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Shareif Ziyadat / Contributor via Getty Images and Bryan Bedder / Stringer via Getty Images
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Joe Budden, Tommy Richman
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This year, Tommy Richman has been taking the music scene by storm with his hit singles, “Million Dollar Baby” and “Devil Is A Lie.” Despite his success, he has emphasized his desire not to be categorized solely as a Hip Hop artist.
When Joe Budden became aware of Richman’s social media exchanges with DJ Hed, he shared his opinions regarding Richman’s standing in the music industry. Responding to Richman’s comment, “I’ll reiterate, I’m grateful for everything. What I’m saying is, I don’t want to be classified. I was raised on hip hop. However, I am a singer,” Budden did not hold back his disapproval.
During the Oct. 4 episode of the Joe Budden Podcast, after teasingly singing a snippet of Richman’s hit, Budden remarked, “Tommy Richman, I can’t stand that f**king song. I needed it to hit harder.” He elaborated on the ongoing exchanges between Richman and DJ Hed, stating, “The culture elevated you to this point. Now is not the time for, ‘I’m not a Hip Hop artist.’ I have no objections to, ‘I am not merely a Hip Hop artist,’ or ‘I encompass much more than just being a Hip Hop artist.’”
With his co-host seemingly on the same page, the former rapper added, “Why are you even tweeting? Your job is the simplest in the world, Tommy Richman; just shut the f**k up. You’re in that category of individuals who can enjoy success without needing to engage with the Black community.”
While Budden acknowledged that he doesn’t mind Richman’s desire not to be labeled as only a Hip Hop artist, he stressed that ignoring Hip Hop after it was the very culture that welcomed him is alienating for fans. Many pointed out the case of Post Malone, who seemed to distance himself from the genre after gaining fame with “White Iverson.”
The esteemed broadcaster concluded firmly, “Tommy Richman isn’t talented enough to take that stance just yet,” wrapping up his commentary on white artists separating themselves from Hip Hop after achieving popularity.
Catch the latest episode of the Joe Budden Podcast below!