Joe Budden Calls Out Drake's Subtle Jabs At Jay-Z

Joe Budden has an idea for Drake: If you really have an issue with Jay-Z, stop hinting at it and say it with your chest.

During a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, Budden discussed the long-running tension between Drake and Jay-Z and argued that now could be the perfect time for the two rap giants to finally settle things lyrically.

The conversation comes as rumors continue circulating that Jay-Z could be preparing another album.

According to Budden, if Jay is actually back in album mode, that means his pen is active — and Drake should take advantage of the opportunity.

Budden Tells Drake to “Take the Bait”

Budden believes Drake should be the one to make the first major move.

Rather than another slick line that fans have to dissect for days to determine who it was aimed at, Budden wants Drake to make it obvious.

He even jokingly encouraged Drake to go after Jay-Z’s age, referring to the rap legend as an “old man” and “senior citizen” while telling Drake to turn the competition up.

For Budden, the idea is simple: two elite rappers apparently have things they want to say about each other, so why not put it directly on record?

Drake and Jay-Z Have Been Trading Possible Shots

The relationship between Drake and Jay-Z has always been complicated.

The two have collaborated on major records over the years, including “Light Up” and “Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2,” but they’ve also exchanged lines that listeners have interpreted as competitive shots.

That tension has apparently picked up again in 2026.

Lyrics from Drake’s Iceman project were interpreted by some listeners as shots toward older figures in hip-hop and industry gatekeepers.

Then, during Jay-Z’s appearance at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, Jay delivered an a cappella verse that some fans believed contained a response to Drake.

Neither artist has officially declared war on the other, which is exactly what appears to be frustrating Budden.

Could Drake vs. Jay-Z Actually Happen?

Budden believes hip-hop would benefit from the two rappers finally addressing each other directly instead of continuing the guessing game.

He even joked about potential titles for a Drake diss record, playing off Drake’s famous timestamp-song series.

But there’s a major question hanging over all of this:

Would Drake really want another high-profile rap battle right now?

After his massive battle with Kendrick Lamar, jumping directly into a lyrical war with Jay-Z would immediately become one of the biggest stories in hip-hop.

And Jay isn’t exactly an easy opponent.

We’re talking about one of the most respected lyricists in rap history, with decades of experience responding to competition on wax.

At the same time, Drake has never been afraid of rap beef and has built a significant part of his career around responding when challenged.

So if Budden gets his wish, hip-hop could potentially see something fans have debated for years:

Drake vs. Jay-Z — no subliminals, no guessing and no middlemen. Just records.

Now the question is whether either one of them actually wants to take it there.