In a recent exchange of words, Drake fired back at Joe Budden’s criticisms of his latest album, For All the Dogs, and accused him of catering music to a younger audience. The Toronto megastar responded to Budden’s comments, which claimed that Drake was alienating his older fanbase and focusing solely on the younger generation. Drake did not hold back, calling Budden a “failure” and a “quitter.” Taking to social media, Drake commented under a post by DJ Akademiks featuring a clip of Budden discussing him. He wrote, “You have failed at music. You left it behind to do what you are doing in this clip cause this is what actually pays your bills.” Drake advised other artists not to let negative opinions affect their mindset, stating that Budden is a “poster child of frustration and surrendering.” He criticized Budden for switching careers due to financial struggles and claimed his shows attracted a small audience. Drake emphasized that artists should not let the opinions of others deter them from pursuing their passion.
He argued that Budden’s retirement from rap was not due to accomplishment but rather because it wasn’t working for him. Drake challenged the notion that everyone is entitled to their opinion, suggesting that Budden was projecting his self-hate onto others. He highlighted the stark contrast in their lifestyles, stating, “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.” Upon hearing Drake’s comments, Budden responded with a curt statement, “You’ll grow up sooner or later… Father time is undefeated.”
Parks, a member of the Joe Budden Podcast, posted an Instagram Story displaying his engineering credit for a song called “Sandra’s Rose” off Drake’s Scorpion album.
Ebro Darden, a notable radio personality, also joined the discussion, tweeting that Budden didn’t fail at music and can still create music. He suggested that Budden chose not to conform to the “music business game” of chasing charts and staying relevant, while Drake followed a successful formula.
On The Joe Budden Podcast, Budden had previously criticized Drake’s new album, For All The Dogs, accusing him of making music exclusively for a younger demographic and neglecting his older fanbase. Budden expressed his frustration, stating, “[Drake is] rapping for the children… You gonna be 37 years old. Get the fuck away from some of these younger n-ggas, and stop fucking these 25-year-olds… You’re a 37-year-old billionaire.”
He compared Drake’s career trajectory to that of J. Cole, expressing his desire to hear more mature content from Drake. Additionally, Budden criticized Drake for his associations with younger artists such as Lil Yachty and Kai Cenat. He also called out Drake’s performance on the J. Cole-assisted track “First Person Shooter,” claiming that Drake made several mistakes, including letting J. Cole rap first and putting the hook in the wrong part of the song.
Drake continued to troll on instagram:
The exchange between Drake and Budden has sparked a debate about artistic integrity, age-appropriate content, and the balance between catering to different demographics. As the conversation continues, it remains to be seen whether both artists will find common ground or continue to clash over their differing approaches to music.
