# Rick Ross Tells Joe Budden Relationship With Drake Wasn’t a ‘Facade’: ‘Nothing About That Was Fake’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/rick-ross-tells-joe-budden-relationship-with-drake-wasnt-a-facade-nothing-about-that-was-fake/
- Published: 2026-07-17T23:01:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-18T04:14:23+00:00
- Original publisher: Billboard
- Original article: https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/rick-ross-drake-joe-budden-podcast-1236297202/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Rick Ross denies his past friendship with Drake was fake.
- Told Joe Budden that fallouts don't need an explanation.
- Comes as Ross drops new album and tours "Port of Miami".

## Summary

Rick Ross used a Patreon-exclusive episode of The Joe Budden Podcast to reject Budden's suggestion that his once-close public friendship with Drake had been a "facade" all along. Budden pressed Ross on why the pair, who were previously seen collaborating regularly and showing camaraderie in videos, never publicly acknowledged that the relationship was performative once things soured, but Ross insisted their bond had been genuine while it lasted and that falling-outs are simply a normal part of moving on in business.

Ross argued that friendships can end without needing an obvious explanation, comparing the situation to Budden's own well-documented split from former podcast co-hosts Rory Farrell and Jamil "Mal" Clay. He told Budden that such breakups are simply "business" and part of operating as a "boss," while maintaining that nothing about his prior closeness with Drake had been fake. The episode arrived as Ross released his 12th solo album, Set in Stone, on 17 July, and continues his Port of Miami 20th Anniversary Tour.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.