The Joe Budden Podcast – Episode 868 | "Bad Juju"
Date: October 11, 2025
Main Cast: Joe Budden, Mona, Ish, Mark Lamont Hill, Corey, Parks
Theme: The crew dives deep into recent music drama (especially the fallout from Drake’s lawsuit and industry relationships), new music reviews, culture talk, and spicy hip hop industry rumors. They blend candid conversations about race, business, sex work, family trauma, and the art of “taking the L.”
EPISODE OVERVIEW
The crew reunites for a classic “random friends” episode, blending heavy discussion of the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar fallout and broader rap industry politics with wild sidebars about cars, sex work, new music, sports heartbreak, and cultural norms. They offer their signature irreverent takes—part hip hop historian, part barbershop philosopher, and part hilarious chaos.
1. Opening Banter: Cars, Class, and Street Smarts
Timestamps: [00:30] – [05:00]
- The crew opens with a playful debate on tire insurance, “poor” knowledge, and “rapper poor” nostalgia. Joe jokes about his upbringing (“It’s okay to be poor. Well, no, that is smart, but it’s...poor, too...you was poor, bro.” – Joe, [00:59])
- Ish and Mark reminisce on pothole-induced car trauma and which whips real Jersey drug dealers and rappers actually drove in the ‘90s (E-Class vs. ES, Camry/Lexus debates).
- They riff on who gets to call whom “poor” and the cultural nuances in urban vs. suburban upbringings.
2. Fashion, Partners, and Sports Heartbreak
Timestamps: [05:00] – [07:25]
- The crew bullies each other (lovingly) about fashion sense—shout-out to Parks’ “lady dressing.”
- Mark laments Philly’s epic sports letdown ("Yesterday was the worst day in Philly sports history." – Mark, [05:13]); Mona jokes about pretending to follow sports to blend in.
- Side convos on boxing interest, athlete backgrounds, and “white privilege” trope jokes.
3. On “Whiteness,” Mixed Race Culture, and One Drop Rule
Timestamps: [08:48] – [11:15]
- Mona asks if having a white mom vs. white dad changes your culture: “Mix isn’t really a thing in this country. We do the one-drop rule…” ([09:47])
- The panel dives into colorism and labeling in Black and Latino communities—do you get to say “I’m mixed”? (“We judge people with white moms” – Joe, [09:25])
- Mona: “Red bone” vs. “white girl” teasing, and how social media shifted language.
4. Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar Lawsuit Deep Dive
Timestamps: [19:00] – [45:00]
4.1. The Lawsuit Recap
- The crew unpacks the court’s decision in Drake’s case over Kendrick’s “Not Like Us,” ruled as “non-actionable,” i.e. rap beef hyperbole isn’t legal fact.
- Notable quote: “The judge called it the ‘metaphorical killing blow’...even the judge was getting in his YouTuber bag.” – Mark, [23:07]
- They break down why the lawsuit failed—"no reasonable listener would think Kendrick meant Drake’s a pedophile.”
4.2. Industry Impact: Is Drake Being Punished?
- Heated debate: Will Universal support Drake’s next moves, or quietly sabotage him as “punishment” for challenging the machine? (“He’s not a priority...that’s the culmination of a years-long feud.” – Joe, [34:01])
- Corey and Ish spar over whether labels “gas” records for artists, or leave them to flop. Joe points out how Drake’s singles have faded without label push.
4.3. What Should Drake Do Next?
- The crew delivers tough love: Drop the lawsuit, “take the L,” and focus on making music. (“How you bounce back after a L says a lot.” – Ish, [45:09])
- The “Canadian reading the American room” analogy: “You lost the fight at school and switched schools.” – Mona, [42:55]
5. New Music Roundup
Timestamps: [52:07] – [61:00]
- Mobb Deep Album: Ecstatic review of a fresh posthumous Mobb Deep project: “How could you not want to hear Havoc beats and Prodigy verses?” – Joe, [58:01]; Nas features praised.
- Hit Boy, Alchemist, and classic mob sound celebrated.
- Discussions on Amber Mark, Bia, Black Thought—mini-debate on what constitutes a “one-hit wonder,” and how internet standards have warped legacy (“Some of the best artists in the world you can’t name five songs from.” – Joe, [62:00])
6. Sex Work, Madams, and Hip Hop Rumors
Timestamps: [89:37] – [110:40]
- “Saweetie’s madam” exposé: They break down industry whispers of celebrity “girlfriend for hire” pipelines, share lore about sex work, and debate madam loyalty (“If you got all that stuff out the...then you owe me a kickback.” – Ish, [103:03])
- Consensus: Pay the madam, respect the “game,” and don’t get righteous—everyone knows what’s up! “They love whores. They love 'em.” – Mona, [106:46]
- Mona pushes: “Name another female rapper that’s selling?” The guys clown but avoid naming names (“We’re gentlemen. This is a gentleman’s podcast.” – Corey, [112:43])
7. Law & Order, Street Loyalty, and Prison Letters
Timestamps: [116:07] – [173:01]
- Mark brings up the case of “Stud Face,” New Orleans fugitive; panel debates rooting for jailbreakers (“I be rooting for murderers...unless they do some real heinous shit.” – Mark, [117:05]).
- They highlight how police don’t often pay promised reward money to informants, and explore the snitching code.
- Mark and Mona discuss writing letters to prisoners, activism, and pushing for sentencing reform (from John Forte’s case to broader justice). Joe clowns Mark’s broad activism—“Who else are you writing letters to?” ([171:47]); Mark: “A freedom fighter’s job is never done.”
8. Devil Worship, Witchcraft, and Doja Cat
Timestamps: [178:13] – [183:16]
- Angie Martinez’s recent viral interview with Doja Cat— Angie asks directly about “devil worship rumors”; the panel laughs at Doja’s evasive “word salad.”
- “She didn’t say one thing.” – Ish, [180:57]
- They explore how mystique, trolling, and poor explanations fuel internet conspiracies; Mona notes sex work and “witchcraft” accusations are also common for women coerced by madams.
9. "Fix This Business” – Krispy Kreme’s Collapse
Timestamps: [187:58] – [194:39]
- Krispy Kreme’s valuation crash (from $3.2B to $674M in four years); the group diagnoses the fail:
- “Stop giving out donuts to everyone that walks in!” – Mona, [188:40]
- They propose influencer collabs, expanding the food menu, and selling coffee (“Starbucks started off with coffee. Now you can get a chicken sandwich…” – Ish, [192:44])
10. Cash Money vs. No Limit: The Ultimate Southern Verzuz Showdown
Timestamps: [149:44] – [160:10]
- Hype over the announced “Cash Money vs. No Limit: Winner Takes All” battle in Vegas.
- Debate: “Down 4 My N****z” vs “Back That Ass Up”—which classic wins? Consensus: women choose Juvie’s track every time.
- Rapid-fire rounds on Mystikal, Snoop, Romeo, and who should really rep No Limit.
11. Family Trauma, Secrets, and Therapy
Timestamps: [206:34] – [211:33]
- Listener write-in (“Mr. Nobody”) reveals classic “grandma raised me, birth mom was my ‘sister’” trauma. Crew empathizes deeply.
- “A lie is a lie is a lie… Never let it go.” – Mona, [209:39]
- Advice: Seek real therapy; don’t hold guilt for grown-ups’ decisions.
12. Potpourri: Pop Culture Lightning Round
Timestamps: [196:04] – end
- Mona praises (but is unsettled by) Kris Jenner’s shockingly young facelift.
- Panel discusses watching “Ed Gein: American Psycho” (the consensus—too weird; “Once you start wearing people’s skin, I’m cool.” – Corey, [202:44]); Darlene from Roseanne cited as casting highlight.
- Shoutout to Vince Staples’ show’s return, fresh music from Ran & Preem, and thoughts on how relationships, podcasts, and oversharing mix (“My girl listens to every millisecond of this podcast.” – Joe, [198:00])
- Advance birthday party plans, boxing events, and rest of the crew’s weekend.
NOTABLE QUOTES AND MEMORABLE MOMENTS
- “Y’all ever stab some money?” – Joe, [07:20]
- “You lost the fight at school and switched schools.” – Mona, [42:55]
- “Learning how to take a L is important.” – Joe, [40:31]
- “Pay the madam. Pay the plug. Pay what you owe.” – Multiple speakers, [107:04]
- “Somebody come get their son. I’m in Zen town today!” – Ish, [04:51]
- “Rap beef is not actionable!” – Mark Lamont Hill, [21:51]
FINAL TAKEAWAYS
This episode is a masterclass in hip hop-anchored group therapy, with the crew fearlessly blending deep culture critique, personal trauma, behind-the-scenes industry breakdowns, and relentless banter. The tone pivots swiftly from hilarious to heartfelt and back, providing a rich window into what makes this podcast beloved—no sacred cows, everything is up for debate, and everyone gets roasted.
If you want wild industry scoop, real talk on music and culture, and a uniquely Black “friend group therapy” experience, this is a must-listen.
For segment navigation, the most critical topics begin around [19:00] with Drake/legal fallout and run heavy through the middle hour. Sex work, industry malfeasance, and new music land in the [52:00]–[110:00] zone, with the episode’s signature swirl of sidebars, insight, and jokes throughout.