Joe Budden Takes Credit For Leading Pusha T And Kendrick Lamar’s Defeat Of Drake
Joe Budden has assumed credit for assisting Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar in their perceived victories in their battles against Drake, boasting that he was the first to lead the charge against the hitmaker.
During a Joe Budden TV X Spaces chat on Sunday (June 23), the podcaster admitted that he believes that defeating Drake was seemingly impossible for one singular person to pull off, as he feels it requires a group effort to accomplish that task.
“I don’t think any one man takes down Drake,” Budden said of the Toronto native during the session. “I think I passed the baton to Pusha. I think Push passed the baton to Kendrick. And the job is done now.”
Joe Budden speaks onstage during day 2 of REVOLT Summit x AT&T Summit on September 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Revolt
Budden’s examination of Drake’s music and lyrical spats with his peers has been ongoing for more than a decade, with both rappers taking shots at the other over years. Drake had choice words for Budden on tracks such as “4PM in Calabasas” and “8AM in Charlotte,” with Budden returning fire with his own retorts, “Making a Murderer Pt. 1,” and “Afraid.”
In 2023, following the release of Drake’s For All The Dogs album, Budden criticized the subject matter on the project, deeming it as immature and being aimed at appealing to “kids.” The New Jersey rep also chided the OVO leader for having romantic relationships with younger women, assertions that Drake took issue with, clapping back at Budden, both publicly and privately.
In one lengthy tirade on social media, Drake lashed out against Budden, pegging the media maven as a “failed rapper” who transitioned to podcasting due to his lack of commercial success.
Rapper, songwriter, and icon Drake attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center on March 16, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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“You left [music] behind to do what you are doing in this clip because this is what actually pays your bills,” Drizzy wrote in reference to Budden at the time.
“You switched careers cause the things that pop into your brain had you broke living cheque to cheque and the raps you write had 450 men showing up to your shows in dusty Enyce jeans to screw up their face to Mood Muzik 29 and pretend you are the goat. Please, to any artist that’s doing what they feel is right don’t let these opinions affect your mindset after the fact… this guy is the poster child of frustration and surrendering.”
The 37-year-old continued, adding, “You retired and we never hung up your jersey. We don’t even remember your number. We know you for doing this…you withdrew from rap not cause you accomplished all you need to it’s cause it wasn’t working for you…”
Joe Budden attends as Hennessy presents a private celebration for Brooklyn Chop House Times Square hosted by Mary J. Blige and music by D Nice at Brooklyn Chop House Times Square on April 25, 2022 in New York City.
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Brooklyn Chop House Times Square
“I never want anybody [from this] generation to think that the whole ‘everybody’s entitled to their opinion’ is a real thing…this is a man projecting his own self hate and the fact I did and continue to do everything he wanted to do for himself. If you need it put in simpler terms I own a 767…he owns a modest house in the 973 and flies first class on special occasions.”
Listen to Joe Budden’s X Spaces session below.
