“That’s Crazy”, the favorite phrase of Mal (a member of The Joe Budden Podcast) is the perfect quote to describe Joe Budden’s rise in hip-hop media. After releasing nine studio albums, a catalog of mixtapes, and being a member of rap super group Slaughterhouse, Budden retired from penning introspective projects to focus on his media endeavors. Beginning about three years ago with I’ll Name this Podcast Later, and continuing with different ventures with Spotify and Revolt, Budden has worked his way into being one of the most prominent figures in hip-hop media. Each platform has different thematic elements which make them unique and the variance in content has allowed him to build an internet network reminiscent of ESPN.

From news, interviews, and comedy, Budden’s network has become a media network for hip-hop heads. No stranger to providing his fans with more than music, Budden has been utilizing the Internet (among other platforms) since the mid to late 2000s as a way to connect with his audience. From appearing on early seasons of Love and Hip-Hop: New York to ranting on BlogTV (the Insta Live before Instagram), Budden has been experimenting with hip-hop media for quite some time and is now starting to culminate into something the hip-hop community has never seen before. Follow along as we breakdown Budden’s vast array of media projects…

Originally titled I’ll Name this Podcast Later, this podcast has become the centerpiece of Budden’s media network. Consisting of his longtime friends and collaborators Rory, Mal, and Parks, The Joe Budden Podcast combines each of their personal experiences and music industry knowledge to provide listeners with countless hours of entertainment. Constructed as a conversation between friends, the podcast delivers some of the most hilarious yet informative content that you can find online. While the podcast is centered around hip-hop and the music industry, the topics can also range from current social issues to stories from the guy’s lives. It all comes together to become the perfect mix of jokes and information, at times making you laugh and at times schooling young creatives into how to navigate the music/media industries. The success of the podcast has helped the guys build a cult-like following, and has led to them consistently selling out live shows and gaining millions of views each week. After signing a deal with Spotify in late 2018 the podcast has catapulted into one of the most prominent hip-hop media outlets and is a staple listen for fans of hip-hop.

The show reminiscent of ESPN’s First Take or Fox Sport’s Undisputed was one of the major keys that propelled Budden into media prominence. The Complex-backed show, featuring DJ Akademiks and Nadeska Alexis alongside Budden, started creating noise in the industry immediately after its release.

Everyday Struggle featured Budden and Akademiks, two people representing different generations of hip-hop, discussing (and often arguing about) different topics in hip-hop and interviewing some of the most prominent figures in the industry. The show was able to create so many different streams of dialogue on the culture during its run with Budden at the helm and also provided viewers with hilarious viral moments. Interviews with Lil Yachty and Migos alongside countless clips of a red-faced Budden screaming at DJ Akademiks gave the show its mainstream exposure, while the day-to-day conversations provided compelling content for the recurring viewers. Unfortunately, issues over contracts caused Budden to leave the show which he created in late 2017, but the success of the show assisted him in venturing into other media platforms.

Following the success of Everyday Struggle and The Joe Budden Podcast, Budden teamed up with Diddy’s network Revolt TV to release State of the Culture. Released both online and on the Revolt network TV channel, State of the Culture is hip-hop’s mix of ESPN programs SportsCenter and Around the Horn. Budden teams up with Scottie Beam, Jinx and Remy Ma to provide viewers with both hip-hop news and debates about the culture. Each panelist provides a distinct voice and perspective on topics pertaining to the culture as Budden directs the conversation. This combination provides a great atmosphere for both constructive conversation and heated debate, and as the chemistry builds between the panelists, the show continues to improve and grow in popularity. State of the Culture completed its first season consisting of 12 episodes and recently began its second season on Revolt TV.

Budden’s interview series titled Pull Up, is one of the best ways to truly get to know the guests that are featured. Originally structured as a group conversation featuring some of the most prominent names in hip-hop, Pull Up has pivoted into in-depth conversations between Budden and one featured personality. Artists including 6lack, 2 Chainz, and T-Pain have featured on Pull Up, as well as media personalities including Charlemagne the God and Michael Rappaport. The Pull Up interviews are structured much differently than your traditional media interviews. Unlike many traditional media interviews, where the host asks the guest very surface level questions, Budden continuously digs deeper into the answers of the guests which allows the guests to share more about themselves. There’s no set format, no additional motive of Budden or the guests, just two hours of conversation which is meant to provide the viewers with content that they can be entertained by and learn from. If you want to hear Budden pick the brain of Vince Staples, or hear 2 Chainz talk in detail about his different business endeavors, Pull Up is in its second season at Joe Budden TV.