Joey Bada$$ publicizes “Lonely At The Prime” album
Joey Bada$$ is making a daring return to the highlight, mixing lyrical warfare with private development in a method few rappers handle. The Brooklyn-born emcee has formally introduced that his fourth studio album, Lonely At The Prime, shall be launched on August 1, 2025. To present followers a style of what’s to come back, he additionally dropped a fiery new single, “ABK” — brief for Anyone Killa — setting the stage for a heavy-hitting new chapter in his already storied profession.
Joey’s been lively in hip-hop for over a decade, however 2025 finds him at a pivotal second: older, wiser, extra strategic, and extra targeted than ever. As he juggles battles on the mic and milestones in his private life, Lonely At The Prime goals to showcase the evolution of a rap veteran who’s nonetheless hungry to show his dominance.
The Firestarter: “ABK” Units the Tone
“ABK” isn’t just a single—it’s an announcement. Joey makes use of the monitor to reassert himself as a lyrical pressure in at the moment’s aggressive hip-hop panorama. The beat is intense and stripped-down, permitting his bars to hit even tougher. Produced by longtime collaborator Kirk Knight, the instrumental enhances Joey’s aggressive supply and slick rhyme schemes completely.
Lyrically, the monitor takes intention at rivals—notably on the West Coast—who’ve challenged his lyrical supremacy. Earlier this 12 months, Joey discovered himself in a feud with a number of rappers, together with Ray Vaughn of Prime Dawg Leisure. Whereas he by no means explicitly names all of his targets, the jabs in “ABK” are sharp, direct, and go away little to the creativeness.
He raps:
“They thought I used to be mild work, so that they despatched their little mans to kill me / Thought it’d work — all 2025, I hit ’em the place it’d harm.”
That’s the Joey Bada$$ followers have come to anticipate: calculated, unflinching, and razor-sharp.
Reside from Late Evening: Jimmy Kimmel Efficiency
Joey made waves with a shock reside debut of “ABK” on Jimmy Kimmel Reside! on July 16. Launched by country-rap star and visitor host Jelly Roll, the efficiency was intense and symbolic. Joey stood at a podium styled like a political press convention, flanked by an American flag and booming audio system, turning the late-night stage into his lyrical battleground.
His supply was flawless, stuffed with uncooked emotion and conviction. Followers on-line praised the efficiency for its readability, message, and stage presence. Many imagine it’s one of many strongest rap performances on tv this 12 months, and an ideal technique to promote each the only and the upcoming album.
The Album: Lonely At The Prime (Coming August 1)
Joey’s upcoming album Lonely At The Prime marks his fourth full-length studio mission, following:
- B4.Da.$$ (2015)
- All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ (2017)
- 2000 (2022)
Every of those albums served as a snapshot of Joey’s journey—from teenage prodigy to political commentator, and now to a completely developed artist reflecting on success, solitude, and legacy.
The title Lonely At The Prime suggests a extra introspective theme. Joey isn’t just chasing acclaim—he’s analyzing what it means to achieve success in an area that’s consistently shifting. How do you keep grounded once you’ve “made it,” however the stakes are nonetheless excessive? Who do you belief when everybody needs a chunk of you?
That is the kind of nuanced exploration followers expect from the album. And if “ABK” is any indication, Lonely At The Prime can have each high-energy battle raps and reflective storytelling.
Profession Roots: From “1999” to Rap Royalty
Joey Bada$$ first burst onto the scene in 2012 with 1999, a mixtape that shortly grew to become a cult traditional. The mission turned heads for its nostalgic boom-bap manufacturing, uncooked confidence, and surprisingly mature lyricism. At simply 17 years previous, he was already being in comparison with East Coast legends like Nas and Mos Def.
In 2022, 2000 was launched as a reflective sequel to 1999. It featured smoother manufacturing, maturity in material, and a confident supply that proved Joey had developed. Now, in 2025, Lonely At The Prime arrives as a end result of all the things he’s constructed—an album for individuals who’ve adopted the journey and people simply tuning in.
Feuds and Hearth: The West Coast Stress
Rap beef has at all times been part of hip-hop’s DNA, and Joey’s current feud with artists from the West Coast has added gas to the fireplace. The drama began earlier within the 12 months when Joey posted cryptic strains on-line and threw lyrical photographs in freestyles, seemingly geared toward Prime Dawg Leisure associates.
The strain escalated when Ray Vaughn responded, prompting much more exchanges. Although Joey hasn’t named names in interviews, his bars make it clear who the targets are. “ABK” won’t be the final we hear of this feud—extra tracks from Lonely At The Prime might proceed the dialog.
Nonetheless, this isn’t clout-chasing. For Joey, battle rap is a part of his core id. He sees competitors as a obligatory strain that brings out one of the best in artists—and he’s clearly rising to the event.
Life Past the Music: Household and Fatherhood
In the course of all of the album promo and lyrical fight, Joey Bada$$ has had a serious private milestone: he and his fiancée, Serayah, not too long ago welcomed their first baby collectively. Whereas Joey has a daughter from a earlier relationship, this marks a brand new starting for the couple as they construct their household.
Serayah first revealed the being pregnant at New York Vogue Week earlier this 12 months, strolling the Adore Me runway together with her child bump proudly on show. The second shortly went viral and sparked congratulations from followers throughout social media.
In a joint interview earlier this 12 months, Joey and Serayah expressed pleasure about changing into mother and father collectively and spoke about desirous to create a steady, intentional setting for his or her rising household.
Joey has stated up to now that fatherhood modified the best way he views life—and followers are curious to see how that affect shapes the themes on Lonely At The Prime.
What to Anticipate from the Album
Whereas the complete tracklist hasn’t been revealed, followers are speculating about potential collaborations. Frequent collaborators like Kirk Knight, CJ Fly, and even Capital STEEZ’s legacy might play a task. Joey tends to maintain his inside circle tight, which regularly results in targeted and cohesive albums.
You can even anticipate a mixture of battle rap, boom-bap influences, and socially aware storytelling. His discography has at all times blended private expertise with cultural critique, and this mission will seemingly comply with go well with.
Anticipate songs that talk to:
- The price of fame
- Navigating belief and loyalty
- New obligations as a father
- Standing tall amid public battle
Joey Bada$$ Is Simply Getting Began
As Lonely At The Prime approaches its August 1 launch, Joey Bada$$ is poised for one of the impactful moments of his profession. With “ABK,” he’s made it clear that he’s nonetheless a top-tier lyricist with one thing to say.
The upcoming album represents extra than simply music—it’s a chapter within the lifetime of a person rising, evolving, and reflecting in actual time. Followers can anticipate an trustworthy, intense, and assuredly crafted mission that explores what it actually means to be on the prime—and why generally, that place can really feel the loneliest.
Whether or not you’re a longtime fan or discovering Joey for the primary time, Lonely At The Prime is shaping as much as be a must-listen second in hip-hop this 12 months.
