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Joe Budden isn’t buying the bromance between Jay-Z and J. Cole.
Hov and Cole both recently sat down for interviews where they talked about their partnership during Cole’s time on Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation.
While both artists admit that they had their creative differences in the past, the rapper and music exec have still shown that they have respect for each other now that they have parted ways. But Joe Budden believes that both men are being performative.
Budden Suggests That Jay-Z & Cole’s Relationship is Performative
During a recent episode of his podcast, Budden challenges the genuineness of their relationship. Especially because they are rarely seen publicly and haven’t been featured on a song together since 2011, when they collaborated
“We will never be seen together, rap together, feature together, never anything together. I’ll appear closer to Pusha T than the guy I broke from NC to one of the biggest rap superstars. I don’t believe that,” Budden said.
Joe Budden doesn’t believe J. Cole & Jaÿ-Z are being honest about their relationship:
— Caleb (@CalebFromX) March 25, 2026
“We will never be seen together, rap together, feature together, never anything together… I’ll appear closer to Pusha T than the guy I broke from NC to one of the biggest rap superstars” pic.twitter.com/0GsannDYnU
During a recent appearance on Cam’ron’s Talk With Flee podcast, Cole talked about his experience being signed to Roc Nation. Being the first artist signed to the label came with its pressures. He described the experience as “sink or swim.” But he also said that he preferred things to be that way.
“I caught him [Jay-Z] in straight CEO mode. It’s sink or swim…I prefer the way I got it, which was on my own for the most part. But of course, just the affiliation with him alone [and investment] was life changing,” he said.
Despite Budden’s thoughts, it appears that Cole and HOV have a lot of mutual respect.
