Megan Thee Stallion’s fans may not take the recent criticism from Joe Budden kindly because he sounded demeaning to the artist, despite her effort to remain at the top of the game. Joe Budden noted that he doesn’t think that this artist is yet to a superstar level, despite the popularity she has gained over the recent years outside the rap. In The Joe Budden Podcast, episode aired on February 26, the Houston hottie became a topic for discussion. Joe felt that Megan couldn’t be called a superstar because of the recent album performance. “You’re not a superstar if you can’t sell an album. What the fuck are we talking about right now,” Joe said. “What stops her from being a superstar if we’re taking out sales? She ain’t sold shit. Got every brand deal in the world, but it also has all the backing from mad different people. She’s got a lot going on.”
Interestingly, the Houston rapper signed a deal late last year with Popeyes as well as Netflix in December. Joe Budden was also blind to the fact that Megan Thee Stallion made history as the first woman and person in the rap culture to appear on the Sports Illustrated cover. At the same time, her Good News album went platinum, with most of the other projects she completed being ranked in the gold category. For Joe, numbers aren’t just adding up, and his idea that the artist has not performed well enough to be categorized as a superstar. When Joe’s co-host tried convincing him that times have changed in an attempt to intervene for Meghan, he retained his position, “Y’all are just mixing rules up,” Joe continued, “You still got to know how to sell a fucking album. When Adele comes out, you gotta move. When niggas come out, you gotta move. When a superstar comes out, you mortal, mere minion niggas have to move. Nobody does that for Lil Nas X; nobody does that for the seven Meg Thee Stallion releases that dropped over the past two years.
What are we saying?
Contrary to Joe Budden’s sentiments, Meghan Thee Stallion is an artist who has been doing exemplary well in the music industry. The superstar title is not something one could think of denying her. Meghan has a unique way of performing her music, whether live or otherwise. The power in her voice leaves no one seated. Indeed, boys and girls alike freestyle in live concerts because Meghan shares positive vibes and real energy.
Born Megan Pete in 1995 and raised in the South Park neighborhood of Houston, the Up Next honoree and 2020 Apple Music Awards Breakthrough Artist of the Year grew up on hardcore Southern stuff: Three 6 Mafia and UGK, Pimp C especially. To anyone who has seen Meghan grow, and those who follow her works closely, this lady is indeed a Houston hero, with her performance and music being listened widely within and outside the United States.