Joe Budden has weighed in on Kendrick Lamar‘s claim that Drake is an outsider in Hip Hop, questioning whether the rap star truly belongs in the culture.
The rapper turned media personality once again discussed the recent feud between Drizzy and K. Dot during an appearance on the BagFuel podcast, where he broke down the latter’s scrutiny of the 6 God’s background throughout the battle.
“Culture is where Kendrick was shifting his conversation: how do you dress? Who’s your barber? Are you a good dad? Can you dance? Your slaps? What’s your hood? Did you have a nickname growing up? Shit like that is what Kendrick was leaning into to,” he said.
“Those people, I believe, created Hip Hop,” he added, forming a distinction between the originators and the imitators who merely observed the culture from afar and “wanted some of that.”
While Budden didn’t put Drake, a former teen actor who grew up in a Toronto suburb, in the latter category, he did criticize him for buying 2Pac’s $1 million ring and wearing Cam’ron’s pink fur coat while performing with Dipset.
“Even if that’s not your intent, you gotta know how that comes off,” he said. “I’ve never been around Drake and Kendrick, but to hear Kendrick say, ‘You run to Atlanta when you need a check balance…’
“It’s like, ‘Oh, you noticed that too.’ ‘Cause I noticed that. I get what you trying to say. And you probably the only person that could say it, and it be effective and impactful.”
Budden went on to openly question whether Drake “cares” about Hip Hop culture, saying: “I won’t answer it, but maybe. Maybe.”
He then interrupted his train of thought to anticipate how much “trouble” he’ll get into over his comments.
Watch the segment at the 59:44 mark below.
Joe Budden has been vocal about the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake since it erupted earlier this year.
Last month, he boldly claimed that he helped Kendrick and Pusha T defeat the 6 God.
Speaking on X Spaces, the “Pump It Up” rapper addressed his past feud with Drizzy and said he believes that it laid the groundwork for both Kendrick and Pusha to emerge victorious in their respective feuds with the OVO Sound boss.
“I don’t think any one man takes down Drake,” he said of the perennial hitmaker, who recently became the first artist ever to surpass 100 billion streams on Spotify. “I think I passed the baton to Pusha. I think Push passed the baton to Kendrick. And the job is done now.”
Drake and Budden have an extensive history having traded shots on songs like “4PM in Calabasas,” “Making a Murderer Pt. 1,” “Afraid” and “8AM in Charlotte.”
The long-simmering feud reignited last year when Drizzy sent the former Slaughterhouse rapper angry messages after he criticized his album For All the Dogs.
“Take a chill pill, Anthony,” the Toronto native allegedly messaged Budden, who read out the DMs on his eponymous podcast. “Have a drink. Throw on some instrumentals. Maybe write one of those, ‘Fellas, do your thing, lemme do my thing’ joints for old time’s sake. A little radio play would do you some good, papa.”
Interjecting with some commentary, Budden said: “It sounds like he thinks that this is, like, Views beef time. I want to reiterate: I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I don’t have beef! I don’t even get the message, but cool.”
