Big Sean, Joey Bada$$, and Ab-Soul lit up the mics on Season 3, Episode 1 of the Red Bull Spiral Cypher.

Big Sean, Joey Bada$$, and Ab-Soul came through heavy on Season 3, Episode 1 of the Red Bull Spiral freestyle series. It’s dope seeing these middle-tier legends—respected and raw—go bar-for-bar in a real cypher, keeping it sharp but still all love. They each brought that fire energy, flexing their lyricism with confidence. No gimmicks, just straight bars from some of the most slept-on spitters in the game.

Big Sean came in polished, witty, and confident—dropping clever punchlines and slick wordplay with his signature Detroit finesse. His delivery was smooth but packed with intent, showing how he’s mastered walking the line between mainstream appeal and lyrical depth.

Joey Bada$$ brought that golden-era grit. His flow was clean, calculated, and heavy with substance—repping that Brooklyn boom-bap energy. He had a calm presence, but his bars hit hard, reminding the fans he’s always been a torchbearer for real rap in this new generation.

Ab-Soul, the wild card, delivered with his usual abstract genius. He laced the beat with layered metaphors, rhyme schemes, and bars with depth. Attacking the fine line between the back n forth with Joey Bada$$ and label mate Ray Vaughn was a good angle. His style is unpredictable—an MC’s MC who always leaves you thinking.

Together, they didn’t just freestyle—they elevated the art. Pure competition and respect when true lyricists step in the circle: no gimmicks, just bars and legacy in motion.