Joe Budden Says He Turned Down 6ix9ine Interview

Joe Budden won’t be sitting down with 6ix9ine.

During an episode of “The Joe Budden Podcast,” the podcast host revealed that he had the opportunity to interview the controversial “TROLLZ” rapper but refused, despite the potential for it to be the “biggest interview I would have done.”

Budden said Tekashi’s team approached him and even offered to pay him to do the interview, but he still turned it down. “I’m not here for the money. It’s not a money conversation,” said Joe.

Tekashi argued that it would be the “biggest interview that Joe has ever done,” but Budden said he chose integrity over numbers. “While it may have been, this is that clear crossroads between people who do it for numbers and people who don’t,” he said.

According to Joe, Tekashi wanted to use Joe’s podcast to do more snitching. “He was looking to expose some of the people that fuck with him behind the scenes who are timid to do so in person or on the internet.”

Budden asked why he didn’t do the interview with his friend DJ Akademiks, but Tekashi’s team claims their friendship would have been a conflict. “That is not going to materialize the way it would if he were with you,” his rep reportedly told Budden.

Budden said that 6ix9ine’s camp also approached fellow podcaster Gillie Da Kid, who also rejected the interview. “Now, it becomes crystal clear, as it did for Gillie,” he said. “You’re not looking to expose something. You’re looking to expose something next to someone that’s official. You’re looking to expose something next to somebody who didn’t fuck with you. That’s called you’re looking for a co-sign.”

But Budden wasn’t willing to compromise himself, even if it drew ratings. “It doesn’t matter if this would have been the biggest interview I would have done in my career. It’s all nasty so I’m gonna stay away.”

Added Joe, “I saw Gillie release what he released and I said, ‘Wow, look at that.’ This little manipulative fuck. Back to manipulating.”

6ix9ine’s album TattleTales fell under sales projections and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 53,000 equivalent album units (32,000 in album sales).