Joey Bada$$ publicizes “Lonely At The High” album
Joey Bada$$ is making a daring return to the highlight, mixing lyrical warfare with private progress in a means few rappers handle. The Brooklyn-born emcee has formally introduced that his fourth studio album, Lonely At The High, might be launched on August 1, 2025. To offer followers a style of what’s to return, 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 High 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 a press release. Joey makes use of the observe to reassert himself as a lyrical drive in immediately’s aggressive hip-hop panorama. The beat is intense and stripped-down, permitting his bars to hit even more durable. Produced by longtime collaborator Kirk Knight, the instrumental enhances Joey’s aggressive supply and slick rhyme schemes completely.
Lyrically, the observe takes purpose at rivals—significantly 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 High Dawg Leisure. Whereas he by no means explicitly names all of his targets, the jabs in “ABK” are sharp, direct, and depart little to the creativeness.
He raps:
“They thought I used to be gentle work, in order 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$$ followers have come to anticipate: calculated, unflinching, and razor-sharp.
Stay from Late Evening: Jimmy Kimmel Efficiency
Joey made waves with a shock reside debut of “ABK” on Jimmy Kimmel Stay! on July 16. Launched by country-rap star and visitor host Jelly Roll, the efficiency was intense and symbolic. Joey stood at a podium styled like a political press convention, flanked by an American flag and booming audio system, turning the late-night stage into his lyrical battleground.
His supply was flawless, stuffed with uncooked emotion and conviction. Followers on-line praised the efficiency for its readability, message, and stage presence. Many imagine it’s one of many strongest rap performances on tv this 12 months, and an ideal method to promote each the one and the upcoming album.
The Album: Lonely At The High (Coming August 1)
Joey’s upcoming album Lonely At The High marks his fourth full-length studio undertaking, following:
- B4.Da.$$ (2015)
- All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ (2017)
- 2000 (2022)
Every of those albums served as a snapshot of Joey’s journey—from teenage prodigy to political commentator, and now to a completely developed artist reflecting on success, solitude, and legacy.
The title Lonely At The High suggests a extra introspective theme. Joey isn’t just chasing acclaim—he’s inspecting what it means to achieve success in an area that’s always shifting. How do you keep grounded if you’ve “made it,” however the stakes are nonetheless excessive? Who do you belief when everybody needs a chunk of you?
That is the kind of nuanced exploration followers expect from the album. And if “ABK” is any indication, Lonely At The High could have each high-energy battle raps and reflective storytelling.
Profession Roots: From “1999” to Rap Royalty
Joey Bada$$ first burst onto the scene in 2012 with 1999, a mixtape that rapidly grew to become a cult basic. The undertaking turned heads for its nostalgic boom-bap manufacturing, uncooked confidence, and surprisingly mature lyricism. At simply 17 years outdated, 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 High arrives as a end result of all the pieces he’s constructed—an album for individuals who’ve adopted the journey and people simply tuning in.
Feuds and Fireplace: The West Coast Stress
Rap beef has at all times been part of hip-hop’s DNA, and Joey’s latest feud with artists from the West Coast has added gas to the hearth. The drama began earlier within the 12 months when Joey posted cryptic strains on-line and threw lyrical photographs in freestyles, seemingly geared toward High 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” may not be the final we hear of this feud—extra tracks from Lonely At The High might proceed the dialog.
Nonetheless, this isn’t clout-chasing. For Joey, battle rap is a part of his core identification. He sees competitors as a vital stress that brings out the perfect 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$$ has had a significant private milestone: he and his fiancée, Serayah, lately welcomed their first youngster collectively. Whereas Joey has a daughter from a earlier relationship, this marks a brand new starting for the couple as they construct their household.
Serayah first revealed the being pregnant at New York Style Week earlier this 12 months, strolling the Adore Me runway along with her child bump proudly on show. The second rapidly went viral and sparked congratulations from followers throughout social media.
In a joint interview earlier this 12 months, Joey and Serayah expressed pleasure about turning into mother and father collectively and spoke about desirous to create a steady, intentional setting for his or her rising household.
Joey has mentioned prior to now that fatherhood modified the best way he views life—and followers are curious to see how that affect shapes the themes on Lonely At The High.
What to Count on from the Album
Whereas the total tracklist hasn’t been revealed, followers are speculating about potential collaborations. Frequent collaborators like Kirk Knight, CJ Fly, and even Capital STEEZ’s legacy could play a job. Joey tends to maintain his inside circle tight, which frequently results in targeted and cohesive albums.
You can even anticipate a mixture of battle rap, boom-bap influences, and socially aware storytelling. His discography has at all times blended private expertise with cultural critique, and this undertaking will doubtless observe swimsuit.
Count on songs that talk to:
- The price of fame
- Navigating belief and loyalty
- New tasks as a father
- Standing tall amid public battle
Joey Bada$$ Is Simply Getting Began
As Lonely At The High approaches its August 1 launch, Joey Bada$$ is poised for probably the most 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 sincere, intense, and elegantly crafted undertaking that explores what it actually means to be on the high—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 High is shaping as much as be a must-listen second in hip-hop this 12 months.
