The Joe Budden Podcast

Episode 854 | "UnEmmy Like"
Released: August 23, 2025
Host: Joe Budden & The Joe Budden Network

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the crew’s camaraderie, the pursuit of personal growth, a playful but pointed discussion of Emmy aspirations (“UnEmmy Like” behavior), and in-depth reactions to a packed slate of new music. Relationships, personal accountability, and creative integrity are threaded throughout. The group discusses everything from their use of language, house-building dreams, inheritance issues, and sibling beefs, to the evolution of hip-hop and the impact of country/rap crossovers. There are heartfelt moments, competitive ribbing, and big questions about legacy and artistic responsibility—all with the signature banter and vulnerability fans love.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Language, Self-Growth & Crew Dynamics

00:00 – 13:30

• Language Accountability: The crew jokingly roasts Joe for his frequent use of the N-word and B-word, leading to a real talk about curbing language on and off the mic.

  “If you wanna cut it down on camera, you gotta cut it down in real life.” — Joe [03:30]

• Friendship & Support: A running bit about checking on each other, with Joe recounting a sweet, funny late-night “just checking you made it home” call.
• “UnEmmy Like” Behavior: Begins the episode theme—discussing the type of conduct that would sabotage (or support) winning an Emmy. The team sets aspirations high but jokes about how tough decisions might be needed for the good of "the boat."

  “If something happens along the way that's unemmy-like…tough decisions have to be made. The boat gets lighter.” — Joe [24:00]

• Team Additions and Show Growth: Acknowledgement that newer crew members brought spikes in numbers and quality.

  “When you and Mel got here, numbers went up…When Mark got here, numbers went up…Everyone brings something.” — Joe [26:20]

• Legacy & Board: Joe discusses the company’s evolution to having a board, meaning some decisions are out of his sole control now.

2. Personal Life & House Goals

28:00 – 53:00

• Adulting & Home Aspirations: The crew dreams aloud about their ideal homes—closet size, building vs. buying, priorities like kitchens and studios, and how much square footage truly fits their lifestyles.
• Intergenerational Wealth: Conversation veers into inheritance, sibling relationships, and the complications that arise from passing down family property/money.

  “What happens if your kids don’t get along? Sometimes, you gotta leave more to the responsible one.” — Ish [54:20]

• Lifestyle and Domestic Humor: Joe delivers classic shoutouts to “all the parents, grandparents, therapists, bartenders...even the uncles family tried to keep away,” blending humor and warmth.

3. Music Deep Dives (Chance the Rapper, Teyana Taylor, Offset, Ghostface, BigXthaPlug, And More)

1:08:00 – 2:36:00

Chance the Rapper — Comeback Album Praise

• The crew gives Chance's new album high praise for its honesty, lyricism, and production—especially following a less-loved previous project.

  “I was one of the first to kick Chance’s last project’s back in. For him to bounce back like this...I couldn’t not have a segment.” — Joe [1:12:00]
  “Boy is dope. And vulnerable—‘I lost the love of my life, now when I’m home alone, I feel dead.’” — Joe, quoting Chance [1:15:00]

• Reflection on why artists often create their best work after hardship and whether the audience is complicit in that cycle.

Teyana Taylor — “Escape Room”

• Theme of post-divorce growth and sensuality.
• Skits/interludes: Some find them immersive, others disruptive.
• Album praised for “blending her sound,” sensuality, and standout tracks with Lucky Day, Tyler, Jill Scott.

Offset — Vulnerability & Accountability

• Offset’s introspective, sample-rich project reviewed favorably.
• Engages deep discussion on relationship accountability:

  “Is it right that we caused all the strife, made her go crazy, and now we say, ‘I’m just trying to move on in peace’?” — Joe [2:10:30]

Other Releases

• Ghostface Killah: New album felt “dope but not exactly ‘Supreme Clientele 2’.”
• BigXthaPlug: Surprising country collabs with Darius Rucker, Jelly Roll, and others, seen as strategic and genre-blending.

  “At first I thought it was odd to make that jump on your second record…but it’s working.” — Parks [2:29:00]

• Mariah the Scientist & Coco Jones: Quality music from women artists is shouted-out (esp. Coco’s "deluxe" and Lady London features).

4. The Industry, Writing Camps & Creative Ownership

2:34:00 – 2:48:00

• Deep-dive into songwriting camps, ghostwriting, and how creative ownership has shaped artists’ careers and finances.
• “Pop vs. Hip-hop splits” – how collaborative writing rooms often create bigger hits and the tension between artistic control and industry machinery.

  “For a lot of the greats, some of them are not matching what their records earned.” — Joe [2:44:00]

• Producer/writing stories (e.g., Usher’s “You Remind Me” needing a real vocal producer).

5. Current Events & Social Commentary

2:53:00 – 3:31:00

• Lil Nas X Incident: Discussion on his recent erratic behavior/public incident—statements about mental health interwoven with jokes about performance art vs. real distress.

  “If he’s under the influence, I hope he gets help…when you get up and walk down the street at 4 a.m. naked, how you look is a big part of it.” — Joe [2:57:30]

• Jussie Smollett Netflix Special: The crew collectively trashes the special, calling out his continued denial as pointless and the whole saga as over.

  “He’s still lying about lying…Just leave it alone. We weren’t even thinking about it.” — Parks [3:13:10]

• Family & Sibling Relationships: Powerful chat about whether family ties can (or should) be broken after betrayals, with Joe getting candid about past rifts and reunification.

6. Trending Topics, Consumer Impact, and Legacy

• Target Boycott: The impact of Black consumer activism on Target and wider implications for where communities spend their money.

  “I like to see the Black dollar take that type of stand. Let it happen more often.” — Imani [3:22:30]

• Prize Picks Sponsor Segment: Omitted per instructions.

7. Boxing & Art vs. Commerce (Tank Davis Debate)

3:36:00 – 3:53:00

• Heated debate about Tank Davis potentially fighting Jake Paul for an enormous payday rather than “real” boxing challenges.

  “If somebody offered me $100 million, there’s things I’m willing to do for it, and things I’m not. Fighting Jake Paul ain’t one I’d turn down.” — Joe [3:48:20]

• Raises recurring pod question: “What’s more important, art or legacy versus the bag?”
• Acknowledgement that every craft—in sports or music—involves a compromise between pure intentions and commercial realities.

8. End-of-Episode Banter / Signature Segments

3:56:00 – End

• Joe delivers classic closing monologue—with shoutouts, reminders of changing seasons, and reflections on legacy.
• Group teases each other about who carries the show when others are away, their friendship lasting despite money or fame, and who would (or wouldn’t) scoff at $1.5M.
• Brief roundtable about weekend plans and ongoing competitions for “Pod MVP.”
• Encouragement, humor, and a bit of legacy reflection to close.

Most Notable Quotes & Moments

• “If something happens along the way that’s unemmy-like…tough decisions have to be made.” — Joe [24:00]
• “When you and Mel got here, numbers went up…When Mark got here, numbers went up…Everyone brings something.” — Joe [26:20]
• On Chance the Rapper’s new album:
  “I was one of the first to kick Chance’s last project’s back in…so for him to bounce back like this…and for me not to have an entire segment…I couldn’t.” — Joe [1:12:00]
• “Is it right that we caused all the strife…made her crazy, and now we say, ‘I’m just trying to move on in peace’?” — Joe [2:10:30]
• “Pop splits vs. hip-hop splits…in the pop world, it’s just ‘whoever’s in the room, we bust it down the middle.’” — Ish [2:44:00]
• “If you love something enough, you want to see it left off in a better place than when you left it.” — Imani [3:50:30]
• “Target’s empty…they went too hard with the DEI, thought they’d be fine without Black dollars. The damage is done.” — Joe [3:22:00]
• “If you offer me $100 million for something I deem doable and not shameful, I’m doing it.” — Joe [3:48:00]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – 13:30: Language Use, Friendship, Crew Dynamics
• 24:00 – 29:00: Emmy Aspirations & Sacrifice “for the good of the boat”
• 54:20: Sibling & Inheritance Complexities
• 1:12:00: Chance the Rapper Review
• 1:36:00: Teyana Taylor & Relationship Album Themes
• 2:10:30: Offset Review — Relationship Accountability
• 2:29:00: BigXthaPlug and Country Crossover Discussion
• 2:44:00: Creative Ownership, Songwriting, “Pop Splits”
• 2:53:00: Lil Nas X Incident & Industry Pressure
• 3:13:10: Jussie Smollett Special Reaction
• 3:22:30: Target Boycott Impact
• 3:36:00: Tank Davis vs. Jake Paul, Boxers & “The Bag”
• 3:56:00 – End: Closing banter, friendship, the “real MVP”, and legacies

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, candid, and emotionally honest.
• Frequent ribbing, playful argument, and vulnerability.
• Blends deep topical dives with impulsive pivots to jokes, memories, shoutouts, and signature bits.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode delivers classic JBP: a blend of real talk, goofy ride-alongs (from bedroom etiquette to Target boycotts), sharp music insights, and the earnest crew chemistry that has carried the pod to Emmy ambitions. The episode is particularly rich if you want:

• A feel for hip-hop’s current moment, album by album
• An honest window into how the pod’s team navigates ego, ambition, and accountability in real time
• Multi-layered takes on identity, family, and the tension between legacy and commerce

Closing Vibe

A soulful, funny, and at times poignant look at the grind, the glue, and the mess that turns a podcast crew into a family—with every lesson and argument measured against the dream of “Emmy-like” greatness.