Joe Budden aims to clear up some rumors about Drake's UMG licensing deal, including that a licensing deal means unlimited freedom.

Joe Budden Debunks Rumor That Drake's Deal Means Freedom

On Wednesday (Aug. 21), Joe Budden responded to bloggers and Drake fans who were commenting on the recent news that Drizzy's ongoing licensing deal with Universal Music Group meant The Boy had unlimited creative freedom.

"I wanna let the audience and anybody listening know that that is one of the biggest myths that the music industry is pushing upon naive and ignorant people today, that a licensing deal means freedom," Budden began in the latest episode. "Listen to Joe Budden even if you don't trust me, it does not. A licensing deal does not mean you have freedom to do whatever the f**k you want. Actually, it means the exact opposite. It means, 'You keep it.' That's the label telling you that they don't wanna be liable for none of your sh*t no way. You keep it. That's not where the value is. We're just gonna share in this license. And for us to agree to do that, here's what you have to agree to do and most of the artists cave. That's the negotiating table."

In closing, Budden said artists are being tricked into licensing deals thinking it means unlimited freedom.

"I just think a lot of artists and creators are being fooled with the new word tricks," Budden concluded.

Joe Budden Often Criticizes Drake

Budden's advice when it comes to Drake likely should be taken with a grain of salt considering the podcast host has a longstanding feud with the Toronto rap star. Drizzy and Joe have previously traded shots on songs like “4PM in Calabasas,” “Making a Murderer Pt. 1" and more. Drake most recently came for Budden after the latter criticized Aubrey's album For All the Dogs, and in June, Budden claimed partial responsibility for taking Drake down a notch over the years.

"I don’t think any one man takes down Drake. I think I passed the baton to Pusha. I think Push passed the baton to Kendrick. And the job is done now," Budden said during a conversation on X Spaces at the time.

Watch Joe Budden speak on Drizzy's UMG deal below.

Watch Joe Budden Clear Up Rumors About Drake's UMG Licensing Deal

See a Rundown of All the Rap Beefs in 2024

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0mW9Yr_0v5dP1G000 — Record producer Benzino attends the 47th NAACP Image Awards presented by TV One at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 5, 2016 in Pasadena, California. Eminem attends the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony for Dr. Dre on March 19, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

Benzino vs. Eminem

With a seething hatred for each other that dates back years, Eminem and Benzino reopened their beef by trading a few diss tracks back in January. Em kicked things off with his "Doomsday Pt. 2" track on Jan. 26, which appeared on Lyrical Lemonade's All is Yellow album. Em clowned Benzino for his physical appearance and for being broke, and even made fun of his daughter Coi Leray. ’Zino wasted no time in getting back into the studio.

He dropped off "Vulturius" on Jan. 29, followed by "Rap Elvis" on Jan. 31. Em never responded to either track, and Benzino declared himself the winner of this round on Feb. 1. Benzino then spoke to TMZ in April as the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef was heating up, and personally challenged Em to a rap battle. Em also never responded to that invitation.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3WBN4b_0v5dP1G000 — Metro Boomin and Demar Hamlin attend GQ Sports And ESPN Celebrate NBA Finals at Artspace at Public Hotel on June 06, 2024 in New York City. Rapper Drake leaves Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round between the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on April 28, 2022 in Toronto, Canada.

Drake vs. Metro Boomin

While the beef was brewing between Metro Boomin and Drake in 2023, the producer made his hatred of the latter known in 2024. Metro and Future dropped off their We Don't Trust You joint album in March, which included the infamous Kendrick Lamar verse on "Like That."

Drake then called out Metro on his "Push Ups" diss track, telling him to shut up and make some drums. Metro did just that, returning with a disstrumental titled "BBL Drizzy" in May. The title is in reference to Rick Ross' nickname for Drake and the allegations that Drake had plastic surgery. Metro then upped the ante by hosting a "BBL Drizzy" giveaway, in which the person who penned the best verse over the beat would get $10,000 and a free beat from Metro. The beat itself went viral on TikTok, and on May 24 Drake rapped over the beat for his verse on Sexyy Red's "U My Everything."

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=293wLC_0v5dP1G000 — Ice Spice performs at the Sahara Tent during the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 20, 2024 in Indio, California. Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins of TLC performs onstage with Latto during the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre on April 01, 2024 in Hollywood, California.

Latto vs. Ice Spice

Latto and Ice Spice's rumored feud kicked off in January of 2023, when Latto claimed she didn't know the lyrics to Spice's "Bikini Bottom" song while doing a red-carpet interview. Fans thought Big Latto was shading Spice, and the former added fuel to the fire when she appeared to diss Spice on Offset's "Fine as Can Be" in October of that year.

After Latto continued to shade Spice at the top of 2024, Spice appeared to finally return fire with "Think U The S**t (Fart)" on Jan. 26. Fans theorized the song was aimed at Latto with the bar: "I got my foot on they necks, I can’t let up/She all on the floor, told her get up," a potential reference to Latto’s single "Put It on da Floor." Spice confirmed her new song was about Latto in a Twitter Spaces session in February. Latto fired back with "Sunday Service" on Feb. 14, and recorded the track's music video in Spice's hometown of The Bronx.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Mo2se_0v5dP1G000 — Rapper Drake and his son Adonis Graham watch as the Raptors mascot goofs around in front of them during a timeout in the first half of the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers at Scotiabank Arena on December 7, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. Rapper Future walks the runway of the Boss Fashion Show during the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 on September 22, 2022 in Milan, Italy. Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye attends "The Idol" photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes, France.

Drake vs. Future and The Weeknd

After the release of Metro Boomin and Future's We Don't Trust You on March 22, it was implied that Pluto had problems with Drake by mere association with the album. Metro's dislike of Drizzy was already well-known, and fans assumed Future was mad at Drake too simply because he appeared on "Like That" with Kendrick Lamar and his diss verse.

Fans then began to snoop around both online and through each rapper's catalog and concluded that Drake and Future might have been beefing for a few years. Fans also believed their beef could be over a girl, though none of this has been confirmed.

The Weeknd then entered the conversation on Future and Metro's follow-up project We Still Don't Trust You on April 12. Abel appeared on the song "All to Myself" and took a few shots at Drizzy and his OVO signee Baka Not Nice for being on social media too much.

"Could never diss my brothers, baby/When they got leaks in they operation/I thank God that I never signed my life away/ And we never do the big talk/ They shooters makin’ TikToks/ Got us laughin’ in the Lambo," The Weeknd croons.

Drake responded to the XO leader on his diss track "Push Ups."

“Claim the 6 and boys ain’t even come from it/And when you boys got rich you had to run from it/Cash blowin’ Abel bread out here trickin’/S**t we do for bitches, he doing for n***as," he raps.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0pQw24_0v5dP1G000 — 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.

Rick Ross vs. Drake

While once close collaborators, Drake confirmed in his "Push Ups" diss track in April that Rick Ross was in his sights. Drake had grown frustrated after the Maybach Music leader appeared on Future and Metro Boomin's We Don't Trust You in March, and dissed Drizzy himself on "Champagne Moments" on April 15.

Ross accused Drake of stealing Lil Wayne's flow, and said Drizzy got plastic surgery done in different places. He alleged Drizzy got a nose. Ross is the reason why the phrase "BBL Drizzy" exists. He gave Drake the nickname during their beef. Drake didn't take too kindly to such allegations.

"I might take your latest girl and cuff her like I’m Ricky/Can’t believe he jumpin’ in, this n***a turnin’ 50/ Every song that made it on the chart, he got from Drizzy/ Spend that lil’ check you got and stay up out my business,” Drizzy raps on "Push Ups.

Drizzy fired at Ross again on "Family Matters," accusing Rozay of being on the weight-loss pill Ozempic.

"What the f**k I heard Rick drop, n***a? Talkin' somethin' 'bout a nose job, n***a/Ozempic got a side effect of jealousy and doctor never told y'all n***as," Drake rapped.

The pair haven't traded bars since, but Ross made it clear things are still not cool between him and the 6 God. In June, Ross decided to change the cover art for his "Champagne Moments" diss track so that it was a colorful caricature of Drake.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0kvtQZ_0v5dP1G000 — Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2024 Planned Parenthood Of Greater New York Gala on April 16, 2024 in New York City.

Megan Thee Stallion vs. Nicki Minaj

Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj's dislike for each other can be traced back to 2019. However, things came to a head in 2024, when Meg suddenly came for Nicki's throat on "Hiss" in January.

"Every chance you get, bet your weak a*s won't address me/B***hes swear they G, but the G must stand for goofy," Meg raps on "Hiss."

Well, Nicki did just that, dropping off her "Big Foot" diss track on Jan. 29. Leading up to the release, Nicki continued to tear Meg to shreds in a multi-day social media rant. She was so relentless that fans began to wonder Nicki was on drugs.

"For a free beat, you can hit Megan raw (Uh)/If you a ghostwriter, Pardi in Megan jaw (Uh)/Shots thrown but I still ain't let Megan score (Tell 'em, uh)," Nicki raps on the Tate Kobang and ZellTooTrill-produced track.

Meg has yet to respond, but, likely, this beef is far from over.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=12heig_0v5dP1G000 — Recording artist Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. J. Cole performs onstage during the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 22, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

J. Cole vs. Kendrick Lamar

The short-lived beef between J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar started on K-Dot's "Like That" verse in March when he fired a few strays at Cole for aligning himself with the 6 God.

Surprisingly, Cole was the first to respond to Kendrick in April and closed out his surprise album, Might Delete Later, with the song "7 Minute Drill." The track found Cole criticizing Kendrick Lamar's catalog and his lack of output as an MC. However, the feud didn't last long. J. Cole closed out his 2024 Dreamville Festival a few days later by apologizing to Kendrick for dissing him. He later removed "7 Minute Drill" from DSPs.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3REgjb_0v5dP1G000 — 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. Kendrick Lamar performs onstage with SZA during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 13, 2018 in Indio, California.

Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake

In one of the most high-profile face-offs in rap history, Drake and Kendrick Lamar's bitter feud captivated the world after K-Dot set things off with his "Like That" verse in March. After a few weeks of social media teasing, Drake finally hit back at Kendrick and other foes with "Push Ups" on April 19, followed by "Taylor Made Freestyle" 24 hours later on April 20.

Drake taunted K-Dot on the latter, teasing him for taking so long to respond. Kendrick then sought to quiet down Drizzy with his diss tracks "Euphoria" and "6:16 in LA" on April 30 and May 3, respectively. After Drake responded one last time with "Family Matters" on May 3, Kendrick went nuclear 24 hours later with the release of "Meet the Grahams" and "Not Like Us." Both tracks viciously accused Drake of being a pedophile. Kendrick also told Drake he should die, and accused him of having another secret child. Drizzy bit back one last time with "The Heart Part 6" on May 5. It's been crickets ever since.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0kVsEb_0v5dP1G000 — Recording artist Quavo enjoys a laugh during the third quarter between the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets at State Farm Arena on April 10, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Quavo vs. Chris Brown

Quavo and Chris Brown became mortal enemies after it was rumored Quavo had begun dating Breezy's ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran in 2017. While it remained clear in the years since that the pair didn't like each other, Brown decided to unleash hell on his former collaborator in 2024. The R&B singer dropped "Freak" on his 11:11 deluxe edition on April 11, name-dropping Quavo merely to say he didn't like him.

It didn't take long for Quavo to crank out a response. The Atlanta responded with "Tender," bringing up the Karrueche Tran situation, which caused CB to come for Huncho's throat on "Weakest Link" a few days later. Breezy tore into Quavo on "Weakest Link", and went so far as to say he should have died instead of Takeoff, who was gunned down outside a Houston bowling alley in 2022.

Quavo responded with "Over H*es and B***hes" on April 22, which CB clowned on Instagram for being so bad it didn't even need a response.

"Takeoff rap better," Breezy wrote on his IG Story at the time.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2qUS4r_0v5dP1G000 — Metro Boomin attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. Soulja Boy attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California

Soulja Boy vs. Metro Boomin

Soulja Boy really came for Metro Boomin on May 5 after Soulja uncovered an old tweet written by the producer that disparaged the rapper. It was from 12 years ago. In a rant on X, Draco clowned Metro for the tweet, and wished the producer’s late mother a Happy Mother’s Day. Metro’s mother was killed in a murder-suicide back in 2022, so ultimately Draco’s insensitive rant landed him in some hot water. However, he decided to double down.

"I don’t give a f**k!!!! It’s always cool when a n***a come at me but when I defend myself it’s too much huh?!" Soulja wrote. "F**k that n***a mama!!!!!!!!!! Don’t speak on my name b***ch!"

He continued, "All the streams, sales, money, and fame not gone bring your mom back @MetroBoomin was it worth it? Can say f**k this money and fame s**t and still be a boss can you?"

21 Savage ultimately intervened on behalf of his friend, but soon after 21 and Draco traded a few shots online, the latter realized the error of his ways and apologized.

"I apologize to @MetroBoomin for over reacting over an old tweet,” he wrote on X on May 15. "Condolences to his mom. I’m going to seek therapy and anger management. I’m done responding to hate, new or old."

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3XIKpj_0v5dP1G000 — 21 Savage attends the 2024 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 25, 2024 in New York City. Soulja Boy performs onstage during the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Soulja Boy vs. 21 Savage

After Soulja Boy viciously slammed Metro Boomin on social media, 21 Savage, who is very close to Metro, quickly stepped in. Draco had clowned Metro's late mother, who was killed in a murder-suicide in 2022, and 21 wasn't having it.

"He got 24hrs to delete that tweet," Soulja wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on May 14. He wanted Metro to remove the old tweet from 12 years ago. When 21 caught wind of Soulja's request, 21 replied to Soulja: "Or what?"

The comment from 21 caused Soulja Boy to go on a lengthy Instagram rant targeting 21. The Slaughter Gang leader promptly answered.

"Speaking on a n***a mama like s**t a game you gone s**t on yourself when I see you boy," 21 wrote on X alongside a screenshot of a news article that shows Draco's net worth to be in the negative.

"F**k u and his mama lil boy," Soulja responded. "Nah umma swing on u when I see you lame...21 speaking on my name must be trippin, I cannot be scared of a n**a from Great Britain."

However, Soulja Boy apologized to Metro for "overreacting" a few days later. He said he's seeking therapy.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=079EPK_0v5dP1G000 — Sukihana attends the BET Hip-Hop Awards 2023 on October 03, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Yung Miami and JT of City Girls accept The Future is Female Award presented by Motown Records onstage during Variety's Hitmakers Brunch presented by Peacock | Girls5eva on December 04, 2021 in Downtown Los Angeles.

JT vs. Sukihana

When JT released her single "Okay" in April, fans thought there was one line in particular that targeted Sukihana.

"She ate crab legs, now her whole tooth missin’/Cheap-ass veneers, you stay talkin’ sh*t/Put a marker to this b*tch, she’s so counterfeit,” JT raps.

At the time, Sukihana was behind bars for possession of codeine and ecstasy with intent to distribute. Following her release on April 25, Suki confirmed on Instagram Live the "crab legs" line was accurate, but that she didn't see why JT would attack her over that.

However, JT hopped on X to allege that Sukihana was merely a clout chaser and that the lyrics in question were not about her. JT also alleged Suki showed up to her birthday party uninvited and posted numerous sexual pictures of Suki on X including one of her sucking toes.

“I don’t think I’m better than Suki baby, I AM BETTER THAN SUKI this is not a woman," JT captioned the photos.

Suki then dropped "Cocaine" to respond on May 8. Throughout the track, Suki made fun of JT's appearance, and at one point rapped “You was mad at Ice Spice cause your n***a wanna f**k her." Suki was likely referring to the viral moment at the 2023 MTV VMAs when JT hurled her phone at Lil Uzi Vert for allegedly flirting with Ice Spice.

JT never ended up responding to the diss track and said in a podcast interview in June that she simply didn't "hate" Suki enough to answer.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=22V30P_0v5dP1G000 — JT of City Girls attends the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. GloRilla performs at Target Center on May 14, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

GloRilla vs. JT

GloRilla and JT's beef actually started after Glo claimed there was no beef. The Memphis rapper spit a few bars on her song "Aite" in April to address a rumored rift between her and the City Girls rapper.

"I just pray one day the bad b***hes would come together/’Cause Cardi and Nicki on a track would break some f**kin’ records/ Me and JT ain’t the best of friends but we ain’t beefin’/ Know b***hes always havin’ and that they keep a secret," Glo spit.

JT then caught wind of Big Glo's bars and bit back on Twitter, accusing Glo of promoting fake friendships.

"I been said she didn’t! She the one went radio silent! Played into, released a song about slapping rap b***hes now it’s female unity?? CORNY!!!!!” JT tweeted.

The two rappers then traded a firestorm of tweets, with Glo threatening to show up at JT's "backyard BBQ" to slap her. JT then appeared to confirm a previous rumor that she had slapped Glo backstage at the 2023 MTV VMAs. Glo claimed she hit JT back with her purse, which prompted JT to call Glo a liar. While the barrage of tweets eventually ended, the feud between these two is still alive and well.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2U0XmF_0v5dP1G000 — Cardi B performs onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. BIA performs at the Heineken House at the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 13th in Indio, California.

Cardi B vs. BIA

While BIA once expressed support for Cardi B, the Massachusetts-bred rapper took aim at Bardi after she dropped the "Like What" freestyle on March 1. BIA replied to a fan on X after the fan noted similarities between Cardi's song and BIA's track "I'm That B***h" from a year ago. Both songs sample Missy Elliott's 1999 classic "She's a B**ch." BIA then seemed to shade Cardi in her verse on Dreezy's "B**ch Duh" on April 12.

"I can never turn my phone on just to cry, on a Live," she raps. "I hate a sneaky n***a, pick a side/If you wanna get up with me, tell that b**ch that we’re outside."

Cardi responded in her verse on GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion's "Wanna Be" remix in June. "Hope she talk like that when I see her/B**ch, please, don't nobody wanna be ya/Cheap-lookin'-a*s ho, weak-lookin'-a*s ho/Great Value-me-lookin' a*s ho/Girl, these b**ches be p**sy/Delete-every-tweet-lookin'-a*s ho," Cardi rapped on the song.

Twenty-four hours after the track's release, Cardi then confirmed during an Instagram Live session that she did have issues with BIA, which caused BIA to drop off her own diss track "Sue Mee?" on June 2, followed by some more social media slander.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1FyZI7_0v5dP1G000 — JT and Yung Miami of City Girls attend REVOLVE Festival 2023, Thermal, CA - Day 2 on April 16, 2023 in Thermal, California.

JT vs. Yung Miami

At one point, the City Girls were thick as thieves. While it's unclear where and when JT and Yung Miami's relationship went sour, they made it known in April that they no longer had love for each other.

“A b***h been sneak dissing me for weeks and I ain't say s**t what a b***h mad at me fa?????!!!!!!” Yung Miami wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, seemingly out of thin air. “I ain't jealous of a soul l'm always like go b***h go!!! I clap for everybody I show love to EVERYBODY !! it ain't a b***h I haven't shown love to!!!!!!”

JT responded swiftly and accused her former collaborator of playing dumb. She also said she was unsure why Yung Miami disliked her so much.

“I know I come off crazy but never in my life did no wack shit to this girl she literally enjoys seeing me being dragged when ppl show me love she goes crazy & call it a hate train!" JTWrote. "But like I said we can sit & talk about it! It'll be too much for me to tweet! I will like a sit down.... Caresha please! And this time leave Santana home!"

Yung Miami then accused JT of playing the victim, and said there were two songs where JT was sneak dissing Miami. JT then expressed confusion as to what Miami was talking about. The pair continued to trade shots before Miami concluded by calling JT weird.

"You weird but always wanna act like I'm a weirdo you always mad it's always a problem & all I try to do is push you tell you, you the s**t you can rap, you should model etc!" She wrote. "You always mad you doing your s**t as you should CONGRATULATIONS but somehow you STILL MAD AT!!!!!!"

Apparently they seemed to squash the beef a short time later. However, it's safe to say, there won't be another City Girls album for a while.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2wR4b3_0v5dP1G000 — Rapper Rick Ross walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia. The Game.

The Game vs. Rick Ross

The Game fired some shots at Rick Ross on his song "Freeway's Revenge" in May, but Ross never responded.

"Cut open his stomach and stuff bricks in it/Put his body on a scale like there's fish in it," Game rhymes. "I can see a b***h in him/$20 million home renovation, just to slit your wrists in it suicide/It's a suicide, rip apart the Maybach, I know the truth's inside."

The diss seemed unprompted, and fans were left scratching their heads as to why Game decided to pull up on Ross like that. Game clarified a bit when he called into The Joe Budden Podcast a few days later. He said he dropped the song because he was sick of Rozay trolling everybody.

"A n***a sitting around just trolling, n***a, keep that same energy, n***a,” The Game began. “Bump heads with a n***a that really do this s**t.”