Ray Vaughn Faces Backlash Over Lyrics Supporting Tory Lanez

Hip-hop drama heats up with a fierce back-and-forth between artists.

Ray Vaughn, the rising rap star from TDE, is making headlines for his recent diss track aimed at Joey Bada$Whilemuchofthetrackisfocusedon\ast \ast JoeyBada$, it’s the lines referencing Tory Lanez that have sparked major controversy, drawing sharp criticism from rising star Maiya The Don.

The Tory Lanez Controversy

The track itself has already garnered attention due to its bold lines directed at Joey, but it was the mention of Tory Lanez that has caused waves. Vaughn raps about Lanez in a way that appears to defend him, and this is where Maiya The Don took issue. Maiya, one of HipHopDX’s 2024 Rising Stars, called out Ray Vaughn for what she felt were problematic lyrics. In one of the lines, Vaughn appears to defend Lanez in a track with DDG, rapping: “Tory, you should be ashamed of yourself / ‘Cause DDG needs to sell, you made a bar from a jail cell.”

Maiya The Don’s Reaction

However, Maiya’s biggest issue with the track was the apparent contradiction in Vaughn’s stance. She pointed out that, while Vaughn was critical of Lanez’s recent actions, he also previously collaborated with Lanez, rapping in one of his tracks: “‘Fore you went to prison, in the booth, me and you was Kenan and Kel.” Maiya called out Vaughn for what she saw as hypocrisy in supporting Lanez after his conviction for shooting Megan Thee Stallion, asking, “What’s the point of putting Tory Lanez down if it’s not about him shooting a woman?”

Maiya didn’t hold back, venting on X (formerly Twitter) about Vaughn’s inconsistency. “Don’t think you shoot her, I was prayin’ for your freedom as well,” Vaughn raps in Crashout Heritage, but Maiya seemed unimpressed, commenting: “Saying you prayed for his freedom? OHHH BROTHERRRR.” She also questioned whether Vaughn was truly angry at Lanez for participating in a track with DDG.

Vaughn’s Defiant Response

Vaughn didn’t stay silent for long. In response to the backlash from Maiya and others, the rapper defended his stance, posting: “Speak your opinion online, they’ll try to tear you down for it. But I ain’t doing that.” Vaughn’s refusal to back down shows his determination to stand by his views, even if it ruffles some feathers in the process.

Tory Lanez was convicted in December 2022 of shooting Megan Thee Stallion and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2023. The controversy surrounding Lanez continues to be a divisive issue in the rap world, with some defending him while others criticize his actions.

Focus of the Track: Joey Bada$$ or Tory Lanez?

Despite the controversy surrounding Lanez, much of Crashout Heritage isn’t even aimed at him. The track is primarily a response to Joey Bada$$’s “The Ruler’s Back”, where Vaughn takes shots at Joey and his West Coast Hip Hop style. The track features some biting lines aimed at various targets in the rap game, with Vaughn calling out those he feels are putting on a front or lacking authenticity. In one particularly hard-hitting verse, he spits, “What’s all this sneaky mocking? Shoot us then hide the Uzi / ‘Cause the only real G the world recognizes is Boosie.”

The Future of Ray Vaughn’s Career

With lines like these, it’s clear Vaughn isn’t afraid to speak his mind, even when it stirs up controversy. But as the debate rages on about his support for Tory Lanez, the drama surrounding Crashout Heritage seems far from over. Fans are left wondering: will Vaughn and Maiya The Don continue to clash over the issue? Or will this be a defining moment in Ray Vaughn‘s career? Whatever happens next, one thing is certain—Ray Vaughn knows how to keep the conversation going.