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Former rapper and media personality Joe Budden recently fired shots at Tommy Richman's music. In an episode of his podcast on June 3, 2024, Budden made it known that he is not a fan of the rising DMV artist. He said that he'd rather not hear Richman's music ever again.
“I never want to hear that Tommy Richman ni*** again,” Budden said.
During a discussion with co-host JT, Budden revealed his disdain for Richman's work. He went on to mimic Richman's hit song Million Dollar Baby and said, "Shut the f*** up." He also expressed his frustration with the summer chart-dominating track.
Budden's statement about Richman and his music went viral on X. In no time, Tommy Richman caught wind of the critique and responded lightly with a laughing emoji. He even suggested that Budden's comments were premature.
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“Funny that they ain’t even hear the album yet,” Richman tweeted.
Tommy Richman faces mixed reactions from industry veterans
Budden was not the only one in the hip-hop community to take a dig at Richman's music. In June 2024, DJ Funkmaster Flex disapproved of Richman's Million Dollar Baby. On his Hot 97 show, Flex dismissed the song as "hot garbage." He didn't stop there, as he mocked those who enjoyed it.
"If you’re someone that likes this song, you are a clown," Flex announced.
He played a chunk of the song on air and took aim at the production, especially the drums. He likened it to the sound of a "tin can." Notably, despite his initial dissatisfaction with Million Dollar Baby, Flex later admitted that he liked Tommy Richman's follow-up single, Devil Is A Lie.
Million Dollar Baby was Richman's breakout hit, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April. It has also seen rapid success since its release. Even former President Barack Obama included it on his annual summer playlist, cementing its fame.
However, Richman's rise to stardom was not without its criticism. Some have dismissed him as a mere "TikTok artist." Richman has been fighting this label. In June 2024, he took to X to assert that he's "no fu**** tik tok artist." The post stirred up mixed reactions. While some users defended Richman and his rise from social media, others argued that his popularity may be largely tied to TikTok.
While industry veterans like Budden and Flex may have showcased their disapproval, Richman has received support from others. Rapper Russ praised Richman for his work ethic.
"He’s moving with a sense of urgency and capitalizing on momentum unlike a lot of artists who catch one song and parade around for a year and then miss their moment," Russ tweeted.
As he prepares to release his latest projects, his music continues to elicit varied reactions from within the industry. With his next album on the horizon, it remains to be seen if Tommy Richman manages to sway minds.
