“Hoe Era” by Ray Vaughn
“Hoe Era” by Ray Vaughn, a rising artist from Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), is a diss track laced with lyrical warfare. Released in 2024 during a heated moment in the hip-hop landscape, this track responds to shots from fellow rappers—particularly those targeting TDE and Kendrick Lamar. Vaughn, known for his aggressive flow and punchy metaphors, uses this track to address industry clout-chasers, internet rappers, and washed veterans attempting comebacks by name-dropping legends.
The track is timely, emerging amidst rising tensions following Kendrick Lamar’s involvement in the 2024 “big three” beef (with Drake and J. Cole), where many smaller artists tried to insert themselves into the conversation for relevance.
🎤 “Hoe Era Lyrics” by Ray Vaughn
[Intro]
I already know you been talking bout me, haha
Yeah, yeah, n!gga’s on that s*it again, man
Huh, yeah, n!gga’s on ’em tough, on ’em tough
On ’em-, yeah
[Chorus]
Ayy, Ho-ey, is you stupid or you dumb?
Popping it then spin it ’bout a 20v1
Ayy, Ho-ey, is you finished or you done?
We don’t give a fu*k where you from, where you from
[Post-Chorus]
Uh-huh, okay, what’s up, shut up
Uh-huh, okay, what’s up, shut up (Ayy)
[Verse 1]
Baby teeth, you ain’t even got a plaque yet
Fact check, we wanna see them numbers like a math test
Run, Joey, run, we gon’ aim it at yo’ backpack
Real s*it, you should act more, you should rap less
Every verse ass, what that BBL cost?
West coast get it season, now you heavy on the salt (What?)
Catch him at the Staple center, bet you I’ma spark (What?)
Goofy, don’t let power get yo’ TV turned off, n!gga, what?
You done ran into them steppers who don’t tap danc
ucci trash-bans just for you to put them raps in
Conductor got you sounding like you in a jazz band
Why you going after Dot? He think he Pacman, woo
CJ like forty and he on drügs
Clickbaiting for the honeycomb, get yo’ own buzz
Skeletons inside my closet playing Bone Thugs
I’ll put the whole Pro Era on a pro club (Doot-doot-doot-doot)
[Chorus]
Ayy, Ho-ey, is you stupid or you dumb? (Dumb)
Popping it then spin it ’bout a 20v1
Ayy, Ho-ey, is you finished or you done? (Done)
We don’t give a fu*k where you from, where you from (Where you from)
[Post-Chorus]
Uh-huh, okay, what’s up, shut up
Uh-huh, okay, what’s up, shut up (Where you from?)
[Verse 2]
N!ggas want smoke, I’m a vape lord
Walk around with .9 on me, feel like I’m in great war
I can send him to the stars, he get paid for it
But standing next to Soul ain’t gon’ save yours
Every verse, ho talking ’bout, “I’m back”
We don’t give a fu*k ’bout where you was or where you at
See, the fans only know you for the acts, not the blaps
I know where you wasn’t, you was never on the map
Look, sleep with one eye open, I’m in Futurama
Old heads ain’t tryna school you, let me do the honor
Stupid ass n!gga, I can tell he never been in drama
And nobody, I was ready for yo’ baby mama (For sure)
Call yourself speaking for the coast without backup
Dropped a little three-track EP and, n!gga, that sucked
See what happened last time I act a beef with rapper
How you on TV and yo’ homie using CapCut? (Ah)
[Refrain]
Get active (Get active), stop acting (Stop acting)
Get active (Get active), gain traction (Get active)
[Verse 3]
Your last slap was in 2017
And I play ball, I can deal with n!ggas on the screen
Ray whoppa, quick to turn a to a rollout
Heard they moved the goalpost every time we show out
Here’s a line convo’, it really is a blowout
Dot didn’t respond, now you tryna call Cole out? Dumbass
[Chorus]
Ayy, Ho-ey, is you stupid or you dumb?
Popping it then spin it ’bout a 20v1
[Verse 4]
Ayy, Rakim stupid ass, think he Rak-him
TDE superstars, jealousy ain’t locked in
I done peeled so many caps, I go to medschool
Bullets flying by, sounds like sounds on the Neptunes
Thought the beef was lobster, really it was Deadpool
For that energy I gave him wings, once I red bull
Sorry not sorry, s*it was weak, pardon me (Pardon me)
He made a whole EP, copping pleas (Copping what?)
Black man, let him breathe, let him breathe
Nah, fu*k that, hang on from the popular trees
He had y’all food like he do it for the sport (For the sport)
I’m Snoop Dogg kicking over his lil’ fort, bing (Aww)
B!tch, you washed, you ain’t carrying no torch
You let Ice Spice turn into the king of New York, what the fu*k?, yeah
[Refrain]
Get active (Get active), stop acting (Stop acting)
Get active (Get active), stop acting (Stop acting)
Get active (Get active), stop acting (Stop acting)
Get active (Get active), stop acting
📝 Lyrics (Highlighted Quotes)
“Ayy, Ho-ey, is you stupid or you dumb? / Popping it then spin it ’bout a 20v1”
A repeated rhetorical shot at the opponent’s intelligence and crew behavior.
“Goofy, don’t let power get yo’ TV turned off”
A clever double entendre referring to both violence and the show Power.
“You let Ice Spice turn into the king of New York, what the fu*k?”
A sharp jab questioning the East Coast’s current rap credibility.
“How you on TV and yo’ homie using CapCut?”
A brutal critique of poor production despite fame.
🔍 Step-by-Step Breakdown
Intro
“I already know you been talking bout me…”
Vaughn sets the tone with a sarcastic, confident entrance, alluding to gossip and subliminal disses.
Chorus
“Ho-ey, is you stupid or you dumb?…”
A catchy, taunting hook that belittles his opponent’s intelligence and their crew’s unity. The 20v1 line implies Vaughn is undaunted by overwhelming odds.
Verse 1
“Baby teeth, you ain’t even got a plaque yet…”
An insult to the rapper’s lack of accolades or recognition. He’s saying: you’re premature.
“Why you going after Dot? He think he Pacman…”
Mocks someone taking on Kendrick Lamar (“Dot”), likening him to Pac-Man, suggesting they’re being reckless.
“I’ll put the whole Pro Era on a pro club”
A slick line attacking Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era while referencing Pro Club t-shirts (often worn in LA).
Verse 2
“Walk around with .9 on me, feel like I’m in great war”
A reference to both a firearm and readiness for lyrical war.
“How you on TV and yo’ homie using CapCut?”
Harshly critiques someone with clout whose team lacks professional polish—CapCut is an amateur video editing app.
Verse 3
“Your last slap was in 2017”
Criticizes the rival’s fading relevance.
“Dot didn’t respond, now you tryna call Cole out?”
Mocks the desperate attempts to start beef with bigger names after Kendrick ignored them.
Verse 4
“Rakim stupid ass, think he Rak-him”
Attacks a rapper for comparing himself to Rakim, a legendary MC.
“You let Ice Spice turn into the king of New York”
An intentionally provocative line that critiques New York’s current rap climate while praising Ice Spice’s rise.
📊 Song Details
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | Hoe Era |
| Artist | Ray Vaughn |
| Genre | Hip-Hop / Diss Track |
| Label | Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) |
| Release Year | 2024 |
| Target(s) | Likely Joey Bada$$ / Pro Era / others |
| Tone | Aggressive, mocking, satirical |
| Production | Heavy bass, minimal melody |
🎯 Theme
The song centers on:
- Authenticity vs Clout: Vaughn criticizes rappers who clout-chase by invoking Kendrick or other bigger names.
- Respect in Hip-Hop: A callout to up-and-coming or declining rappers trying to remain relevant through diss culture.
- Confidence and Regional Pride: Asserting West Coast dominance, mocking East Coast stagnation.
💬 Meaning
Ray Vaughn uses “Hoe Era” to defend his camp (TDE), uphold lyrical integrity, and challenge the relevance of other rappers who capitalize on controversy for attention. He taunts his targets with a mix of humor, cultural references, and threats, positioning himself as a real stepper in a world full of actors.
❓ FAQs
Q: Who is Ray Vaughn dissing in “Hoe Era”?
A: He indirectly targets Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era, among others, while defending Kendrick Lamar and TDE.
Q: What does “Hoe Era” mean in this context?
A: It’s a pun on “Pro Era” (Joey Bada$$’s group), flipping it to “Hoe Era” to mock them as being weak or fake.
Q: Why the line about Ice Spice?
A: It’s a cultural jab suggesting even newer artists are surpassing those who claim legendary status.
Q: What’s the significance of “CapCut”?
A: It represents low-effort production—Vaughn’s way of saying his opponent’s team lacks quality.
🧠 Conclusion
🔥 “Hoe Era” is a modern-day lyrical beatdown—a direct, unapologetic diss filled with punchlines, layered wordplay, and West Coast pride. Ray Vaughn proves he’s a formidable presence in hip-hop by addressing clout-chasers with biting sarcasm and confident swagger. Whether or not you agree with the shots fired, the track is a bold entry into contemporary rap beefs, continuing TDE’s tradition of sharp, cerebral warfare.
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