Joe Budden reacted to Rory & Mal’s opinion of him topping Complex’s list of hip-hop media, by dragging them over their low numbers and poor work ethic.
“To whom this may concern.This is not even on page one of the manual, ’cause you n-ggas ain’t in the bookstore. Instead of critiquing people’s placement on this list, we need more critiquing on why you’re not on it. To everyone not on it. Shut the f-ck up. There’s some steps that you n-ggas have missed,” he said on his podcast.
He continued, “To whom it may concern, stop holding a microphone. I’m just giving out podcast advice. It’s certain n-ggas, y’all can’t speak to me, y’all didn’t do the work yet. You didn’t go to the bookstore. Hire the editors. Get people to help. Invest in the staff. Pay the staff. Get more staff. Stop check chasing. Stop doing the bare minimum and expecting that to yield results. You n-ggas are the bare minimum boys.”
On their show, Mal said: “The thief. The cat burglar. Big integrity. Look at the cat burglar staring off into the next house he wants to run in. That’s big cat. Quiet as a mouse.”
Rory added, “I’m keeping my non-bias the way I have this entire time. I didn’t wanna defend Adam22, nor do I wanna defend this gentleman, but he should be in the Top 5, and that’s based off what Hip Hop media is now. So I’m not sure if I’m giving a compliment right now by saying I think these people should be in the Top 5.”