New Heated Footage of 50 Cent and Joe Budden At NBA’s Game Goes Viral! | HO

It’s the kind of viral moment that only hip-hop could deliver: two of the genre’s most notorious rivals, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and podcast king Joe Budden, crossing paths courtside at Madison Square Garden—and what happened next has the internet buzzing.

The Knicks Game Showdown: An Unexpected Encounter

On April 21st, 2025, during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks faced the Detroit Pistons at their iconic home. The Knicks ultimately lost 119-94, but it wasn’t the scoreboard that had fans talking. Instead, it was the courtside drama involving two of New York’s most outspoken hip-hop voices.

50 Cent, ever the showman, was seated front row with fellow rap legend Fat Joe. Just behind them, Joe Budden sat with his partner, a seating arrangement that would soon set social media ablaze. For months, 50 and Budden had been embroiled in a bitter feud, trading barbs on podcasts, social media, and in interviews. Their beef, once thought too toxic for any peaceful encounter, was suddenly front and center at one of the world’s most famous arenas.

Viral Footage: From Beef to Brotherhood?

The MSG jumbotron first caught 50 Cent on camera, but eagle-eyed viewers quickly spotted Joe Budden in the background—cheering, not scowling. The moment was captured by fans, including a viral clip from @PrinceBama, and soon circulated across Instagram, X, and TikTok.

But the real shock came moments later. A fan’s phone footage revealed the two hip-hop heavyweights actually speaking, arms around each other, laughing as if they were longtime friends rather than rivals. The clip, shared by the JBTV community on X, was instantly hailed as a “low-key historical hip-hop moment.” As one user, @DuffJuice30, noted, “Seeing 50, Joe Budden, and Fat Joe all vibing together after everything that’s gone down is wild.”

50 Cent, ever the marketing genius, quickly capitalized. He posted photos from the game on Instagram, captioning them, “I ran into Joe at the game. He said, ‘I don’t need therapy no more,’” referencing the podcast comment that reignited their 2025 feud.

The Beef: A Two-Decade Rivalry

To understand why this moment resonated so deeply, it’s worth revisiting the history. The tension between 50 Cent and Joe Budden dates back nearly 20 years, to 2004, when Budden dropped a diss track aimed at 50 and G-Unit. At the time, 50 was at the peak of his powers—“Get Rich or Die Tryin’” had cemented him as New York’s king, and G-Unit was untouchable.

50 responded in kind, firing off subtle disses at Hot 97’s Summer Jam and elsewhere. For years, their rivalry simmered, with Budden later admitting on Reddit and his podcast that 50’s street reputation and relentless pettiness kept him wary.

Though their careers diverged—50 building business empires, Budden transitioning from rapper to media personality—the beef never fully disappeared. In the age of social media, their jabs became more frequent and public. By 2015, Twitter (now X) was their battlefield. The feud escalated again in 2025, after Budden criticized 50’s reaction to Irv Gotti’s passing, suggesting on his podcast that 50 needed therapy. 50 responded with a barrage of Instagram posts, memes, and even AI-generated images mocking Budden.

From Insults to Embrace: What Really Happened at MSG?

Given this history, the footage of 50 and Budden embracing at MSG was shocking. According to sources close to 50, he didn’t even know Budden was at the game until the jumbotron moment. He turned around, asked Budden about the “therapy” comments, and Budden reportedly replied, “I know, I know, I need to mind my business. I love you, Fif.” The cameras caught their ensuing embrace—a moment now immortalized in hip-hop history.

Yet, while 50 has played up the reconciliation online, Budden has remained silent. No podcast comments, no tweets—nothing. This has led some industry insiders to speculate that the beef may have been exaggerated for entertainment, a common tactic in hip-hop’s social media era. Outlets like Hot New Hip Hop and Hip Hop DX have suggested the feud was largely one-sided, driven by 50’s penchant for trolling and Budden’s need for podcast content.

Hip-Hop’s Changing Culture: From Violence to Resolution

Regardless of the authenticity, the encounter at Madison Square Garden is being celebrated as a sign of hip-hop’s maturation. In a culture where beefs have too often ended in violence, seeing two veterans squash their differences—whether for real or just for the cameras—is progress.

Fat Joe’s presence adds another layer of meaning. He and 50 Cent had their own infamous feud before reconciling, and seeing all three figures courtside together was a powerful visual of generational healing in hip-hop.

The incident also highlights the evolving nature of conflict in the social media age. What started as a podcast comment about therapy spiraled into months of memes and online drama, only to be seemingly resolved in seconds, face to face, courtside.

Is the Beef Really Over?

Skeptics remain. 50 Cent has a history of reigniting old feuds when it suits his promotional needs. Budden’s silence leaves room for doubt about how deep the reconciliation really goes. Some fans are waiting for the next episode of The Joe Budden Podcast to hear his side.

But for now, the footage stands as a testament to the power of real-world interaction in an age of digital drama. As hip-hop’s pioneers age and the industry continues to evolve, public reconciliations like this one may become more common—and more necessary.

The Business and Cultural Impact

Both 50 Cent and Joe Budden have moved beyond just music, with 50’s television empire and Budden’s podcast network now their primary platforms. Prolonged feuds can damage business opportunities, while public reconciliations signal maturity to partners and sponsors.

There’s even speculation that this truce could lead to future collaborations, with each leveraging the other’s platform for mutual benefit—a win for both their brands and for hip-hop culture.

Conclusion

The viral footage of 50 Cent and Joe Budden at Madison Square Garden is more than just a fleeting internet moment. It’s a reflection of hip-hop’s growth, the power of public reconciliation, and the enduring appeal of its biggest personalities. Whether the peace lasts or not, for one night, hip-hop fans saw their heroes come together—and that’s a moment worth celebrating.