On The Joe Budden Podcast, Joe Budden addressed the way some Drake fans are trying to control who gets to celebrate his upcoming album ICEMAN.
While Budden has been rocking with Drake’s recent promo run, he admitted there’s a catch. Some fans have been calling him out over his past criticism of Drake—especially during the Kendrick Lamar feud. In response, Budden used a recent episode to push back, accusing those fans of ruining the album rollout by gatekeeping who can show love to the project.
As highlighted by CY Chels on Twitter, the podcast crew got into a full discussion about it. Even though they’re all looking forward to ICEMAN, Budden specifically called out diehard OVO supporters who believe anyone who sided with Kendrick—aka K.Dot—shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy Drake’s music anymore.
The cohosts also unpacked the “stay on that side” mentality, suggesting that some fans are more invested in narratives and appearances than the actual music. While they agreed that Drake faced heavy criticism after the battle, they pointed to their own past praise of the Toronto star as proof that opinions can evolve—ultimately labeling those rigid fans as “stuck” and saying that mindset only harms how people engage with music.
Drake is set to drop ICEMAN on May 15, meaning reactions from The Joe Budden Podcast and the wider hip-hop scene are right around the corner. Hardcore fans will likely keep questioning how the media views him, especially when it comes to those who didn’t back him during his clash with Kendrick Lamar two years ago. Still, if the album lives up to expectations, even critics might have no choice but to give it proper credit.
At the same time, there’ll definitely be listeners ready to tear the project apart—something that’s become routine within these fanbases. The split reactions only highlight how massive the OVO boss is, with online conversations often divided between loyal supporters and outspoken critics.
Meanwhile, Joe Budden has also been dealing with accusations of bias involving Kendrick Lamar. After Daylyt alleged that Kendrick’s team paid Budden for favorable coverage, DJ Akademiks stepped in to question that claim. While he didn’t completely dismiss the possibility, he suggested there are plenty of other factors shaping opinions beyond money or lingering takes from a rap battle.
