What separates JBP is intention. The laughs are real, but so is the learning: marketing pivots, rollout timing, catalog leverage, and how fan communities actually move the needle.
Great pods live or die on chemistry. This one thrives—Joe’s veteran POV, Ice’s angles, Parks’ engineering ear, and the room’s honest friction.
Fresh From Ep. 856 “Pillow Talk”
The episode maps the culture in real time: Young Thug interrogation clips and implications (30:09, 56:38). A candid ethics chat on pillow talking (1:15:00). Legal/media crossover with Cardi B’s testimony (1:34:00). Joe’s review of the Jussie Smollett documentary (1:44:19). Radio business with Funk Flex timeslot news (1:56:21). Album talk for Joey Bada$$ & Westside Gunn (2:09:48). Then curation mode: Kehlani’s “Folded” as the R&B song of summer (2:52:55) and a Mario remix reaction (2:55:05), plus cultural bites—ILoveMakonnen the chef (3:01:28), Cracker Barrel’s logo (3:07:57), and Micah Parsons trade analysis (3:12:40). (Apple Podcasts)
Network Built, Credibility Intact
Creator-owned, audience-centered, editorially fearless—the Joe Budden Podcast Network is a blueprint for sustainable independent media.
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Popular rapper Jeezy and TV personality Jeannie Mai have recently split. It was a major shock as most assumed the couple were extremely happy. Hip-hop expert Joe Budden has reacted to the shock announcement during the latest episode of his podcast.
Joe Budden’s Reaction
The former rapper said, “It saddens me that it didn’t work… But I’m not surprised.” Budden further discussed the controversial comments Mai made on TV previously. The TV host mentioned that she would not date a black guy. “I love Black guys, but for me, dark meat on the side, white [meat] keeps me mean and lean,” said Jeannie Mai.
Jeezy Talks About Jeannie Mai’s Controversial Moment
The talk show host discussed that viral moment on The Real in 2014 with Jeezy born as Jay Jenkins before they started dating. The “Put On” rapper mentioned on The Morning Hustle radio show the pair had that conversation. He went on to reveal, “She said, ‘Listen it was something I said, and it might have gotten taken out of context.'” The 45-year-old concluded by revealing Jeannie said she wanted him to listen to what she meant in its entirety and he did. “I know her family. I ain’t never felt no sense of racism,” Jeezy added.
Jeannie Mai “Wants To Work Things Out”
Jenkins filed for divorce in Georgia on September 14, 2023. The rapper is seeking joint legal custody of his and Mai’s one-year-old child. The couple was married for two years. The filing states the Jenkins have a prenup. A source told TMZ, “Jeannie is holding out hope that he [Jeezy] would be willing to sit down and work things [out].
Why Did The Couple Split?
Rumors have been swirling about what possibly caused the shock split. People started speculating that the TV personality cheated on Jeezy with Access Hollywood’s Mario Lopez. That has since been denied by sources close to Mai.
Jay-Z and Joe Budden during The New York City Hip Hop Summit - Rally for the Repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws at City Hall in New York City, New York, United States. Image source: Johnny Nunez, WireImage.
However, everyone does not seem to want to engage in this exhibit. Media personality and rapper Joe Budden has demonstrated a lack of enthusiasm for the attraction.
Joe Budden “Will Not Be Attending The Library”
Budden spoke out in a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, saying he isn’t interested. Joe did not hold back as the show’s co-hosts tried to sway his mind on this beautiful moment in time. They praised the library lyrics sounding the building and talked about going to the exhibit.
But Joe Budden awkwardly stops the conversation and poses himself with this question, “when do I want to sound uncultured?” Then, prompting his co-hosts to acknowledge that the Harlem native is not going to the museum.
Co-hosts Try To Convince Joe Budden To Attend The Exhibit
The rapper reiterated that he has been to Baseline Studios and sounded very unamused at the thought of visiting “The Book of HOV.” Media personality Melyssa Ford proceeds to ask Joe if he went to the Tupac exhibit in Los Angeles, and the Love & Hip Hop veteran shakes his head.
Co-host Lamar “Ice” Burney describes the “HOV” experience to viewers through the website, which results in Budden dying of laughter. As the episode progresses, Joe Budden seems to just not be a fan of museums.
My Experience
I visited “The Book of HOV,” and I think it is for everyone – even those who are not hip-hop consumers. I learned at the exhibit that HOV is America. It was first a line that I read as I was walking around the library, but then it kicked in.
HOV is America because he is the definition of the American dream. JAY-Z is a man who turned his struggle into riches. The Brooklyn native flipped his entire world around, from living in an apartment with about 10 people to becoming the richest rapper in the world.
JAY-Z’s lyrics outside of the Brooklyn Public Library. Image source: Vhannah Montana.
Joe Budden has responded to the outrage over his condom confession. In a recent episode of his titular podcast, the media personality admitted to having faked putting a condom on before a sexual encounter.
“Even I’ve done walked in the corner and faked like I was putting a condom on before,” Budden admitted with a laugh. “That sh*t be working. They’re none the wiser!”
After Joe Budden went into detail on how he planned to use a lamb-skin condom, one of his co-hosts called him a “sicko”. “Nah, I used to be. Please don’t misrepresent me,” the rapper replied. Per The Shade Room, the episode was removed and replaced by one with no audio.
The issue of “stealthing”
Non-consensual condom removal, more commonly known as “stealthing”, is a punishable form of sexual assault. In some countries, it is even considered to be a form of rape. However, there is currently no law in the U.S that covers stealthing.
But on the other hand, Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed a bill last year which made stealthing a civil offense, meaning victims can sue perpetrators for compensation.
Budden’s confession sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many condemning the former rapper over his past behavior.
“What Joe Budden was doing is called rape. Yes that’s rape,” one person tweeted. Women did not consent to that. That’s wild he is out here not only admitting to it but joking about it. Comments off.”
What Joe Budden was doing is called rape. Yes that’s rape. Women did not consent to that. That’s wild he is out here not only admitting to it but joking about it. Comments off.
Another Tweeter accosted people defending Budden. “It’s n****s saying Joe Budden’s pretending to put on a condom ‘joke’ wasn’t that bad,” they said.
It’s niggas saying Joe Budden’s pretending to put on a condom “joke” wasn’t that bad. Of course it means nothing to u becuz no one is disrespecting ur body or taking away ur right to choose. No one is asking u to open up and share an intimate moment with them, then deceiving u.
— 🔔🅰️ The Brown Betty Boop (@essentialbellz) October 1, 2022
After The Shade Room posted an audio clip of his confession along with some of the reactions on Instagram, Budden issued a response.
“Y’all really want all Black men in jail lol,” he wrote in an Instagram comment. The comment gained over 3,000 likes.
Joe Budden’s history of bad behavior
However, this isn’t Joe Budden’s first instance of toxic behavior in regards to his love life. The podcaster has been accused of abuse in the past by former girlfriends Tahiry Jose and Cyn Santana.
Santana even claimed that Budden played with his dog’s genitals, according to court documents. Budden strongly denied the allegations, going so far as to address them on Instagram Live.
“I don’t f**k dogs,” he remarked on the Live session. “I’m not here to talk to the people who believe I abused the very women I have taken care of. It’s just not who I am. It’s not who I’ve been.”
It’s rare to hear podcasters going out! So when sources unveiled that Joe Budden has a distaste for Adam22, it was a total shock!
As per HotNewHipHop, the rap veteran isn’t too fond of the No Jumper host because of comments he made following relationship expert Kevin Samuel‘s passing. Without considering the repercussions of his actions, Adam22 used the opportunity to share moments from his interview with Samuels. Budden didn’t like this move, and so he vocalized it during an episode of his podcast. After throwing shade at Adam22, he said, “Rest in peace.” Immediately Budden rebutted with “I don’t like what you [meaning Adam22] did after he died.”
After repeatedly calling Adam22’s behavior “disgusting,” the host took time to clear the air. He reasons by saying it’s an “insane position for somebody in media to hold.”
Joe Budden continues, “Somebody dies, there’s a huge demand for that content, you re-upload it, people see it on their subscription feed, they click on it because this is a very talked-about thing.”
However, Joe Budden still wasn’t having it.
“What is your job as a content creator? Your job is to make content and get that content out to the people that want to see it.” After, he stood his stance on Adam22 being “disgusting.”
PC: Youtube
Joe Budden told the audience in a sarcastic tone,
“He didn’t slander his name, he just re-uploaded everything on Kevin Samuels in the moment that he died.”
But Adam22 attempted to save face, saying that almost immediately after Samuels’s death was confirmed, he began releasing clips of Samuels because people wanted to see that content.
Similarly, Budden told Adam22 that his actions were nasty, adding that his actions were for clout before his loved ones were adequately notified. After Adam wonders how he was capitalizing off Samuel’s death if it’s the content people want, Budden tells him that if he wanted to make a difference, then to turn off monetization. As a result, the two continued to go head-to-head.
Before he passed away, Nicki Minaj spoke with dating advisor Kevin Samuels on Instagram Live. They conversed about men, women, and partnerships during their time online.
The Game and Drake in the "100" music video. Image source: YouTube.
The Game recently shed some light on a controversial line from Drake’s distant past. Will it come back to bite, or is it old news?
The Game Explains An Underlying Drake’s & Kendrick’s Fight
You may remember a collab featuring Drake and The Game called “100.” This 2015 single drew some controversy, specifically for Drizzy’s verse at the time. Many rap fans took the line “I would have all of your fans if I didn’t go pop and I stayed on some conscious shit” as a diss to Kendrick Lamar. While chatting with HipHopDX, the West Coast rapper clarified his feelings on the supposed diss.
“I didn’t feel like that, And if I did, I wouldn’t have put the song out.” The Game said. “Like I said, Kendrick’s my brother – I love him too. But if Drake was subliminal and slipped something in, again, he’s one of the best to ever do it, so it’s Hip Hop. Even Kendrick is lyrically equipped to catch any stray and return fire, so I think at the end of the day, it’s all good Hip Hop. It ain’t like Kendrick and Drake are about to go into a street war or something like that.”
He continued to explain his stance on the long-rumored Kendrick/Drake beef, “If Drake was taking subliminals at Kendrick on that song and Kendrick wanted to return something, I think that would be great for Hip Hop. I think that sometimes, rap battles, even subliminally in different songs, are healthy for Hip Hop too. ‘Cause if you think about, or no matter how you think about it, it’s a competition. There’s only one No. 1 spot at the top of the Billboard or the top of any chart. Everybody wants to have it.”
“So, you know, climbing the ladder, knocking people down, kicking people off, it’s just part of the competitive nature of music as a whole,” he finished.
Joe Budden Making Predictions
The Game isn’t the only one gunning for a rivalry between Drake and Kendrick. Joe Budden echoed these same thoughts on a 2021 episode of The Joe Budden Podcast. He believes a blow-up between the Canadian and LA artists two has been brewing, and a line in “Family Ties” was Kendrick’s warning shot.
“Smokin’ on top fives/Motherfuck that album, fuck that single/Burn that hard drive (Burn that shit)”
“Who’s in everybody’s top five?” Budden began. “Are there five consistent names in everyone’s top five? Or are there more like two and three consistent names?”
He proceeded with his point, “You’re falling for the consumer Kendrick trick, And that trick is going to allow him to have a crutch, so when he’s asked about it in interviews, he can give us that same bullshit that he gave us with ‘Control’: ‘Oh, that’s to whoever, take it how you want.’ No, no, no.”
When asked who he believes Kendrick is referring to with “Smokin’ on top fives,” Joe threw Drake’s name in the mix with some sly remarks for good measure. “I have a hybrid strain of Drake and J. Cole a little bit in there. But this is a Toronto mansion, Degrassi special strain.”
He finished his argument with an attitude similar to The Game, almost encouraging the conflict to occur. “This is happening. Armageddon is here. Finally. It’s time. Top can’t save it. Punch can’t save it. SZA can’t save it. Keem can’t save it. They have to collide.”
Not Taking The Bait
Of course, rivalry and competitiveness are vast components of rap music. It’s no wonder the industry’s biggest stars like Drake, Kendrick, or The Game are constantly pitted against each other. However, when The Game was asked to pick sides, he gave a particularly non-aligned response. “Who I got? Lyrically? I don’t know, man. Kendrick is just too fucking incredible,” he answered. “And then Drake is so dope too, man. I mean, I would just like to be a fan of the moment and sit back and watch two of the greatest artists of all time have a go.”
Despite all the buzz surrounding a possible tension between Drake and Lamar, both artists have been quiet. Drake was one of several rappers Kendrick called out in his 2013 “Control” verse. Drake seemed unmoved by the name drop when asked about this in Vibe magazine that year.
“I never once said he’s a bad guy [or] I don’t like him,” he clarified. “I think he’s a fucking genius in his own right, but I also stood my ground as I should. And with that came another step, which then I have to realize I’m being baited and I’m not gonna fall. Jordan doesn’t have to play pickup to prove that he could play ball, no offense.”
Since then, the “Sticky” rapper has kept that word and held his guns regarding Kendrick. It’ll likely remain that way, but there’s no telling what the future holds for rap’s most prominent front runners.
Getty Images for Revolt/Scott Dudelson:Getty Images
Drake recently surprised fans with his latest album Honestly, Nevermind and has both fans and rappers talking good and bad. Vince Staples sat down with Joe Budden on The Joe Budden Podcast to discuss the new album. The conversation started with Budden asking if Drake’s latest LP is a sign of rap music heading in a different direction. Staples then commented saying he got similar backlash for his 2017 experimental album Big Fish Theory. “Music has always been very visual,” Staples said. “When I think about artists, visual things pop up… Michael Jackson it’s the moonwalk and 2Pac it’s a lot of aesthetic things. Of course, it’s the music, but the thing is we’re visual people.” He continued to say “…everything is Instagram, everything looks the same, moves the same, dresses the same and talks the same. The genre shit is going to have to go out the window eventually.”
Musicians Not Sticking To One Genre
Like Drizzy and Vince, many rappers and musicians have had their fair share of experimental songs and albums. Juice WRLD blends both rock and rap within his music and has been received well. In the late 2000s, rap group Shop Boyz also blends the rock sound within their music including the head-banging “Party Like A Rockstar” in 2007. More recently, Beyonce released “Break My Soul,” a dance-heavy track that samples Robin S’ “Show Me Love” from the 90s.
While Drake’s new album has a dance/electronic sound to it, he is familiar with the genre in his previous work. With songs like “Get It Together” from More Life, the record-breaking hit “One Dance” from Views and “Too Good” with Rihanna, rappers and musicians are always wanting to bend the rules to see what fits and what they are inspired by at the time. Both should not be put into a certain box or genre.
Comedian Jerrod Carmichael in his most recent HBO special, "Rothaniel."
Funnyman Jerrod Carmichael is speaking out about the transphobic jokes made by Dave Chappelle and other seasoned comedians. In an interview with GQ Hype, Carmichael talked about the current comedic scene and its problem with “wokeness.” “I actually f-ck with them, and f-ck all those comedians that are going so hard against them,” said Carmichael. The 35-year-old, who came out as gay in his HBO special Rothaniel, offered perspective on the controversy involving fellow comedian, Dave Chappelle.
Chappelle, do you know what comes up when you Google your name, bro? That’s the legacy? Your legacy is a bunch of opinions on trans sh-t? It’s an odd hill to die on.
Jerrod continued, saying that if Chappelle wants that to be his legacy, then that’s his prerogative. This isn’t the first time he’s criticized Chappelle. In an interview with Hot 97, he referred to Chappelle’s multiple specials “about other people’s sh-t.”
Comedy’s Acknowledgement Of Changing Times
While Jerrod may be one amongst the few people willing to defend the sensibilities of the young, other comedians expressed willingness to change. On The Joe Budden Podcast, Katt Williams said he doesn’t believe cancel culture is real. He continued, saying if being not offending people impacts your ability to be funny, then “it probably ain’t for you.” Long time critic of Generations Y and Z, Bill Maher, interviewed Nikki Glaser on his show. Glaser said she has no problem apologizing for hurting people’s feelings. She said, “I don’t like to offend people. It’s really not fun for me.” When Maher objected to this, she reiterated her point. When it comes to the concept of cancel culture, Jerrod said, “These grown men are fine.”
I think, a lot of times, people who offer nothing truthful or meaningful about themselves then complain about society at large and create this boogeyman. It’s like, listen, that’s the most urgent thing in your life? God bless you. I’m tired of hearing it.
However, for every person critical of certain comedians, there are people who are happy to support them. There is no solution to call out or cancel culture in sight. However, whether comedians feel they’re being silenced or not, both sides are using their platform to air their opinions on the matter.
Queens rapper and media personality Noreaga recently went on a social media rant. In his rant, he discussed how people in the hip-hop industry don’t respect hip-hop media outlets enough.
Naturally, he took to Twitter to air out his grievances about it.
Noreaga Sounds Off On Twitter
“I have been the best to this culture. I have always put hip-hop first, and I see [you] guys go to Ellen and David Letterman’s and Zane Lowe’s and treat them with more respect than the culture, but [you] say [you] want Black excellence,” he wrote on May 25.
I have been the best to this culture I have always put hiphop first and I see u guys go to Ellen and David letterman’s and Zane lows and treat them wit more respect then the culture but u say u want black excellence
Shortly after his post, Cardi B fans began to speculate that his posts were about her. The award-winning Bronx native recently did a special with David Letterman for his show Netflix show: My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.
However, Nore cleared the confusion and drama up saying that his tweets weren’t about the “Up” rapper.
“Wasn’t even talking or thinking bout Cardi,” he said.
Love it wasn’t even talking or thinking bout cardi but love the article https://t.co/4JilOrPDh2
“I literally was not talking bout any artist especially any female artist I was talking bout our culture period we control what’s cool not the outsiders!!!”
I literally was not talking bout any artist especially any female artist I was talking bout our culture period we control what’s cool not the outsiders !!!
Nearly five years after their beef, Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks have made amends. Akademiks announced that he and Budden will be on each other’s podcasts later this week on Twitter. “Reunited @JoeBudden,” Akademiks wrote with three heart emoji’s over a clip of the upcoming episode. “Tune into our both podcasts in the next week or so.”
Budden and Akademiks served as co-hosts on the Complex series Everyday Struggle from 2017 to 2018. Budden left unexpectedly and was replaced with Wyano. The change caused ratings for the show to fall and led to its cancellation.
In a Twitch live stream shortly after the show was canceled, Akademiks noted his suspension was potentially caused by calling Chrissy Teigen a “bitch” as well as his feud with Freddie Gibbs.
“It was a very weird moment with the Chrissy Teigen thing, but it wasn’t only that,” he said at the time. “I received calls from them about other content that they felt I probably shouldn’t been engaged in. He later went on to say “I felt like it was a spit in the face when Complex was trying to tell me I should ‘shut the fuck up’ … and they awarded some sort of award to Freddie Gibbs, even though he was saying he couldn’t wait ’til I die so he could spit on my casket. This is what I also said about Everyday Struggle. Joe [Budden] once said it, too, but I also agree: You don’t hire a controversial figure to not have controversy.”
The show was successful among hip-hop fans, generating millions of views through its three-and-a-half-year run. Guests on the show included 21 Savage, Vince Staples, 2 Chainz, Jeezy, SZA, Erykah Badu and Tory Lanez. It also brought some heated debates between guests including the viral videos between Budden and Lil Yachty and Migos. Akademiks also got into it with rapper Young Dolph about turning down a $22 million dollar deal as well as Vic Mensa.
Joe Budden’s Podcast
On his own podcast, Joe Budden has brought up some heavy-hitting topics. In one of his latest episodes, he spoke about what it is to be a superstar now as well as the latest Slaughterhouse project where he also spoke with former Slaughterhouse members.
