“I’ve Been Better Than You This Entire F**ing Decade”: Joe Budden Warns Eminem He Doesn’t Want It With Him, Says It Wouldn’t Fare Well For The Rapper

There was a time when things were good with Joe Budden and his Slaughterhouse family, who were signed to Eminem’s Shady Records.  Although things didn’t quite all the way pan out between the collective, Joe has remained impartial to the music released by them, as he’s been much more of a media personality/podcaster since retiring from rap.  Budden has gone on record many times to give the Detroit rapper his respect, labeling him as one of the greats, but at some point, he changed his tune.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JBN x JBP | EP at Revolt (@joebudden)

While Budden was a host on Complex’s Everyday Struggle he would debate with then co-host DJ Akademiks on various music topics, including artists.  Joe would stand in defense of Eminem whenever his music was criticized, giving his honest opinion.  It wasn’t until Em released his single “Walk On Water”, which didn’t get a great critical response, that Budden would begin to change his tune.   However, it was when Eminem released “Untouchable” that Budden wouldn’t allow his honesty to fail him, as he labeled it “trash” and “one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard.”

“This is the first time in my life that I feel like the ball is being dropped on Eminem,” he said.  “It seems like you are taking the very common water-cooler conversation today of racism, which I hold near and dear to my heart,” he says, directing his comments to Em. “So for this s**t to look like this, I’m putting this on somebody on his team, because this is disgraceful.”

This seemed to be the inception of their beef, as Eminem and his team didn’t seem to take lightly to Joe’s comments, both on the Complex show (which he has since left) and on his own Joe Budden Podcast.  When the rapper released his Revival album, many critics and fans trashed the album, leading him to release a single “Chloraseptic Remix” featuring 2 Chainz and Phresher.  His verse in the song featured lyrics aimed against fans, critics, social media, Akademiks, and potentially Budden for the lukewarm response to the album.  

It wasn’t until Eminem released his album Kamikaze where he decided to formally address Budden on two songs.  On “The Ringer”, he rapped: “I’m sorry, wait, what’s your talent? Oh, critiquin’ / My talent? Oh, b***h, I don’t know who the f**k y’all are.” Later, on “Fall”, he added: “Somebody tell Budden before I snap, he better fasten it/Or have his body baggage zipped/The closest thing he’s had to hits is smacking b******s.”

The retired rapper decided to unleash a barrage of fiery opinions toward Eminem on his podcast.  “Since you’ve been in this megastar cocoon. That’s what happens to the megastars, y’all stay in cocoons. you popped off quick,” he began. “They sheltered you your whole career. Who was selling records like that? You superstar n****s been sheltered and bored. Machine Gun Kelly is right. Y’all been slaves to your own superstardom,” he said referring to the beef Eminem shares with rapper MGK.

“I heard the album,” Joe continued, as he addressed Em directly, “and because I don’t think you know all the members that were in the group, I don’t really think you know our history. Let me tell you what Joe Budden has thought this entire time. I’ve been better than you this entire f******g decade!”

Budden went on to give what he feels is the difference between the two of them.  “In my rapper brain, I’m a content n***a. You gotta say something. You have not said anything for the better part of a whole decade. You have rhymed a bunch of words.” he claims. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JBN x JBP | EP at Revolt (@joebudden)

Perhaps all of this may be what brings the rapper out of retirement, as he warned Em that he “lives for this type of s**t.”  “All of that rappity-rap, lyrical miracle bulls**t, any n***a that want it like that, that think they want it with me?” he said. “I don’t think you would fare well.”

“How could I be mesmerized by someone I thought I was better than? You don’t think it’s odd that you’ve said my name more as adversaries more than when I was there,” he continued.  “I think it’s really corny when retired n***as pop s**t about what they coulda, shoulda, woulda done. So, I feel like I’m in control of the rules here, Em. I’m backed now. You’re not so much.”

He concluded, “You inspire me the way my harsh criticism inspired you. You go spit something to make the superior MC, me, get out of his bed.  In the event you want to address me, you’ll do it outside of your album roll out. The second you do it, I’m on your a**. I am going to cut your a** up.”