Joe Budden has eased up on DDG after the two got into a heated back and forth online.
Budden initially tore into the Michigan rapper/YouTuber following his breakup with singer and actress Halle Bailey, with DDG quickly hitting back.
But now, Budden has softened his tone, saying on the latest episode of his self-titled podcast: “I went and did research and now I like you a little bit.”
Despite being somewhat conciliatory, the former Slaughterhouse rapper refused to retract his original comments and warned DDG that he could “squash him like a fucking black eyed pea” if he wanted to.
“I don’t feel like I need to apologize for a muthafucking thing that I said and I’m here to triple down on some of the stuff I said,” he added. “But he’s a young kid and I do like him a little bit after I researched, and I see some similarities in us so I’m gonna give him mercy.
“Because I could squash him like a fucking black eyed pea in my hand if I fucking felt like it. Do you know who the fuck you talking to?”
The 44-year-old also claimed during the lengthy conversation: “Do I think I could beat the doggone dog shit out of DDG whenever I felt like it? Yes. I think that would be irresponsible.”
He did, however, admit that he has newfound respect for DDG after Akademiks explained to him that the 27-year-old has been on a similar journey to Budden.
“[DDG] is someone much like you who was early on the internet, early with the vlogs and was able to move that audience, much like you, over to YouTube and kinda paved the way for some of the streamers that you know today,” Budden recalled Ak telling him.
“And then he stopped with all the money he was making and decided to pursue a career in music. And he’s passionate about it, but he’s being viewed a certain way because people think he’s corny or immature.”
Budden added: “He’s got some girls before [Halle Bailey] so I gotta put some respect on his name. Not just Rubi Rose; he say he’s moved around out there. I appreciate that. Much like myself, who did that as a corny broke n-gga.”
Watch his comments around the one hour and 19 minute mark in the video above.
After hearing about DDG’s shock breakup with Bailey earlier this month, Joe Budden said on an earlier episode of his podcast: “Who the fuck is DDG and why am I supposed to care about his thoughts on anything?”
He continued: “I’m very happy that they have broken up so I don’t have to keep seeing this n-gga’s name attached to this girl’s name when I don’t know him from nothing as a standalone. And for me, it’s important to know people based on their own name, merit and what they have done.
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“Every time I see his name, it’s attached to hers and it’s typically in some type of clout-chaser fashion, so that makes me look at him a different way — and hopefully I get to look at him a lot less now that they’ve broken up.”
DDG did not appreciate the remarks and swiftly fired back at on social media.
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Pump it up went gold after 20 years u old bitch @JoeBudden i’m on u.”
“Ion be trippin bout the girls sayin shit cuz i’m used to it. it’s all love. but u n-ggas wit platforms gon get a response fasho,” he continued.
“N-gga got 30 years MAX of life left & speakin on a relationship of people the same age as yo son you’n take care of. I hope u forget to take your magnesium pills today u old bitch @joebudden.”
