The off and on beef between Joe Budden and the Wu-Tang Clan is apparently on again, after members of Raekwon‘s entourage allegedly assaulted Budden backstage. Joe began an online broadcast via BlogTV backstage at the Los Angeles stop of the Rock The Bells festival shortly after the altercation.
“For the people just joining me, I just wanna let everybody know that I’m alright,” Budden said, while holding an ice pack to his face. “Raekwon didn’t actually hit me. We was in the middle of talking about what we was actually talking about, and them niggas just came in like Storm Troopers.”
Wu-Tang members, including Inspectah Deck [click to listen], Raekwon and Method Man have voiced their displeasure with Budden, after he took what many deemed to be a swipe at Method Man following a Vibe magazine “Best Rapper Ever” list. Budden responded to Inspectah Deck [click to watch], but later said he talked privately with Method Man himself to clear up any misunderstandings [click to read].
A picture captured from Budden‘s Web stream by Nahright.com confirms that both emcees were backstage together talking before things turned violent. More details from the incident are forthcoming from Budden himself via his Web stream at Blogtv.com/people/joebuddentv.
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UPDATE: Police officials reportedly closed the backstage and the concert performances were cut short. Crooked I, who reportedly gathered his Circle Of Bosses entourage and went looking for the assault culprits has publicly said, “Ain’t nobody gonna disrespect one of my dudes when we on the west coast.“
Joe Budden has subsequently taken photographs wearing an Ice Water scarf.
Ice Water has long been Raekwon‘s entourage and the name he’s given his label. In 2007, the Staten Island-based outfit released an album called Polluted Water.
UPDATE: Representatives from Ice Water Music released the following statement to HipHopDX. “Contrary to various reports that have been circulating on the Internet since Saturday, Raekwon has made no statement, either official or unofficial, about a reported altercation that supposedly involved members of his entourage and Rap artist Joe Budden. This includes statements allegedly made to the staff of Rock The Bells. Raekwon and his associates are busy focusing on his company, IceH20 and preparing for the highly anticipated release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II that will hit stores September 8th, 2009.“
