Hey, everyone! Welcome. Kwame Brown, the ex-NBA player, recently called out radio host Charlemagne tha God and DJ Envy for discussing his family on The Breakfast Club. Lately, Kwame has been grabbing attention by firing back at his critics, so let me give you a quick rundown on what’s been going on.
Initially, Kwame showcased immense promise as a high school basketball player, but his trajectory shifted upon entering the NBA draft. Regrettably, he faced considerable criticism from sports enthusiasts for falling short of their anticipations. It’s worth noting that Kwame was drafted straight out of high school, depriving him of crucial developmental years. The intense scrutiny and demands of NBA competition seemingly eroded his confidence and hindered his on-court performance. Consequently, he failed to meet expectations and was ultimately branded as a disappointment following his underwhelming NBA tenure.
For quite some time, Kwame kept a low profile, but he’s been thrust into the spotlight lately. The catalyst? Discussions about him on the widely-followed podcast “All The Smoke” hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, along with input from Gilbert Arenas. Kwame has stepped up, passionately defending his reputation and taking on his detractors head-on.
Charlemagne accepted a plea deal to reduce his sentence, admitting to a lesser charge, which is well-documented. However, his leniency can be attributed to Jessica’s lack of cooperation. Her mother deemed the situation too traumatic for her to confront at the time, preventing her from testifying and achieving justice. Now, the narrative is resurfacing due to Kwame’s mention of it. When Charlemagne brought up his family’s transgressions, Kwame retaliated by highlighting Charlemagne’s own misdeeds and even insinuated that DJ Envy fathered a child outside of his marriage—though I can’t confirm the veracity of this claim, so I’ll label it as alleged. Kwame didn’t mince words, targeting Charlemagne and DJ Envy with pointed remarks: “Charlemagne tha God, you act like you know me, but you’re part of the problem too. You’re in the same circles as Stephen Jackson and Becky with the good hair, probably attending the same events. So, Charlemagne tha God, we’re calling you out. You may have evaded consequences, but… when I confronted those two men on your podcast, they admitted it was a joke. Yet you twist the narrative to suit your agenda. You bring up my father’s actions, but what about DJ Envy’s infidelity? Am I to blame for a sibling I’ve never met? You tried to paint me as a killer, but those men confessed they were joking. Now, it’s time to shine a light on your deceit. We will find that girl, mark my words.”
Supposedly, in fact, no need for “alleged” because you’re on the docket, so we’ll discuss you. Since you’re a coward, uh, weak beta males on The Breakfast Club, DJ Envy, a spineless weasel with no neck, just like the rest of the deceitful bunch. And Charlemagne, keep quiet because when did words become violent? You label someone as violent just for speaking? They’re not violent when they threaten to come to LA or Atlanta? I’m the violent one, is that the narrative you want to push? Blaming me for my father’s actions, twisting the story? People see what they want to see, like a rose growing through concrete. I have nothing to do with my father’s deeds. I have my own hands, my own mind. And you, you allegedly used your own people to manipulate a girl. You coward. You’re so shielded, a bald-headed, bleached-faced coward that nobody holds accountable. You’re not taken off the air for what you did to the girl, but when someone finally calls you out, suddenly I’m violent. From my truck. But, did he lie though? This is why people need to stop messing with Kwame. He’s endured enough bullying, and he’s had enough. He’s standing up for himself, as he should. It’s insane that Charlemagne sent Kwame a cease and desist after being exposed. Charlemagne thinks he can dig up others’ dirt, but the moment his own alleged dirt is mentioned, he rushes to his lawyers to shut it down. That’s cowardly. But no matter how hard Charlemagne tries to bury this, it’ll haunt him forever.
Moving on to our next topic, albeit a bit belated, I’m eager to delve into the recent developments surrounding Joe Budden. This week, Budden issued apologies to his former co-hosts, Maul and Rory, as well as DJ Olivia Dope, following allegations of harassment. It seems Joe’s demeanor has shifted, likely due to some humbling experiences behind the scenes. For those unfamiliar with the saga, allow me to provide a concise overview.
Joe Budden, once known primarily as a rapper, has transitioned into the realm of podcasting with his widely followed show, The Joe Budden Podcast. Initially flying solo, Budden later enlisted the company of Maul, a longtime friend, and Rory, an industry acquaintance. Their addition proved fortuitous, coinciding with a notable uptick in the show’s popularity around 2015. While Budden remains the linchpin of the podcast’s success, Maul and Rory’s contributions cannot be overlooked. Though not the central figures, their dynamic personalities complemented Budden’s, enhancing the overall appeal of the show to listeners.
As Joe, Maul, and Rory began securing significant deals, their dynamic took a different turn. Whenever business discussions arose, tensions emerged. Joe seemed to perceive Maul and Rory as mere workers, yet they clarified that they were actually his profit partners. Their arrangement didn’t involve fixed salaries; instead, they were stakeholders entitled to a percentage of the earnings. Naturally, they had valid inquiries about the business operations, given their financial stake. However, Joe consistently reacted with irritation whenever they posed questions. He seemed to believe they were overstepping by seeking information. This conflict stemmed from a combination of lack of mutual respect and inflated egos, particularly on Joe’s part. While he viewed himself as the show’s star and creator, he had chosen to enter into a business partnership with his friends. Consequently, his friends should have felt comfortable asking him straightforward questions about financial matters without encountering hostility. Unfortunately, simple conversations often spiraled into conflicts due to this underlying tension.
The crux of the matter boiled down to my simple inquiry: “So, what’s going on?” and was met with intense anger. That’s the essence of it all. We merely requested to review the accounting as per our profit-sharing agreement, never with malice or accusation. The resistance stems from their aversion to scrutiny. Asking to examine the books, which should be provided quarterly by law, shouldn’t evoke such hostility. This isn’t a recent issue; we’ve been seeking transparency since around 2019. Yet, every time the topic arose, it was met with negativity.
My queries were straightforward. The portrayal of me as difficult or erratic conveniently overlooks Rory’s own questioning in our email exchanges. However, I hold the final decision authority per our contract, not out of arrogance, but by agreement. While they may scrutinize, they lack the power to override. If they acknowledge the overpayment and engage in calculations, what reason is there to resist transparency?
When we finally received the accounting in 2019, there was a glaring $400,000 error. Rather than assume malfeasance, I addressed it respectfully, acknowledging human error. Their subsequent admission of the mistake validated our concerns.
So, Rory and Maul uncovered an error of about $400,000 in the accounts, which naturally raised questions about financial management. Their inquiry wasn’t driven by greed; they simply wanted clarity on what was happening to ensure they received what they were owed. In a gesture of goodwill, they even offered to forgo their own pay to support the production team. Their intent was never to hoard money; they were motivated by a genuine desire for transparency.
However, Joe interpreted their questions as suspicion directed at him, leading to a messy fallout. He portrayed Rory and Maul as lacking in contribution and gratitude for the financial support he provided. He also insinuated that their discontent stemmed from his relationship with DJ Akademiks, weaving various narratives to justify his stance.
From an outsider’s perspective, it was evident that Joe’s actions were driven by ego and a disregard for respect towards Rory and Maul. He transitioned from treating them as friends and partners to mere employees, fueled by a sense of self-importance that made him believe he could do without them. While it’s true that Joe may not depend on them in a practical sense, maintaining respect for his friends and business associates should remain a priority.
The events leading to Maul and Rory’s departure from the podcast are quite telling. Initially, Joe suspended Rory, and when Maul sought to discuss this decision, Joe dismissed him, sparking Maul’s decision to take a hiatus from the show. During this break, all three attempted to reconcile privately before returning on air. However, Joe introduced Ice and Ish as co-hosts, seemingly testing the waters for their replacements. Ultimately, Rory was fired live on air, and Maul was publicly criticized by Joe.
As tensions escalated, resentment brewed, particularly regarding financial matters. Joe asserted Rory was in breach of contract and terminated him on air, while also admonishing Maul. This led to a realization that their grievances needed addressing.
In a subsequent conversation, Rory and Maul candidly expressed their grievances, prompting Joe to acknowledge their honesty and retract his threat of legal action regarding a potential podcast venture.
Moving forward, Rory and Maul hinted at their own podcast endeavor, a strategic decision given the circumstances.
Now, shifting focus to the Olivia Dope incident, it was a pivotal moment that garnered significant backlash for Joe. Olivia, formerly part of Joe’s network and podcast “See The Thing Is,” recounted an uncomfortable encounter with Joe during an episode where his comments crossed boundaries, leading to her resignation on January 18, 2021.
Joe Budden participated in a recording of our female-led podcast and repeatedly made uncomfortable sexual remarks directed at me, putting me in a difficult position where I felt pressured to laugh along despite feeling extremely uneasy. As he went down the line praising everyone, the scene was conveniently edited when he made a lewd comment about me, saying, “Olivia is unique because I want to [ __ ] Olivia, and the fans love her.” Those words were later edited out.
When you go to work, your intention should be solely to fulfill your job responsibilities. It’s disheartening that Olivia had to endure such harassment, and I sincerely hope she never faces anything like it again. No woman should have to endure such behavior in the workplace; it’s completely unacceptable.
After Olivia shared her experience with Joe, things took a drastic turn for him. He was forced to issue an apology, and there were rumors that it happened only after he was dropped by Cash App. While I can’t confirm the truth of those rumors, I did notice that the Cash App icon was absent from his latest podcast. Regardless, it’s clear he faced significant repercussions behind the scenes.
This is why Joe decided to publicly acknowledge and apologize for his actions towards Olivia, Maul, and Rory. While part of me wants to believe his apology was genuine, I can’t shake the feeling that it was mainly for damage control. Nonetheless, I do think this experience has humbled him. Pride can be a dangerous thing, and it often precedes a downfall. I hope Joe truly reflects on his behavior and makes the necessary changes because if he doesn’t, the entire empire he’s built could come crashing down.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please like, comment, and subscribe, and feel free to share if you found this discussion valuable. Thank you for watching, and I’ll catch you next time. Bye.