Overview
- T.I. told The Joe Budden Podcast that he was not interested in participating in Verzuz and called the format "poor people activity," saying there was no money in it.
- Joe Budden and his co‑hosts pushed back on air by saying Verzuz celebrates artists' catalogs rather than just staging battles.
- Producer Timbaland responded publicly with a terse reaction and clips of T.I.'s comments circulated widely online.
- T.I. later clarified that he had been drinking when he spoke, that his view reflected his personal experience, and that he would consider a Verzuz only if offered a large payout.
- The exchange arrives as T.I. promotes Kill The King, billed as his final album and due June 26, and it revived a wider debate about how Verzuz evolved from free livestreams into events where artist compensation has grown more contentious.