Joey Bada$$ Blames Columbia Records For Album Delay: “I’m F**king Sorry”
Joey Bada$$ confessed that his pending Lonely At The Top album will not arrive on its Friday (Aug. 1) due date, and vented his label woes in the process. In a candid Instagram clip, the Brooklyn native revealed his frustrations with Columbia Records as fans await his first full-length release since 2022.
“I’ma just rip the Band-Aid off,” explained the 30-year-old. “Bad news… the album is not dropping on Friday. The album is not dropping Aug. 1. Yep. I said it. I’m f**king sorry. I’m ashamed, I’m f**king disappointed. I wanted to come on here and take accountability and responsibility because I’m not ever gon’ leave y’all high and dry.”
He continued to detail, “This time it’s not may fault. its a lot of sh*t that goes on behind the scenes in this music industry that us artists don’t expose to fans… My sh*t got pushed back because the label pushed my sh*t back,” adding, “My album is signed, sealed, and delivered over a month ago. This ain’t because of no sample clearances. This ain’t because of no features. This ain’t because of no clashing with another artist on the date. This is literally an Exhibit A of the label getting in the artist’s way … I don’t know if y’all noticed but all year, I’ve been moving on rogue time.”
In the lengthy tirade, the Raising Kanan star expressed his desire to release himself from his label, unleashed his frustrations about Columbia’s processes, and gripes with the industry at large.
“I’m signed to Columbia Records, but for the longest time I just ain’t been f**king with them. All they do is get in my way. They really don’t f**king contribute to nothing, especially this year. I’m not sure if y’all know this, but all of my releases have been on YouTube. And it’s been that way because I ain’t got time to wait on nobody, bro. I’m way too f**king independent-minded and self-sufficient to sit around and wait for people who is not getting in line with the vision.”
“Time and time again, I’m let down… trust me ain’t none of y’all more mad than me. Y’all don’t understand the battles that get fought in the shadows,” he exclaimed.
“This is such a bad representation of the new energy I’m on. it is what it is. The sh*t not coming out on Aug. 1st at this moment in time I cant even give all a date and I don’t even want to give y’all a date in case they push that sh*t back.”
The 2000 rapper continued to put his label on notice.
“These motherf**kers got ’til Monday to straighten up,” he exclaimed. “I’m giving them until Monday. That’s me being generous.” “Free Joey,” he exclaimed and alluded to launching a petition. “F**k Columbia Records…SMD! F**k ’em. I don’t need y’all.”
Lonely At The Top was preceded by the single “ABK” as well as Joey Bada$$’s battle against the West Coast earlier this year. VIBE has reached out to Columbia Records for a statement on the rapper’s claims.