange at upload speed. The record-for-record phase stays short rather than becoming a sustained campaign.
▶ Listen to “Don’t Quit Your Day Job”Reconciliation · disputed account
The joke outlives the battle
The Based fanbase piles into Joey’s mentions, and his account briefly disappears. Later, Joey says the beef was largely publicity and praises Lil B’s serious work—turning an internet skirmish into a mutual-reference point.
Read the receipt ↗
THE RECEIPTS
Sources and listening
Pitchfork — Joey Bada$$ answers Lil B ↗Capital STEEZ feat. Joey Bada$$ — “Survival Tactics” ↗Lil B — “I’m The Bada$$” ↗Joey Bada$$ — “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” ↗ARTIST LENSES