N.O.R.E. is speaking out about why he chose not to stop or steer the now-viral Drink Champs interview with Kodak Black, where the rapper appeared noticeably erratic and disoriented.
During a recent appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, N.O.R.E. responded to critics who felt he should’ve ended the episode due to Kodak’s behavior. But the Drink Champs host stood firm, explaining that part of his role is allowing artists to show up as their full, unfiltered selves—even when it’s uncomfortable.
“As an OG, I don’t need clickbait. But as an OG in this rap game, I also have to let other people be who they are,” he said. “Like I can’t sit them and censor them.”
N.O.R.E. added that Kodak’s behavior on the podcast isn’t out of the ordinary for him. In fact, he claims it mirrors how the rapper acts off-camera too.
“Kodak Black, I see at the bank every two days. This is what you don’t know,” N.O.R.E. shared. “Like, I see him and he’s crazy. He’s there with no shoes on. I had to let Kodak be who he was.”
Kodak Black’s appearance on Drink Champs quickly went viral, largely due to concerns that he appeared to be under the influence throughout the interview. One of the loudest voices expressing worry was Joe Budden.
“Kodak Black looked like pure shit on Drink Champs,” Budden said bluntly. “And he looked like shit when he was wiggling around on the floor, talking to himself in the dark when his man was taping him… didn’t look the greatest when he dodged that bullet from two feet away that we all watched.”
Concerns about Kodak’s well-being have grown in recent months, especially as his struggles with drug addiction have become more visible. In a recent On The Radar freestyle, the rapper even referred to himself as a “young n***a with a meth habit,” sparking even more public alarm.
