Joe Budden Proclaims Drake Lost to Kendrick Lamar Amid Alleged UMG Intrusion

Outspoken Hip-hop personality Joe Budden has proclaimed that Drake has "unequivocally" lost to Kendrick Lamar in their rap feud.

In The Joe Budden Podcast,  Budden was clear in his pronouncements that Lamar had swept Drake with the release from "euphoria," "6:16 in LA" to "meet the grahams" and "Not Like Us."

"He went from 'Na Na Nah, I'm going on vacation' to 'I'm not replying no more,'" Budden said in the podcast with "That was the fastest change of tone ... he lost, unequivocally! A n#### took it from him!"

Budden also sniped on Kanye West, trying to include himself in the narrative between the two clashing rappers. Infamously, West remixed Metro Boomin', Future, and Lamar's "Like That," but he remained unnoticed and was essentially ignored by hip-hop fans who were more interested in Drake and Lamar.

"Kanye, sit your f******g ass down somewhere," Budden said. "Mind your f*****g business. This is not about you. This is some attention-seeking s*** that you're doing," Budden blasted.

In a call with other Hip-hop commentator DJ Akademiks, Budden even pointed out that Drake sounded "exhausted" in his most recent rebuttal, "The Heart Part 6," a callback on Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers' track, "The Heart Pt 5."

"I'm over it... Drake sounds exhausted... I want the battle to end after Not Like Us... I learned today I like Drake on offense and not defense," he added.

READ ALSO: Kendrick Lamar Benefiting From Diss-Track Beef; Drake, Not So Much

Similarly, sentiment on social media, specifically in X, leaned toward Lamar's favor.

"They don't buy this kind of love, Kendrick Lamar owns the culture. This right here is how the people be feeling , I don't even wanna listen to what Drake dropped last because his "not like us'," a user posted.

"Why did Kendrick Lamar win? For one reason: HE MC'ed. He got the CROWD INVOLVED and on HIS SIDE like a REAL MC is supposed to. Drake made it about him. Kendrick said "They not like US," another reflected.

In terms of getting involved, it was heavily rumored on Discord and X that Universal Music Group is stepping up to squash the Drake and Lamar feud. In the explosive rumor, it was alleged that UMG wants Lamar to clarify that Drake "isn't a pedophile."

"Drake is losing the beef in UMG's eyes, so from UMG's perspective: The sooner this beef ends, the better."

Meanwhile, a UMG representative confirmed to XXL magazine that no such meeting was held to convince Lamar to yield and that the information was "totally made up."

READ MORE: Universal Music Group Responds to Claims of Meddling in Drake and Kendrick Lamar's Feud