Stanisland Magazine

The so-called UK vs US rap clash has begun with a beefy new Joyner diss by Skepta

Last updated: 13th July 2025

Skepta fired his shots, and it seems few were interested in clashing with the London rapper. However, that changed when the cap-wearing rhyme maestro made contact with Joyner Lucas — or is it the other way around?

Slamming the accelerator, he pushes hard enough before letting momentum take control. His disclaimer — that this is a clash and not a beef — reads: “Just like Ryu and Ken, you might have to go to war with your best friend.”

The Diss Track

Lucas was the first to bite with a response returned in kind by Adenuga Jr.: “I’ll give you two bars,” a comment that enraged spectators.

But it seems it’s now turned into a full-blown rivalry, with the Victory Lap rapper dropping fresh track “Friendly Fire” in a bid to start the engine for his competitive series.

READ MORE: Drake Says UK Rappers the “Best” in the World

The song takes aim at several personalities, including DJ Akademiks, Ebro and potentially Drake and Eminem.

The Verdict

Going in, Skept addresses his main challenger, calling him out for sounding too bougie: “Joyner Lucas you b******, you rap like you studied at Harvard.”

His flow and delivery are near perfect, as he hammers home an extended play of his musings from X. Overall, it’s a great opener, though he needs to go harder.

READ MORE: ‘Nobody Cares’: Joyner Lucas’ Competitive Skepta Diss is No Victory

This feels more like smoke than the final nail. While he’s a talented rapper, he needs to up his game in the battle department. We can’t fault him on the flow and execution, something that will be hard to usurp.

Skepta’s Selection

Let’s just say a few eyebrows were raised when the lyricist name-dropped his picks for match-ups; a selection that is rather dry. It seems Skepta’s opinions favoured commercial artists, as there are plenty more adept.