The Joe Budden Podcast

Episode 877 | "What's For You Is For You"

Release Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Joe Budden
Guests/Co-hosts: Flip, Ish, Mark Lamont Hill, Erickson, Tanner, and others

Episode Overview

This episode delivers the signature blend of humor, debate, pop culture takes, and behind-the-scenes dynamics that have made the JBP a cultural staple. The crew returns for a chaotic but thoughtful discussion on accountability, career moves, financial literacy, pop culture news, and the meaning behind “what’s for you is for you.” Notable moments include candid group therapy about professionalism, a deep dive on the “meant for you” philosophy, sports, music industry dramas, and passionate tangents about aging, financial pitfalls, and pop legends.

Key Segments & Timestamps

1. Opening ​& Flip’s “Performance Review”

• 00:00 – 09:00
• The podcast starts with classic banter as Flip and Joe recount a recent meeting—essentially, Flip’s “performance review”—with Joe and Ian (the business manager) about showing up, paying attention, and accountability on the pod.
• Notable Quote:
  “Whatever I say to you is from a place of love.” – Joe (03:20)
• Flip jokes about being called out for zoning out on his phone, highlighting their collaborative (and sometimes theatrical) approach to managing each other.

2. Team Chemistry & Life Updates

• 09:00 – 19:00
• The crew shares laughs about food, birthdays, heaters, and weekend adventures. Highlights: Erickson’s face in Times Square for Levi’s, Times Square “billboard dreams,” and tales of hangover recovery.
• Notable Quote:
  "When y’all shoot at me on air, I beat." – Joe (01:19)
• Notable Moment:
  The guys lampoon each other's fashion (“$150 pants” and “Army Navy store fatigue talk”).

3. Live Events & “Tonight’s Conversation”

• 19:00 – 29:00
• Discussion about the huge success of the “Tonight’s Conversation” live shows, featuring Mona and others, selling out the Javits Center, and musings on the business of live podcasting.
• Insight: Reflects on the rising value of independent, personality-driven touring shows.

4. “What’s For You Is For You” Philosophical Breakdown

• 29:00 – 36:00
• The hosts debate the personal responsibility and accountability beneath the phrase "what's meant for me is meant for me." Flip and Mark critique (and defend) the idea: Is it spiritual acceptance or an excuse for bad decisions?
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Sometimes you gotta stand in it... or the blessing might show itself later.” – Tanner (29:32)
  • “Some people use it as a crutch and as an excuse to not take accountability.” – Mark Lamont Hill (31:27)
• Joe talks about the realities of being “content” in the content business and public perception during career transitions.

5. Aging in the Spotlight & Celebrity Health

• 36:00 – 41:00
• The group shares somber laughs about seeing their favorite actors (Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, Tim Curry) age; reflections on privilege, health, and “making it” to 88.
• Notable Quote:
  “You think they have all this money that they could preserve or live longer…” – Flip (37:46)
• They joke about being “The Rolling Stones of podcasting” in seven years.

6. Max B’s Release & The Return Home After Prison

• 40:00 – 48:00
• Celebration of rapper Max B’s release after 16 years; discussion of adjusting to freedom (food, family, jewelry, music plans).
• Method Man’s new role as a Jets photographer is noted with amusement.
• Notable Quote:
  “You do 16 years, you do what the fuck you want.” – Joe (40:26)
• Passionate debate: What’s the first thing you’d do upon release – food, sex, home, or get “dripped out”?

7. Music Industry, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Salt-N-Pepa

• 51:30 – 59:45
• Deep dive into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Outkast tribute mishaps (Doja Cat flubs Ms. Jackson lyrics; Tyler, the Creator praised), Salt-N-Pepa’s legal battles for their masters, and music industry exploitation.
• Notable Quote:
  “What a man, Shoop, Push It, all that—smash hits. And they can’t even get their streaming revenue!” – Joe (57:24)
• Mark and Ish break down the 35-year rule for regaining music rights.

8. Financial Illiteracy, Career Pitfalls, & Sebastian Telfair’s Documentary

• 87:20 – 103:10
• Sebastian Telfair’s tragic “back in the projects” documentary clip prompts a somber conversation about financial literacy, planning for a fall-off, and the traps of loyalty, lifestyle inflation, and economic disadvantage.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “If you can’t afford to buy it twice, don’t buy it once.” – Mark (95:30)
  • “You might got a $2,000 coat in your closet, but you still in the PJ’s.” – Tanner (102:13)
• Honest advice: The difference between owning and renting, and the illusion of “making it” without mindset change.

9. The 50-Year Mortgage Debate

• 103:10 – 107:59
• Ish provides a real estate primer as Trump proposes 50-year mortgages; crew agrees it’s a band-aid for a deeper housing affordability crisis.
• Notable Quote:
  “It’s a mask and some paint over a bigger problem.” – Ish (105:37)

10. Wrestling & Westside Gunn’s WWE Ejection

• 127:08 – 137:13
• Westside Gunn ejected from WWE after building his own wrestling brand, Fourth Rope, despite being a superfan. The guys dissect loyalty, “competition,” and WWE’s history of shutting out grassroots influence.
• Notable Quote:
  “You can’t start competition and then come here like you my comp.” – Ish (129:13)

11. Stephen A. Smith vs. Michelle Beadle & Commentary Culture

• 153:01 – 170:12
• Mark summarizes the ESPN drama as Michelle Beadle and Stephen A. Smith exchange jabs. Kerry Champion weighs in, prompting a nuanced debate about workplace politics, race, gender, pulling coworkers up privately vs. publicly, and the “company man” paradox at ESPN.
• Key Quotes:
  • "I pray for the downfall…I really…it’s going to be amazing." – Michelle Beadle (156:47)
  • “I haven't said a word about her EVER, because I don't know her.” – Stephen A. Smith (161:46)
  • “If you gonna pull me up in public and I just spoke to you…Why didn’t you say it to me on the phone?” – Tanner (168:09)

12. Final Topics: Summer Walker, Wale, & “Drake’s 4:44”

• 143:03 – 147:54 (Summer Walker Album Preview)
  • Review of Summer’s new album feature list (Tables 1–5), excitement for its drop, and sales projections.
• 193:15 – 197:31 (Drake “Fix This Business”)
  • A fan asks if the crew would want Drake’s version of 4:44 or a more grown, introspective album. The resounding answer: YES, but only if he’s truly ready for vulnerability and self-critique.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Some people use ‘what’s for me is for me’ to avoid accountability. It’s a crutch.” – Mark Lamont Hill (31:27)
• “Yo, it was a stretch where I was using strawberry banana Naked to chase a cigarette.” – Joe (179:00)
• “You might have a $2,000 coat in your closet, but you’re still in the PJ’s.” – Tanner (102:13)
• “If you can’t afford to buy it twice, don’t buy it once.” – Mark (95:30)
• “Give me three years…The media in New York is so powerful.” – Tanner on coaching in NY (78:09)
• "Sometimes the blessing comes later, you just gotta stand in it." – Flip (29:18)
• “Big up to Max B...16 years, you do whatever the fuck you want.” – Joe (40:22)
• “I paid my car off…and I’m just like, look at our mentality. When I was broke, I needed the new whatever. Now I’m like, this ‘21 still rides great.” – Joe (116:23)

Tonal Highlights

• Unfiltered banter: Regular raunch, inside jokes, and “bullets” between friends.
• Honesty about struggles: Financial setback, emotional fallout, regret, and humility underscored advice in real estate, music, and personal life.
• Cultural critique: The team refuses to romanticize struggle but also acknowledges how easy it is (for anyone) to fall off, and how hard it is to actually change.
• Pop culture deep cuts: George Michael vs. Cindy Lauper as a Verzuz, Max B’s parole, “Tonight’s Conversation” blowing up the live show model.
• Vulnerability masked with humor: From Flip’s performance talk to reflecting on aging in the limelight, the guys use jokes to process real stuff.
• Accountability — for themselves and for the culture — is a recurring theme, deeply explored but never without levity.

Closing Thoughts

The episode wraps up with reminders to plan for rainy days, “work smarter, not harder,” and appreciate moments and each other. In true JBP style, the crew closes by riffing on classic soul and pop, poking fun at each other, and letting the vibes carry listeners through both laughter and reflection.

For those who haven’t listened:
This episode is quintessential JBP — by turns hilarious, sincere, cutting, and insightful, with every segment carrying lessons (sometimes hard-learned) about life, ownership, and what it means to be accountable for your own journey.

Recommended Segments:

• Flip’s performance review and accountability (00:30–09:00)
• The “what’s meant for you” life philosophy debate (29:00–36:00)
• Sebastian Telfair/fall-off discussion (88:00–103:00)
• Def Jam and music business breakdown (149:00–153:00)
• Stephen A. Smith vs. Michelle Beadle segment (153:00–170:00)
• Summer Walker/Wale/Drake discussion (143:00–147:54; 193:15–197:31)

(“None of this is possible without y’all.” – Joe Budden, 15:24)