Former rapper and podcast host Joe Budden has weighed in on one of hip-hop’s latest fan theories, suggesting there may be some truth to speculation that Drake’s hit song “Janice STFU” was inspired by him.
The theory gained traction after fans resurfaced an old clip from The Joe Budden Podcast in which Budden jokingly referred to “Janice” as his “white woman name” before telling his co-hosts to “STFU.” Shortly after Drake released “Janice STFU” on his chart-topping album Iceman, social media users began connecting the dots.
While discussing the rumors on his podcast, Budden admitted he could see why people think the song might be aimed at him. He said he was surprised by the theory at first but acknowledged the coincidence was hard to ignore given the resurfaced clip and his long-running feud with Drake.
The pair have exchanged shots for years, with Drake previously criticizing Budden publicly and Budden frequently offering blunt opinions about Drake’s music on his podcast. That history has led many fans to believe that even subtle references between the two should not be dismissed.
Despite the speculation, there is still no confirmation that Drake wrote the song about Budden. Some fans believe the title is simply a coincidence, while others are convinced it is another chapter in one of hip-hop’s longest-running media feuds.