Does Joe even have enough fans for me to do an updated survey on their thoughts of “Pump it Up” with? The nerve.
It’s an album that has prompted a highly-anticipated worldwide tour, received critical acclaim, and is up for Album of the Year at this Sunday’s Grammy Awards but Joe Budden claims Beyoncé fans think Renaissance is “mid.” The Hip Hop commentator cracked a few jokes about Drake fans having to “get low” or duck out of sight because he released a “mid” album. During the conversation, he quipped that Bey’s fans know what it’s like because they felt the same way about Renaissance.
“Do you know how tough it was for us Drake fans to go get low for a few months,” Budden said in the clip. “If you don’t, you can just ask the Beyoncé fans right now. Maybe y’all don’t see when the fans collectively go get low, but I do. One of the best in the world, we can’t pop our sh*t, ’cause y’all tellin’ us it’s mid at every turn. Every week, n*ggas asking, ‘Oh, you heard some of that sh*t outside? ‘Cause I haven’t!’ That sh*t was like a stab in the heart.”
Renaissance is Beyoncé’s first solo album since 2016’s Lemonade. It arrived with an epic rollout and dominated the charts—and nightclubs—across the globe. Beyoncé, her team, and her hitmaking collaborators were praised for interpolating Black house, techno, electronic, and dance artists who helped pioneer the genres but were often overlooked. It wasn’t the quintessential R&B-Pop record that people expected, but her core fanbase seemed to understand the message.
The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and this weekend, we’ll learn if it takes home the title at the Grammys. Renaissance is nominated for Album of the Year and Best Dance Electronic Album. These accolades don’t seem lost on Budden, who hopped into The Neighborhood Talk’s comment section to clarify. They shared the clip of his comments on Renaissance, and Instagram users quickly called him out.
“I loved B’s album, if y’all comprehension is off just say that,” Budden wrote. Still, the internet is unrelenting, and the BeyHive is fiercely protective. Check out a few reactions below and let us know your thoughts on Joe’s comments.
Why in the world would anyone care about Joe Budden’s opinion of Beyoncé?
— the music curator (@curiocmusic) February 3, 2023
Wtf is Joe Budden talking about? Renaissance was bumped so much my family almost kicked me out of the family!
— 🦂 (@amyusmom) February 3, 2023
I respectfully disagree with Joe Budden I like The Renaissance album. House and disco works for me. The Hive is about to go off 😂 though.
— Toni Carter (@ToniLaNae) February 3, 2023
I don’t even get why Joe Budden is speaking on Beyoncé
— 伊玛尼 🌧 (@ifuckedbeyonce_) February 3, 2023
