Everyone knows how competitive the hip hop industry can be. Each artist wants to be better than the last. While all that is understandable, Joey Bada$$ feels the need to be great is causing a negative separation in the New York hip hop community.

The Brooklyn native took time to talk to  XXL about hopes to bring unity within the city’s music world.

After a brief social media spat with fellow New York artist, Troy Ave, Joey explained that he would still like for all New York artists to unite.

“I hope to restore that balance in the game and provide that unity. That’s my mission. Even with the monthly parties. I want that to be an area where people can link up.”

Joey explained there’s something about the east coast why they are never able to come together as one and support each other. He has trouble understanding why a state as big as California can have so much love within one another, but New York can’t.

The “World Domination Tour” artist also looks up to older generation rappers as the answer to do better.

“On the west side, everybody knows Snoop is the OG. Everybody on the west side is under Snoop’s wing. Everybody can say that. On the east side, it’s like, ‘Alright. Who can we look to?'”

Fortunately, Joey promised that when he’s “big homie” like Uncle Snoop, he’ll look out for the young up and comers.

Good for you, Bada$$. Watch the rest of the interview above. -Breanna Davis