Joe Budden, renowned for his unfiltered commentary, has extended an apology to Beyoncé for seemingly shading her country song “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
On Thursday (February 29), the rapper-turned-podcaster walked back recent comments he made on The Joe Budden Podcast, where he refused to share his opinion of the track because he’s “not a country music critic.”
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When his co-hosts pressed him for his thoughts, Budden dug his heels in and declared: “I’m not listening to the Beyoncé country album!”
During a follow-up episode of his show, however, the Hip Hop personality changed his tune and praised Queen Bey’s sonic pivot.
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“I want to apologize to Beyoncé,” he began before breaking into a rendition of “Texas Hold ‘Em.” “Oh, this ain’t Texas/ Ain’t no hold ’em.”
“I like that song. I like the other song too, but I like that song a lot,” he added. “And let me tell you something, let me be totally phony and get on the total opposite of everything I said the first time.
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“If the rumors are true, if Beyoncé is covering that Dolly Parton song [“Jolene”]. If that little rumor is true — ’cause Dolly just tweeted yesterday and that tweet ain’t out of nowhere.
“If Beyoncé does that? Oh my God. Get Mason Ramsey to open up!”
Joe Budden is one of many celebrities to sound off on Beyoncé’s recent venture into country music.
Last month, following the surprise release of “Texas Hold ‘Em” and her other single “16 Carriages,” Azealia Banks made it clear — in typically unfiltered fashion — that she wasn’t feeling Queen Bey’s new direction.
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“I love you…but them r&b runs over the leslie feist back beats is giving pickmesha… . Nothing country about it,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories.
“You’re setting yourself up to be ridiculed again,” Banks continued. “There’s a theatrical element to country music !!! Them critics are not just going to accept an ugly blond wig and bullying from jay-z !!! It’s giving big time musical grift… [Y]ou’re just really not hitting the button.”
The outspoken rapper also unfavorably compared Bey’s country effort to a similar pivot by singer K. Michelle, who made her own move to country in March 2023, telling People at the time: “Country music is who I am.”
“K.michelle this is your turn to really execute,” Banks added. “It’s no shade but K Michelle truly understands the assignment… Beyoncé…you will gag when k Michelle tears it.”
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Despite the criticism, “Texas Hold ‘Em” has proven to be a winner on the charts. The cowgirl-inspired jingle earned Beyonce her ninth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 while also making her the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
The song, along with “16 Carriages,” are the first offerings from the singer’s upcoming album Renaissance Act II, which drops on March 29.
