Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (born January 20, 1995), better known by his stage… Read Full Bio ↴Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (born January 20, 1995), better known by his stage name Joey Badass (stylised as Joey Bada$$), is an American rapper, producer and artist from Brooklyn, New York. He is a member of the hip hop collective Pro Era, with whom he has released three mixtapes. Joey released his debut mixtape 1999 on June 12 2012. Featuring production from other Pro Era members, as well as some J Dilla and MF DOOM beats, the tape was released to general critical acclaim. On September 6, Joey released Rejex, a collection of early versions of songs and tracks that didn't make it onto his debut. After his initial effort's resounding success, on July 1, 2013, Joey Bada$$ released his second mixtape, Summer Knights. He then released his debut album B4.Da.$$ on January 20, 2015, on his 20th birthday.

On April 7, 2017, he released his second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ under Pro Era Records and Cinematic Music Group. The album was supported by three singles: Devastated, Land of the Free and Temptation. ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200.

Five years following the release of his second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, he released the follow-up to his debut mixtape, 1999, ten years later on July 22, 2022. The name of this album, his third studio album, was 2000. During 2022, Joey released multiple singles to the album including Head High, Survivors Guilt, Zipcodes and 2 more. In the album, Joey goes over plenty of topic matters such as dealing with mental health, the passing of his friend Captial Steez and his cousin, Junior B, ten years later, and his overal life. 2000 debuted at No.18 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold roughly 22,000 album-equvialent units in its first week. The album was well perceived by fans and critcs, and was deemed to be a generally good lead up to his mixtape 1999.

RING THE ALARM
Joey Bada$$ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was born running with the baton
Now I'm known as the young intellectual don
Until I'm gone where I'm from the real don't get along
With the fake, look me in the face, eyes of the storm
You don't want none
No beef could never hurt me
I'll be on my Istanbul, they cold turkey
Firstly it's the double entendre monster, taking haunted

Constant, twisting your conscious, so be cautious
If it call for it we leaving corpses
The cause is of the coffin is the broken clauses
Skeletons in my closet, tomorrow's never promised
Never mind it because we immortals regardless
Real G's move in silence like my designer
Intertwined with the timeless, divine higher power
I was dipping in the gold since a minor
Sitting on my throne overlooking my empire, uh

Resurrection of real, you niggas fake
Never second-guessing my kill, so choose your fate
'Cause I'm born running with the baton, a ticking time bomb
Nigga better ring the alarm, uh
Resurrection of real, you niggas fake
Never second-guessing my kill, so choose your fate
'Cause I'm born running with the baton, a ticking time bomb
Nigga better ring the alarm, uh

So keep it spinning this shocka
The wrist don't risk that, partner
These niggas impostors, we moving like the mobsters
One false move, have 'em sleeping with the lobsters, huh
Keep it spinning this shocka
The wrist don't risk that, partner
These niggas impostors, we moving like the mobsters
One false move, have 'em sleeping with the

It's the all American badass
Who you mad at? they ain't have to ask that
Attack with the backlash, where's my cash at?
Running all through NASDAQ, strap in my backpack
Going off the knack, dopeboy in the Cadilac
Having flashbacks, wish a nigga would clap back
Hit them with the blackjack, going through a stack fast
I snap with the raps, I make 'em bring the whole track back
Niggas get smacked with the realer
When I drop it's all killing, no feelings
So you better not make a wrong move, nigga
I'll personally deliver each shot that won't miss ya
And when it hit ya it's no warning
We bombarding, me and my squadron
If you want it get your army
We dropping bombs calmly
This is no party
Any scraps left, we just feed 'em to the zombies

Death before dishonor, I die for my brethren
This is a stick-up, ocean's 47
Ring the alarm before all of you wanna get in
Ring the alarm before all of you wanna get in
Death before dishonor, I die for my brethren
This is a stick-up, ocean's 47
Ring the alarm before all of you wanna get in
Ring the alarm before all of you wanna get in

Ring the alarm, we ain't keeping it calm
Need a reason to see the don, break the leash and I'm on
Was hungry when I started, more ravenous as I evolve
Caution hazardous, inflicting damages, I can't recall, uh
Rich in spirit when I broke some laws
I'm breaking even with my bros against all the odds
Made my words cut deep, you gon' need some gauze
And the alcohol, we only going bar for bar
You know I black out, they bring the track out
I lay the smack down
Remember nights on the dirty mattresses in the trap house?
I snap out 'em, flick it around to where I'm at now
Living legend, finally back up on the map now
Resurrection of real, let's bring 'em back
It ain't even about the bars, they bumping whatever slaps now
All I hear is that ad-lib rapping on my SoundCloud
Sick of the trash out, this is the crackdown

Little boy don't back shot we bury ya
Big metal ting, we get Captain America
Beast coat regime (La Cosa Nostra)
My team supreme
Death before dishonor, I die for my brethren
This is a stick-up, ocean's 47

Ring the alarm before all of you wanna get in
Ring the alarm before all of you wanna get in

Overall Meaning

In the song "Ring the Alarm," Joey Bada$$ presents himself as an intellectual don who was "born running with the baton." He implies that he is always moving forward and will stop at nothing to reach his goals. This is further established in the line "Resurrection of real, you niggas fake, never second-guessing my kill, so choose your fate." He warns that he will swiftly take out anyone who tries to stand in his way. The line "Real G's move in silence like my designer intertwined with the timeless, divine higher power" suggests that he is one of the "real Gs" and that he has the power of the divine on his side.

Throughout the song, Joey Bada$$ repeatedly warns his enemies to "ring the alarm" before attempting to bring him down. He boasts about his skills as a rapper and his ability to take down anyone who crosses him. He compares himself to a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment, and warns his enemies to choose their fate carefully before making a move.

Overall, "Ring the Alarm" presents Joey Bada$$ as a powerful and unstoppable force in the hip-hop world. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and never letting anyone else define who you are or what you are capable of.

Line by Line Meaning

I was born running with the baton
I have always been driven and ambitious from the moment I came into this world

Now I'm known as the young intellectual don
Now I am recognized as a young leader and intellectual in my field

Until I'm gone where I'm from the real don't get along
In my hometown, there is a conflict between genuine individuals and those who are fake or disingenuous

With the fake, look me in the face, eyes of the storm
When faced with inauthentic people, I confront them head-on and remain calm in the midst of chaos

You don't want none
You definitely don't want to mess with me or cross my path

No beef could never hurt me
No conflict or disagreement can harm me or affect me negatively

I'll be on my Istanbul, they cold turkey
I am focused on my goals and ambitions, ignoring distractions or detours along the way

Firstly it's the double entendre monster, taking haunted
First and foremost, I possess a skill for using double entendre in my lyrics, which creates a sense of mystery and depth

Constant, twisting your conscious, so be cautious
I continuously challenge and provoke your thoughts and beliefs, so be careful and mindful of what you consume

If it call for it we leaving corpses
If the situation demands it, we will inflict harm or defeat our opposition

The cause is of the coffin is the broken clauses
The reason behind the end result is the unresolved issues or disagreements

Skeletons in my closet, tomorrow's never promised
I have hidden secrets or past mistakes, and the future is uncertain and unpredictable

Never mind it because we immortals regardless
I disregard these concerns because I consider myself and my impact to be timeless and everlasting

Real G's move in silence like my designer
True gangsters or influential individuals operate discreetly or quietly, just like the high-end fashion brands I wear

Intertwined with the timeless, divine higher power
I am connected to an eternal and sacred force that guides and influences me

I was dipping in the gold since a minor
From a young age, I have been involved in lucrative and successful ventures

Sitting on my throne overlooking my empire, uh
I now hold a position of power and authority, overlooking all that I have built and achieved

Resurrection of real, you niggas fake
I am bringing back the authenticity and genuine elements in the industry, while exposing the phoniness of others

Never second-guessing my kill, so choose your fate
I am always confident and decisive in my actions, so make a careful decision on how you want to face the consequences

'Cause I'm born running with the baton, a ticking time bomb
Because of my natural inclination for success and my potential for explosive impact, I am a force to be reckoned with

Nigga better ring the alarm, uh
Others should be warned and prepared for the power and impact I bring

So keep it spinning this shocka
Keep the energy and momentum high

The wrist don't risk that, partner
Don't take unnecessary risks or make reckless moves, my friend

These niggas impostors, we moving like the mobsters
The people we encounter are fake or frauds, but we operate with the same precision and secrecy as organized crime groups

One false move, have 'em sleeping with the lobsters, huh
If anyone makes a mistake or wrong move, they will pay the ultimate price or end up dead

It's the all American badass
I am the epitome of an American rebel or rebellious figure

Who you mad at? they ain't have to ask that
I don't even need to question who has a problem with me, it's evident

Attack with the backlash, where's my cash at?
I respond to criticism or negative reactions with even more force, demanding my deserved financial compensation

Running all through NASDAQ, strap in my backpack
I am involved in financial markets, making moves and transactions with my weapon or source of power always within reach

Going off the knack, dopeboy in the Cadilac
I am naturally skilled and talented, thriving as a successful individual in luxurious and expensive vehicles

Having flashbacks, wish a nigga would clap back
I reminisce about past confrontations or incidents, hoping someone would have the audacity to retaliate so I can swiftly put them in their place

Hit them with the blackjack, going through a stack fast
I deliver a powerful blow or strike, quickly gaining and spending a large amount of money

I snap with the raps, I make 'em bring the whole track back
I rap with such intensity and skill that it forces people to rewind and listen to the entire song again

Niggas get smacked with the realer
I confront and dominate others with the truth or reality they can't handle

When I drop it's all killing, no feelings
Whenever I release new music or drop a verse, it's all about demolishing the competition and not showing any remorse or sensitivity

So you better not make a wrong move, nigga
You better be careful and make the right choices, or else face the consequences

I'll personally deliver each shot that won't miss ya
I will personally ensure that every attack or move I make towards you will be accurate and on target

And when it hit ya it's no warning
Once the impact hits you, there won't be any previous notifications or time to react

We bombarding, me and my squadron
We are aggressively attacking and overwhelming, me and my team

If you want it get your army
If you're seeking conflict or a challenge, gather all your troops and resources

We dropping bombs calmly
With a sense of composure and control, we are causing significant damage and destruction

This is no party
This is not a joyful or celebratory event, but a serious and impactful situation

Any scraps left, we just feed 'em to the zombies
After all is said and done, any remaining weak or insignificant competitors are left to be consumed by those who lack life or ambition

This is a stick-up, ocean's 47
I am metaphorically holding everyone up or controlling the situation, like a heist from the movie 'Ocean's Eleven'

Ring the alarm before all of you wanna get in
I am warning everyone to alert and prepare themselves before trying to enter my world or challenge me

So keep it spinning this shocka
Continue maintaining the intensity and energy

The wrist don't risk that, partner
Don't take unnecessary risks or make reckless moves, my friend

These niggas impostors, we moving like the mobsters
The people we encounter are fake or frauds, but we operate with the same precision and secrecy as organized crime groups

One false move, have 'em sleeping with the
If anyone makes a mistake or wrong move, they will pay the ultimate price or end up dead