The Joe Budden Podcast: Episode 865 | "Titty F***ing Republicans"
Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Joe Budden and co-hosts (Queens Flip, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Ice, Parks, and others)
Network: The Joe Budden Network
Episode Overview
This episode is a classic, high-energy group discussion blending random hijinks, music talk, cultural commentary, and biting humor. The crew dives into everything from Lululemon and lifestyle changes, Super Bowl halftime debates, hip hop (Jeezy, Young Thug), therapy in the Black community, viral streaming cyphers, the Nicki Minaj vs. Cardi B rivalry, Kanye's wild list of "betrayers," criminal justice hot takes, and pop culture moments – all delivered with their signature candidness.
Key Sections
1. Podcast Setup, Lululemon, and Lifestyle Banter
[00:00–10:50]
- The crew riffs on some confusion in the studio, poking fun at each other about the missing and rearranged furniture.
- The group clown Flip for wearing Lululemon ("athleisure shapewear"), sparking a fun, meandering conversation about gym clothes, fitness, and how they got into the brand.
- Marc: “Lululemon is Athleisure Shapewear.” [02:57]
- Flip discusses wanting to hire a live-in chef to support his health goals, while Parks and Joe tease more practical options, like meal prep or trying exercise first.
Notable Moment:
Joe jokes, “My girl wanted to have that conversation. I was being ignorant... I do what I want.” [09:28]
2. Weekend Recaps, Micro-Updates, and Weather
[15:12–19:46]
- Routine crew check-in: cold weather, weekends spent chilling, auto mechanic mishaps, and health (Joe’s swollen foot).
- More friendly ribbing about their laid-back lifestyles and joking about generational Black avoidance of doctors.
3. Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Analysis
[20:00–32:50]
- The news that Bad Bunny is headlining the upcoming Super Bowl is met with enthusiasm (from some), apathy (from others), and nuanced cultural/political analysis.
- Marc details how Bad Bunny’s concert series brings major economic impact to Puerto Rico ($750 million) and celebrates his global popularity.
- The group discusses the inclusivity of Spanish-language music on such a huge stage and the online backlash from those wanting other (specifically Black) performers.
- Joe admits he’s “conflicted,” wanting Black artists but ultimately backs Bad Bunny.
Notable Quotes:
- Parks: “People just live in their bubbles. If I don’t know it, it ain’t popular.” [30:33]
- Marc: “There is no bigger artist. There is no more popular artist.” [30:33]
4. Jeezy & DJ Drama "Still Snowing" Mixtape Review
[34:54–47:30]
- Streets are disappointed: the new project isn’t hitting the old Jeezy vibe, leaning more “grown” and “updated” but losing the classic “trap” energy.
- The crew sings along to samples and jokes about “love” for favorite artists, questioning if and how you age out of being a diehard fan.
- Ice is honest: “When music is bad, I’ll say it’s bad... my favorite artist can put out some bad…” [40:07]
5. Young Thug’s New Album and Atlanta Unity
[47:54–57:56]
- Joe and Parks upgrade their review: the album is better than previously thought but suffers from poor sequencing and a slow start.
- Strong “melodic” tracks in the album’s second half get praised.
- The hosts reflect on Atlanta’s musical unity – like Thug and Lucci dropping records together – while also expressing nostalgia for the Thug-Gunna chemistry, which feels permanently broken.
- Joe: “If you can forgive Lucci but not Gunna on civilian terms, that’s crazy.” [56:03]
6. Black Men, Therapy, and Vulnerability
[61:08–75:39]
- Young Thug appears on the Pivot podcast expressing skepticism about therapy, especially his partner seeking help outside of him. The crew unpacks this mindset, linking it to generational trauma and stigma in Black communities.
- Marc schools the table: Therapy isn’t just “talking to someone” – it's a specific skill. Joe shares how therapy helped him and his partner sort through issues. Flip opens up about his own skepticism, rooted in broken trust as a child.
- Motivational rundown on why Black men must “hold a mirror up,” do the hard work, and not fear therapy – for themselves and their families.
Notable Quotes:
- Joe: “That’s not therapy. That’s just how you’re surviving out here.” [69:04]
- Marc: “Therapy is for people sick and tired of being sick and tired…willing to submit, to say: my way hasn't worked.” [74:11]
7. Viral Freestyle: Kai Cenat’s MafiaThon, Ben The Don, Chris Patrick
[81:21–101:57]
- The hosts celebrate streamer Kai Cenat hitting a million subs, partly through marathon hip-hop freestyle collaborations with On the Radar.
- Chris Patrick (Jersey) and Ben the Don impress heavily – “He’s not a streamer, he’s a rapper!” [82:38] – shifting Joe’s view on streamer-turned-rappers.
- The conversation evolves into distinctions between “broadcaster,” “entertainer,” and “podcaster,” reflecting on the group’s own identities.
8. Freestyle Spotlight: Don Q Goes Crazy, Ab-Soul’s Stumble
[95:32–106:43]
- Don Q catches props for a deadly “When I See U” freestyle – “They've killed people... and got away.” [95:02]
- Ab-Soul, however, blows his anticipated appearance on Kai Cenat’s stream, losing his place early. The crew breaks down why live freestyles are high-stakes and how embarrassing moments can impact a rapper’s attempts to gain new fans.
- Parks: “For someone like him that uses a lot of pockets and tones… sometimes you need the simpler rhyme scheme for these.” [100:12]
- Empathy abounds; the crew credits Ab-Soul's overall talent and expects a comeback.
9. Candid Sidebar: Kanye’s “Betrayers List” and Candace Owens Virality
[111:28–117:00]
- Kanye posts a wild list of “betrayers” (including Harriet Tubman, Donald Trump, his daughter North West, and... Curious George), sparking facepalms.
- Candace Owens goes viral for a suggestive video; the crew jokes about the objectification of conservative women and Republicans in their personal lives.
10. Nicki Minaj vs. Cardi B: The Sales War & Personal Digs
[124:30–140:00]
- [Recap Segment Timestamp: ~124:30–140:00]
- The most heated topic of the episode: Nicki and Cardi’s chart battles, cryptic and not-so-cryptic tweets, and online messiness.
- Cardi tells Nicki to “compare yourself to Rihanna, Taylor, Drake...”—not her—and accuses her of underperforming relative to her class.
- The back-and-forth escalates to deeply personal attacks about family, infertility, and more, to the dismay of the hosts.
- Joe: “Some of the things they’re slinging at each other... I want no part of. Takes away my excitement of them being adversaries.” [128:13]
- The crew debates chart numbers, peer groups, and why social media "hives" force fans to pick sides in a way the Jay-Z vs. Nas era did not.
- Marc: “This new separatism, hive fighting, that’s all social media.” [136:27]
- Concludes: The real win would be a collaboration—if only!
11. Legal Hot Takes: Diddy’s Possible Sentencing & Criminal Justice Ethics
[151:47–162:32]
- Marc breaks down Diddy’s legal woes: though convicted of prostitution-related charges, victim impact statements from Cassie (detailing abuse) could influence sentencing – with prosecutors seeking 11 years.
- The hosts discuss the ethics of sentencing based on uncharged conduct, worrying about fairness and precedent, especially for first-time offenders. Likely, Diddy gets “paperwork trick” time—long sentence mostly suspended with strict supervision.
12. Rapid-Fire Topics & Wrap-Up
[165:07–199:32]
- NYC Politics: Eric Adams bows out, Andrew Cuomo maneuvers, Trump seen as pulling strings by rewarding opposition.
- EA Sports Sold: $55 billion sale to Jared Kushner and a Saudi group sparks debate about American corporate culture, selling out, and creative legacy.
- Baseball: The Mets collapse, the Yankees and Sox miss playoffs—Joe’s heart “goes out” to Mets fans.
- Fashion: Telfar x Timberland collab drops; mid-rise boot expected to be a hit with NYC women.
- TV/Movies: Praise for “One Battle After Another” (Leo DiCaprio), some shade for “Him” (Jordan Peele produced), endorsements for “Black Rabbit.”
- Parenting/Movie Lessons: Flip asks if they’ve ever “forced” their kid to watch a lesson-teaching film—Joe’s answer: no.
- Closing Banter: Playground talk, trampoline parks, and more group clowning as they sign off.
Memorable Quotes
- Joe: “Therapy is for people sick and tired of being sick and tired…willing to submit, to say: my way hasn't worked.” [74:11]
- Marc: “There is no bigger artist. There is no more popular artist.” (on Bad Bunny) [30:33]
- Parks: “People just live in their bubbles. If I don’t know it, it ain’t popular.” [30:33]
- Ice: “When music is bad, I’ll say it’s bad... my favorite artist can put out some bad…” [40:07]
- Joe: “Forgiveness—my God is a forgiving God. If you can forgive Lucci, you can forgive Gunna!” [56:03]
Timestamps Highlights
- 00:00–10:50: Lululemon, chef banter, lifestyle
- 20:00–32:50: Bad Bunny Super Bowl debate
- 34:54–47:30: Jeezy & DJ Drama project review
- 47:54–57:56: Young Thug album & Atlanta
- 61:08–75:39: Therapy talk in the Black community
- 81:21–101:57: Kai Cenat’s MafiaThon, viral freestyles
- 95:32–106:43: Don Q kills, Ab-Soul stumbles
- 111:28–117:00: Kanye's "betrayers" list, Candace Owens
- 124:30–140:00: Nicki vs. Cardi (sales, personal drama)
- 151:47–162:32: Diddy's sentence, law, and justice
- 165:07–199:32: Politics, business, baseball, fashion, pop culture
Final Thoughts
Episode 865 is a showcase of classic Joe Budden Podcast energy: messy, honest, insightful, and hilarious. The crew covers culture, accountability, mental health, competition, music, law, and more. Listeners come away with the feeling of having hung out with their smartest, loudest, most entertaining friends—all while getting schooled on the nuances of the culture.