Images: Michael Marques/Simone Joyner/Dan Mullan
Joe Budden urged Drake to directly confront Jay-Z rather than continue with subliminal jabs and vague references, especially with rumors of a new Jay-Z album circulating.
During a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, Budden emphasized that if Jay-Z is preparing to release new music, Drake should seize the opportunity to engage in a clear rap battle.
🚨 Joe Budden CHALLENGES Drake to stop subliminally circling Jay-Z and finally make the battle DIRECT
Joe says if Drake really means “the pen isn’t dry,” then he should “take the bait,” get on the hardest beat possible and throw the first real punch at Hov.
“Swing. A real… pic.twitter.com/0AFAZwscLq
— CY Chels (@SeewhyChels) August 15, 2026
Budden said there has been enough indirect tension between the two artists and called for a direct clash that reflects their competitive history, suggesting that Jay-Z’s potential music means he is ready to respond.
He encouraged Drake to tap into high-quality production for a diss track, jokingly suggesting titles that play off Drake’s existing song themes, like timestamp tracks.
Budden criticized the perceived inconsistency between Drake’s bravado and his behavior toward Jay-Z, suggesting that Drake, with his commercial success, should be more aggressive in asserting himself.













