The simmering rivalry between Skepta and Joyner Lucas has as soon as once more flared up—this time, sparked by the discharge of Skepta’s newest diss observe, “Round 2.” The British rapper has lengthy teased a want to lyrically spar with an American artist, aiming to shut the chapter on the continued UK-versus-US rap debate. “I want to clash with an American rapper. Let’s finally put this UK/US rap discussion to rest,” he stated, signaling that for him, the mic is mightier than any bodily confrontation.

Skepta initially angled for A$AP Rocky, who has but to chew. Instead, Joyner Lucas leapt on the alternative, posting, “The moment I’ve been waiting for… say the word, Joyner Lucas vs. @Skepta. #UKvsUS.” Skepta didn’t ignore the callout, replying, “Hey Jonah, I wasn’t even gonna reply back but I’m a rapper’s rapper. I have to respect that you stood up,” whereas on the similar time taking a jab at Lucas’s legitimacy within the rap hierarchy.

Lucas and Skepta stoke a transatlantic rap battle

The back-and-forth escalated rapidly. Skepta dropped “Friendly Fire,” which Lucas answered with “Nobody Cares,” a observe that immediately questions Skepta’s standing each within the U.Okay. and overseas. “Maybe you’re mad because you ain’t got buzz up in the U.K. no more / I heard your career just ain’t what it was and you don’t get paid no more,” Lucas raps. He capped it off with a parting shot: “After I body you, I don’t want you ever saying my name anymore.”

Skepta fired again with “Round 2,” just for Lucas to reply with “Round 2 K.O.,” which takes additional goal at Skepta’s creative evolution—or lack thereof. He accuses the London MC of borrowing too closely from A$AP Rocky’s type and calls into query the energy of his latest catalog. Reactions to the observe have been sharply divided: whereas some listeners have topped Lucas the lyrical winner, others discovered his newest effort underwhelming.

Audience response underscores simply how cut up the fanbase stays. One person declared, “There’s not a single UK rapper that can do this. Not one,” whereas one other dismissed Lucas’s retort as “so bad it doesn’t even warrant a reply.” This heated trade, now a number of rounds deep, displays not solely private ego but in addition a wider dialog about cultural weight and lyrical dominance on either side of the Atlantic.