The Joe Budden Podcast

Episode 915 | "21 Shots"

Release Date: March 28, 2026
Podcast Network: The Joe Budden Network

Episode Overview

Episode 915, titled "21 Shots," brings the full Joe Budden Podcast crew together for another high-energy and hilarious round-table. With the entire gang present—Joe, Parks, Ish, Ice, Queenzflip, and Damona, plus guests B Dot and Mark Lamont Hill—the episode plays out as a three-hour stream of random, thoughtful, and often wild discussions. The crew cycles through everything from strip club banter and viral health trends, to in-depth music reviews, cultural commentary, and lots of friendly (sometimes rowdy) debate. The headline topic is the R&B "Verzuz" battle between Tank and Tyrese, but the episode also takes memorable detours into relationships, masculinity, discipline, and the politics of feminism. Sprinkled throughout are music reviews, pop culture hot-takes, and comedic moments that showcase the unique chemistry and chaotic friendship of the cast.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Tone: Friendship and Humorous Tension

[00:32–05:20]

• The episode begins in comedic chaos, with the crew joking about seats in the studio and their playful turf wars. B Dot is teased for being too comfortable in someone else’s seat.
• There’s friendly trash talk about clothes, colors, skin tones, and who is the “prettiest” in dark or light colors, with playful blocks and mock jealousy.
• Flip checks in, adding to the running banter:
  • Flip: "I'm just paying attention to what's going on. There's a lot of effery...knuckle sandwiches!" (04:31)
• Joe admits he has a “dumb question” and shifts the mood with an explicit sex conversation, typical of the show’s irreverent, anything-goes early minutes.

2. Viral Health Trends & Masculinity

[06:08–10:00]

• Mark introduces the recent viral claim that men should ejaculate “at least 21 times a month” to prevent prostate cancer.
  • Mark: "They were saying the way to prevent prostate cancer is to ejaculate at least 21 times a month. Did y'all see the story?" (07:08)
• The crew debates the logic, brag about (or question) their own “numbers,” and crack on who uses “the hand” versus partner sex.
• Jokes abound about whether partners feel threatened by masturbation:
  • Joe: “She be relating it to my sex drive…It’s different, yo.” (09:36)
• They blend medical banter with their own sex/life stories, highlighting the gender divide over how men and women perceive solo sex.

3. Relationships: Sex, Partners, and Performance

[10:16–12:17]

• Conversation expands to the workout value of sex:
  • Joe: “I worry about my Apple Watch. Count my calories. Count my thrusts.” (11:00)
• Jokes about whether women put in equal “work” during sex and the double standard about riding during sex.
• The group discusses the different effort levels and growing “sex stamina” as people age.
  • Joe: “Sex wears me out. I don’t know how y’all do that.” (10:16)

4. Highlight Topic: Tank vs. Tyrese Verzuz Recap

Initial Thoughts and Crowd Reception

[27:06–50:35]

• The heart of the episode is a lengthy and animated review of the R&B Tank vs. Tyrese “Verzuz” battle.
• Joe and the crew break down song-for-song, performance-for-performance, examining what worked (Tank’s energy, features, band) and what didn’t (Tyrese’s song choices, crowd reaction, wardrobe choices).
  • Joe: “I think that Tank is going to completely put belt to ass on Tyrese…He was gonna kill him.” (29:30–32:02)
  • Imani: “Tank mopped the floor at a certain point but I really came up here to say I’m disappointed with this whole Verzuz, period.” (37:07)
• Notable moments include Tyrese’s on-stage insecurity, wardrobe jokes (“turtleneck’s gonna hurt him on TikTok for a month”), and Trey Songz’s random sweatsuit cameo.
  • Joe: “Trey looked a mess, dog...He was dressed for Roscoe's.” (51:13)

Behind-the-Scenes: Tank Calls In

[59:03–67:37]

• Joe calls Tank, who graciously speaks about his process, rehearsals, letting Tyrese be comfortable, and the “Turtleneck” viral moment.
  • Tank: “That whole opportunity was not necessarily me versus Tyrese, but an opportunity for me to show the world who I am and what I do.” (60:28)
  • On bringing background singers over from Tyrese’s band:
    “It all became, let’s make Tyrese comfortable for Verzuz.”
• The “Turtleneck” song is further hyped, with the crew demanding the official version.

Crew’s Takeaways & Broader R&B Commentary

• Tank wins the crew’s respect for professionalism, while Tyrese is (somewhat sympathetically) roasted for appearing unprepared and outclassed.
• Broader commentary on how some artists “don’t know their catalog,” and what these battles say about live performance in R&B today.
• They rank this Verzuz among other lopsided matchups, but agree nothing compares to Dipset vs. The Lox.

5. Music Reviews & Hip-Hop/R&B Discussion

[74:35–89:26]

• Reviews of new drops:
  • Fetty Wap’s "Xavier": Praised for R&B-leaning tracks; crew highlights "Spot Back."
  • Juvenile’s "Boiling Point": Described as “jazzy” and strong, with standouts and Birdman features.
  • Central C, Jesse Reyez, and more briefly covered; Parks mentions enjoying Jesse Reyez’s EP.
• Locks (The Lox) New Single: Played and celebrated—Chic, Styles, and Jaheim are praised in particular.
• Jazzy's new album: Joe gives high praise—"absolutely tough," with a focus on R&B and his appreciation for getting album links early.

6. Relationship and Social Topics

Wingman Conversations & Gender Banter

[93:32–98:21]

• Extended jokes and debate about who's the best wingman, what makes a good one, and playful rivalries about “pulling women.”
• Comedic gender/sexuality gamesmanship between Joe, Flip, Ish, B Dot, and Damona.

Parenting & Discipline

[99:10–111:51]

• The group delves into the topic of hitting children and old-school discipline vs modern parenting.
  • Flip: “I went to a school that whooped my ass…with rulers.” (102:19)
• Mark argues against corporal punishment, citing research and generational change.
  • Mark: “I disagree with that position. I think it's wrong to, to, to beat kids.” (104:44)
• Damona and Joe add their perspectives on growing up in environments where “the village” collectively disciplined children.

Feminism and Masculinity

[183:58–188:43]

• The question of whether men can (or should) call themselves feminists leads to a feisty, layered debate.
  • Mark: “Being uncomfortable with the word ‘fem’ is part of the problem…feminist just means ‘supporter of women’s rights.’”
  • B Dot: “We need a different word, it just sounds crazy with ‘fem’ for men.”
• The crew hashes out language, labels, and the cultural baggage associated with supporting women’s equality, with Mark championing a universal, not gendered, definition.

7. Viral, Political & Pop Culture News

Usher’s Statement on Diddy (Sean Combs)

[123:10–128:17]

• Analysis of Usher’s nuanced public defense of Diddy amid controversy.
  • Usher: “My experience was not what the world has seen…and I can’t, with any sense of humanity, not recognize the valuable contributions that this man made for us as black entrepreneurs.”
• The crew critically discusses whether Usher’s position was honest, respectful, or dismissive of victims’ experiences.
  • Mark: “It felt like a five-minute straw man…You’d almost think Puff was mistreated.”

Bob Barker Documentary

[137:17–153:04]

• Discussion of the “Dirty Rotten Scandals” docuseries and revelations about Bob Barker’s racism, sexism, and the exploitative environment of "The Price is Right".
  • Joe: "Bob Barker would only allow two black people on the show at a time...when a black contestant came out, he would, like, run from them." (144:26)
• Side debate on forgotten TV hosts (Richard Dawson, Ray Combs) and nostalgia for 80s/90s daytime television.

Divorce Settlements: Kandi Burruss & Todd Tucker

[153:39–162:41]

• Detailed rundown of the Buzz-heavy divorce settlement (cars, cash, restaurant ownership), what’s fair in celebrity splits, and the difference in public perception if genders were reversed.
• Joe and Ish discuss men “not wanting to look like a bitch” by seeking spousal support, but Mark argues for men’s equal financial rights after marriage.

Air Travel Mayhem & TSA (Tyler Perry Anecdote)

[166:27–168:24]

• Joe notes how boyfriends online are more vocal than girlfriends about their partners being stranded due to flight cancellations—suggesting women keep their actions more private.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joe: "It's not serious. It's not real. No one is exposing, revealing, indicting, or telling you anything about themselves. Enjoy the show." (00:00)
• Flip: “I'm just paying attention…There’s a lot of effery going on. Sandwiches for all you. Sandwiches!” (04:32)
• Mark: “I disagree with beating kids—I think it’s wrong to beat kids.” (104:44)
• Joe (re: Tyrese): “He seemed more insecure than I have ever seen him before.” (42:19)
• Tank (call-in): “That opportunity was not necessarily me vs Tyrese, but an opportunity for me to show the world who I am and what I do.” (60:28)
• On Usher’s Diddy comments:
  • Joe: “That shit sounds like J. Cole’s second thought.” (123:56)
  • Mark: “A lot of people don't expect their friends to trash them in public. That's not what I'm asking.”
• On the Bob Barker doc:
  • Joe: “He had the nerve to live a nice, healthy, long life of racism.” (145:36)
• On men being feminists:
  • Mark: “The idea that a man is uncomfortable being attached to ‘fem’… is itself part of the problem.”
• On Kandi’s divorce:
  • Joe: “15 days is very, very low. Like, normally it’s 90 days. You’re trying to be a dick.” (155:19)
• Mark (on rage bait): “All y’all do that, right? ... You fall for rage bait?” (206:54)

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |---|---| | 00:32–05:20 | Opening banter, seat wars, strip club weekend | | 06:08–10:00 | “21 shots”/prostate health & sex conversation | | 27:06–50:35 | Tank vs Tyrese Verzuz breakdown | | 59:03–67:37 | Tank call-in; background on rehearsal & showmanship | | 104:44–111:51 | Parenting, discipline, and spanking debate | | 123:10–128:17 | Usher on Diddy—public statement analysis | | 137:17–153:04 | Bob Barker doc, Price is Right racism stories | | 153:39–162:41 | Kandi Burruss/Todd Tucker divorce settlement | | 166:27–168:24 | Airport strike, Tyler Perry, and partner loyalty | | 183:58–188:43 | “Feminist” language & masculinity debate | | 204:09–208:17 | Drew Ski’s “white face” skit and political rage bait discussion |

Closing & Final Notes

• The crew jokes about their weekend plans and wraps with genuine camaraderie, teasing, and a Motown musical tribute.
• Joe urges listeners: “Life is a series of moments…and moments pass. So let’s make this one last as if it's all we have...”

Summary: Why You Should Listen

Episode 915 is The Joe Budden Podcast at its fully-chaotic, hilarious, and sneakily insightful best. Whether you care about R&B, hip-hop, or just want to hear brilliant personalities argue, reminisce, and roast each other, you'll get laughter, real debate, and plenty of memorable cultural commentary—with some wild sex jokes along the way.