Hold up, hip-hop heads! On a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, co-host Ice dropped a take that left his fellow hosts absolutely speechless. The topic? None other than Nas’s legendary 1994 debut album, ‘Illmatic.’ While most fans and critics hail it as one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever made, Ice confessed he’s not exactly a fan, even going as far as to call it a ‘hard listen.’
Ice’s Controversial ‘Illmatic’ Opinion
Ice didn’t hold back, explaining his perspective to a stunned Joe Budden and the crew. ‘I’m not a fan of that album too much,’ he admitted. ‘It Was Written was a much better album to me.’ He acknowledged that he’s used to sharing unconventional opinions, but for him, ‘Illmatic’ just didn’t connect. ‘I don’t relate to anything,’ he added, explaining that he identifies more as a ‘commercial fan’ and found the album’s gritty, ‘not clean’ sound to be a barrier, though he quickly clarified he wasn’t calling it a ‘bad album.’
More Hot Takes from the Podcast
This isn’t the first time the podcast has stirred up debate with its opinions. Just recently, Joe Budden himself argued that artists like Ludacris and Kendrick Lamar often detract from R&B songs they feature on. He specifically pointed out verses by Ludacris on sensual tracks, suggesting they sometimes disrupt the mood, though he did concede that Ludacris absolutely ‘killed’ a Missy Elliott record and a Usher track.
These discussions come at a time when there’s been speculation surrounding Melyssa Ford’s departure from the podcast. Some theories suggest that her name might even be censored due to rumored tension with her former co-hosts, adding another layer of intrigue to the show’s dynamics.
What do you think about Ice’s take on ‘Illmatic’? Do you agree that it’s a ‘hard listen,’ or is it a timeless classic in your book? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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