Joe Budden has been blunt about his dislike for Childish Gambino’s latest release, Bando Stone and the New World. On his podcast, Budden expressed strong disapproval, stating that he “hated” the album. “I hate it! I absolutely f**king hate it. I’m sorry. I know I’m gaining a reputation as a hater, fast,” Budden said. He explained that his role as a commentator requires him to be truthful about his opinions.
Despite his overall negative view, Budden did find a few tracks he liked, including “Steps Beach.” He mentioned that his preferred style from Gambino is similar to “Urn” from the 2013 album Because the Internet. “For me, there wasn’t enough of this particular style on here. But this is crazy,” he said of “Steps Beach.”
Budden also criticized the track “No Excuses,” describing it as a “bisexual” song and noting its “alternative” vibe. “Let him get in his bisexual bag! Nah, this song is like you’re taking all takers. Whoever trying to holla at the club, you down. It’s fire, though,” he remarked, mixing humor with praise.
Budden’s review did not address the track “Survive,” which contains lines that some fans interpret as targeting him. Bando Stone and the New World marks Donald Glover’s final album as Childish Gambino and also serves as a soundtrack for his upcoming film. While the album has been well-received for its innovative sound, it saw a commercial decline, selling around 36,000 copies in its first week compared to the 101,000 copies of Awaken, My Love! in 2016. Budden’s critique adds to the mixed reactions the album has garnered.