The criminal justice system is cracking down on hip-hop. Artists such as Young Thug, Tsu Surf, Pooh Shiesty, YFN Lucci, and, most recently, Lil Durk have been involved in legal disputes in recent years. After learning of the “3 Headed Goat” rapper’s arrest on a murder-for-hire accusation earlier this week, Joe Budden took a time to praise Chief Keef, another Chicago native, for staying out of trouble.

During Budden’s eponymous podcast on Saturday (Oct. 26), he hailed Chief Keef as the “only example” of someone who “did it right.” He explained, “I don’t know about his background, his street connections, or any of that s**t. All I know is that he signed a record deal, and news circulated quickly around the industry about who he was, as it usually does. He wilded out for a year, perhaps the first year and a half, and then he boogied.”

The “I Don’t Like” hitmaker moved to Los Angeles in 2014 and returned a decade later for 2024’s Summer Smash, all of which will be featured in his upcoming documentary alongside Cole Bennett.

“He took advantage of the opportunity, re-branded and is now recognized as the godfather of [Chicago drill music] and the f***ing musical genius that he is,” Budden went on to say. “He saw an opportunity and seemingly halted. And guess what? If he didn’t stop, it wasn’t in a song, a reel, or a YouTube video.

During an interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music in May, Chief Keef discussed how moving virtually changed his life. “The street life and everything that came with it had me in a [chokehold],” he remarked as he reflected after leaving Chicago. “When I got to Los Angeles, I started to improve as a person. So I had to come to LA to grow out of who I was.

The rapper released Almighty So 2 the same month. Quavo, Sexyy Red, Lil Gnar, G Herbo, and Tierra Whack all contributed to the 16-song collection.