Joey Bada$$ has fans talking after performing ‘Song Cry’ following Serayah breakup

The rapper has not publicly addressed Serayah’s allegations or explained why he chose to perform the Jay-Z breakup classic.

Joey Bada$$ has given fans plenty to interpret following the end of his engagement to Serayah, performing Jay-Z’s emotionally charged “Song Cry” during a recent live appearance.

Footage of the performance began circulating online Monday, Sept. 7. “Song Cry,” from Jay-Z’s landmark album “The Blueprint,” is built around regret after a relationship falls apart. Joey has a personal connection to the record as well, he previously interpolated it on his 2012 mixtape “1999.”

The performance comes roughly two weeks after Serayah publicly announced that she had ended her engagement and relationship with Joey, the father of her child. In an Aug. 24 Instagram statement, the actress and singer said she had made the decision after what she described as “repeated infidelity throughout our relationship.”

Serayah said some of the alleged betrayals happened during particularly vulnerable periods of her life, while also making clear that she intended to protect their son’s privacy and relationship with both parents. She said she would not publicly discuss further intimate details of the relationship.

Joey has not publicly responded to the allegations in a statement. That silence has made his choice of “Song Cry” particularly noticeable, although there is no confirmation from the rapper that the performance was meant as a direct message to Serayah.

The timing, however, has naturally fueled speculation. The Jay-Z song centers on a man confronting his own role in the collapse of a relationship, making it an unusually pointed selection given the circumstances surrounding Joey and Serayah.

The former couple had been together for several years and share a young son. They had also presented a united front publicly as recently as August, when they appeared together at Invest Fest in Atlanta.

For now, the performance is open to interpretation. Joey has not explained why he chose the song, and Serayah has not publicly commented on the clip. Her representatives previously clarified that her communication with Joey is now focused on co-parenting their son.