On last week’s episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, former rapper and podcast host Joe Budden voiced his concerns about the current state of Hip Hop, claiming that the genre is taking a troubling turn. Budden’s commentary delves into the industry’s dynamics, highlighting the absence of No. 1 records in 2023 and shedding light on the challenges faced by artists in navigating the complex music business landscape.

Budden kicked off his critique by pointing out the notable lack of No. 1 Hip Hop albums in 2023. According to him, the scarcity of chart-topping records last year raises questions about the industry’s health and the success of artists within it. The podcast host emphasized that only a select few, including Lil Uzi Vert with his album “Pink Tape,” managed to secure the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

“Last year, no No. 1 Hip Hop album for however long tells me that. The No. 1s that came tells me that. Travis, Uzi, Drake… There’s only seven. There’s seven rappers that they focus on. [For some, it’s] because y’all are truly talented and make people all the money in the world. [For others, it’s] because too many people have their hand in your pocket to let you fail,” Budden explained. “But everybody else, if you not getting it [through] touring or if you not getting it through other means, this music s**t is a wrap!”

Budden also expressed his belief that many musicians are financially strained, especially in comparison to the revenue generated by their work. He contended that the music industry’s landscape is deceiving, with artists being misled by contractual language and false promises of ownership. The “Pump It Up” rapper argued that recent layoffs within the industry are indicative of underlying issues that extend beyond the surface.

“I’m saying all of the musicians are broke, relatively — relative to what you bring in. My conversation is about what’s going on in the majors. They tricking y’all with the words in these contracts. They tricking y’all into thinking y’all are real partners. They tricking y’all with the, ‘Hey, you own your stuff.’ The recent layoffs tell me that.”

He concluded with, “I think it’s much worse than I can even sit here and say. Post that on your blogs. Joe Budden says, ‘Bad times ahead.’”