Pushing Boundaries and Burning Bridges: The Most Controversial Moments in Joe Budden's Career

Rapper-turned-podcaster Joe Budden is no stranger to public controversy. The media personality has carved out a unique career as a hip-hop commentator with his highly popular show, The Joe Budden Podcast.

From his early days as an MC to his current role as a leading voice in podcasting, Joe’s career has been marked by evolution and scandal. The New York native’s career began in the 2000s with his self-titled debut album.

The album featured the hit single "Pump It Up," which catapulted Joe into mainstream success. Per the RIAA, the single has sold more than 500,000 units since its release – becoming Joe’s most successful track.

Now, Joe is a prominent voice in the media. His podcast and social media accounts have a large following, and his opinions often land him in hot water. Here is a breakdown of Joe’s most controversial moments.

In 2016, Joe found himself embroiled in a high-profile feud with Drake. The conflict began when Joe criticized Drake's music on his podcast, leading to a series of jabs exchanged between the two artists.

The feud reached its peak when Joe released two diss tracks, "Making a Murderer (Part 1)" and "Wake," slamming the Canadian rapper. Their beef has never let up. Joe Budden slammed Drake’s For All The Dogs album in 2023, and Drake responded by calling Joe a musical “failure,” per Billboard.

One of Joe’s earliest clashes occurred in 2009 during a concert in New York City. The rapper, known for his unfiltered opinions, engaged in a heated exchange with Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon backstage. The altercation allegedly stemmed from Budden's criticism of Raekwon's groupmate, Method Man, on social media. According to XXL, Joe was punched by a member of Raekwon’s entourage.

In 2012, Joe Budden took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to pay tribute to the late Eddie Murphy – except he is still alive. “RIP Eddie Murphy. Another legend gone,” the rapper tweeted. A while later, Joe issued an apology – admitting that had fallen victim to an unconfirmed internet hoax.

Joe Budden makes no secret of his feelings, and he is not afraid to act on them. In 2012, the “Pump It Up” rapper kicked a fan out of his concert for tweeting about him during the show.

“I wish this picture really captured how dead it is in here at this Joe Budden concert,” a fan tweeted, alongside a photo of Joe’s concert (via Hip Hop Wired). Joe allegedly caught wind of the tweets and instructed his security team to remove the concertgoer.

Joe Budden’s antics landed him in hot water after he was accused of sexual assault by a former Joe Budden Network employee Olivia Pope. Olivia’s podcast, See, The Thing Is, was housed on Joe’s network and he was often present during tapings.

According to Olivia, the rapper harassed her repeatedly during a January 2021 show – per Hot New Hip Hop. Joe later apologized for “upsetting” Olivia, and he promised to remove the episode from platforms.

One of Joe Budden's most memorable spats occurred during the 2017 BET Awards. As a co-host of Complex's Everyday Struggle at the time, Joe was conducting a red-carpet interview with the Migos alongside his fellow hosts DJ Akademiks and Nadeska Alexis.

However, Joe got frustrated after Akademiks gushed over the group, and he walked off the set. The moment prompted a tense response from Migos, but the drama de-escalated before things got physical.