Joe Budden Has made it clear what he thinks about Drake's new album, applauding his rival for the viral Iceman.
On the most recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, shot on Friday (May 15), the show’s host declared it "Iceman Day” and gave his thoughts on the 6 God exhibiting maturity on his ninth studio album.
"I don't take it as 'victim.' It's like, 'Yo, you won. But, now that I gathered myself,'" Budden said, referring to Drizzy’s battle with Kendrick Lamar in 2024 while shutting down the idea that he's playing victim on the album.
Budden went on to call Iceman "Scorpion Jr.," comparing the LP to Drake's 2018 double album, explaining that he feels this was the last time Drake "felt extremely wronged" by a group of people. "Today's Drake on this, right, he sounds evolved from that mindset," he said.
He also compared Drake's return to the forefront music following the Kendrick beef to how Jay-Z bounced back after Nas' "Ether" diss.
Elsewhere on the podcast, which can be seen below, Budden shared how much he enjoyed Iceman intro "Make Them Cry," and claimed that Drizzy took his advice.
"He heard everything that I said. Went back in the lab. Did it. Came out, dissed me, told me he wouldn't cry if I died, all types of hurtful shit," Budden joked around the 20-minute mark.
Drake apparently scrapped another reference to Budden about the podcaster confronting his neighbors and being charged with lewdness in 2024. A source told Budden that the lyric about him being "naked in the hallway" wouldn’t make the album's cut, which he was "happy" about.
Budden also previously commented on “Make Them Remember," where Drake seemingly implied that he and the former Slaughterhouse rapper had been involved with the same woman.
"If he’s doing that, we’re gonna have to paywall," Budden said. "If he’s doing that, we’re gonna have to pay-to-view. … I thought he was going to come with some bullshit, [but] if he’s going to do that on a project?"
In addition to Iceman, Drake surprised fans by releasing 2 additional albums, Maid of Honour and Habibti.
