Joe Budden Wants Drake to Drop a Jay-Z Diss Track and Start a Rap Battle
Joe Budden Wants Drake to Drop a Jay-Z Diss Track and Start a Rap Battle
Joe Budden is calling on Drake to stop relying on subliminal shots and make his position clear by dropping a direct diss track aimed at Jay-Z.
The former rapper and current podcast host made the suggestion during the latest episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, where he discussed Jay-Z’s recent activity and speculation that the legendary rapper could be preparing new music.
For Budden, the possibility of Jay-Z returning with an album represents an opportunity for Drake to test himself against one of hip-hop’s most celebrated lyricists.
Budden’s argument is simple: if Jay-Z is preparing to release new music, then he is presumably ready to rap.
That, in Budden’s view, means Drake should take advantage of the moment and challenge him directly.
Rather than continuing with indirect references and subliminals, Budden wants Drake to throw the first unmistakable punch.
The comments come amid growing discussion about the relationship between Drake and Jay-Z, two artists who have collaborated extensively in the past but have increasingly exchanged apparent lyrical jabs during 2026.
The situation has not yet developed into a traditional rap battle.
There have been no sustained series of directly named diss tracks from either side, but fans and hip-hop commentators have spent months examining lyrics and public comments for possible references.
Budden believes that needs to change.
According to his argument, Drake could force the issue by releasing a song specifically aimed at Jay-Z and seeing whether Hov responds.
The idea would essentially be to bait Jay-Z into a competitive rap exchange.
Budden suggested that if Jay-Z is genuinely working on new music, his creative instincts are active and he should therefore be prepared to respond to a serious lyrical challenge.
The proposal is particularly interesting because of Budden’s own complicated history with Drake.
The two rappers have been involved in a public rap dispute dating back to 2016, when Budden criticized Drake’s Views and questioned the Toronto rapper’s artistic direction.
Drake responded with subliminal shots, while Budden released several diss tracks aimed at Drake.
That history gives Budden a unique perspective on the idea of challenging Drake to engage in a rap battle.
He has previously argued that competitive hip-hop can bring out the best in artists.
In the latest discussion, Budden appears to be applying that same philosophy to Drake and Jay-Z.
The stakes would be considerably higher, however.
Jay-Z and Drake are two of the most commercially successful rappers in hip-hop history.
Both have established enormous legacies, although they represent different generations of the genre.
Jay-Z emerged as one of the defining rappers of the 1990s and 2000s, while Drake became one of the dominant forces of the streaming era.
A direct battle between the two would therefore carry considerable cultural weight.
It would also be difficult to separate the potential battle from the history between the artists.
Jay-Z played an important role in Drake’s early career and was once viewed as a mentor and collaborator.
The two have worked together on multiple songs, including collaborations that helped strengthen Drake’s position within mainstream hip-hop.
Their relationship has changed considerably since those earlier years.
The apparent tension has become more noticeable as both artists have continued to make references that fans interpret as shots at one another.
Jay-Z’s recent performances and lyrical comments have received particular attention, while Drake has also been scrutinized for lines that listeners believe may reference Hov.
Still, neither artist has fully committed to an official battle.
That is precisely what Budden wants to see happen.
He believes a direct diss would remove much of the ambiguity surrounding their recent exchanges.
Instead of fans spending weeks debating whether a particular lyric is aimed at Jay-Z, Drake could simply make the target unmistakable.
The approach would also put pressure on Jay-Z to respond.
If Hov answered, hip-hop would suddenly have one of its most intriguing lyrical matchups in years.
If he ignored the track, Drake could potentially claim that Jay-Z was unwilling to engage.
Either outcome would generate enormous attention.
There is also an argument that such a battle could benefit both rappers.
Drake has already demonstrated that he is comfortable with rap competition.
His 2024 feud with Kendrick Lamar became one of the biggest hip-hop battles in recent memory, generating multiple diss tracks and dominating music and social media conversations.
That battle also changed the way Drake’s lyrical abilities are discussed.
A direct exchange with Jay-Z would give him another opportunity to demonstrate his ability to compete against a highly respected rapper.
For Jay-Z, the challenge would be different.
The Brooklyn legend has already established his place in hip-hop history.
He has no obvious need to prove his commercial relevance.
However, a direct battle with Drake could provide an opportunity to remind audiences of his lyrical abilities and demonstrate that he can still compete at the highest level.
That possibility has helped fuel speculation surrounding Jay-Z’s rumored new music.
Fans have been closely watching his recent public appearances and lyrical performances for signs that a new project could be coming.
There has not been an official announcement confirming a new Jay-Z album, however.
That means much of the current conversation remains speculation.
Budden’s comments are similarly an opinion rather than evidence that a Drake-Jay-Z battle is actually being planned.
For now, Drake has not announced a Jay-Z diss track.
Jay-Z has also not announced that he intends to respond to Drake.
The lack of direct confirmation has left fans to interpret the various subliminal exchanges themselves.
That uncertainty is part of what makes the situation so interesting.
Hip-hop has always placed enormous value on competition.
Diss tracks have produced some of the genre’s most memorable moments, and battles between major artists can quickly become cultural events.
But there is also a risk.
Both Drake and Jay-Z have substantial careers behind them, meaning a poorly executed diss could damage an artist’s reputation rather than enhance it.
For Drake, another high-profile battle so soon after his Kendrick Lamar feud could also invite comparisons between the two conflicts.
For Jay-Z, responding to Drake could be seen by some as unnecessary given his established status.
Those considerations may explain why neither artist has fully embraced the idea.
Budden, however, appears to believe the potential rewards outweigh the risks.
His argument is essentially that great competition can force elite rappers to raise their level.
A direct Drake-Jay-Z battle would therefore not simply be entertainment.
It would be a test of two generations of hip-hop.
Drake would be attempting to challenge an artist who helped shape the era that came before him.
Jay-Z, meanwhile, would have the opportunity to respond to one of the biggest rappers of the modern era.
The generational implications alone would make the matchup enormous.
For fans, the question now becomes whether Drake will actually take Budden’s advice.
A direct Jay-Z diss would instantly dominate hip-hop conversation and likely become one of the most closely analyzed songs of the year.
It could also force Jay-Z to make a decision about whether to respond.
For now, however, the battle remains hypothetical.
Joe Budden wants Drake to make the first move, but Drake has given no indication that he intends to release a dedicated Jay-Z diss track.
The apparent lyrical tension between the two superstars continues to generate speculation, and Jay-Z’s rumored return to music has only increased interest.
If Drake does decide to take Budden’s advice, the response would likely be immediate and enormous.
A direct Drake diss aimed at Jay-Z could turn months of subliminals into one of the biggest rap confrontations of the decade.
Until that happens, though, fans will have to keep listening closely to every new verse from both artists and deciding whether the shots are real, imagined or simply part of hip-hop’s long tradition of competitive wordplay.
The discussion comes amid renewed attention on apparent Drake-Jay-Z lyrical exchanges in 2026. However, there is no confirmed Drake announcement of a Jay-Z diss track, and speculation about a new Jay-Z album remains unconfirmed.
Budden’s history with Drake makes his suggestion particularly notable. Their own rap dispute dates back to 2016, when Budden released multiple tracks challenging Drake and explicitly argued that competitive rap could bring out the best in an artist.
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