Drake pokes fun at Joe Budden’s sleepwalking incident on leaked track “1 AM in Albany” from ICEMAN album; Fans make Tahiry references
The song references an ex of Budden’s and his “naked in another state” episode as their decade-long war of words continues.
Drake has revived his long-running feud with Joe Budden on the leaked track “1 AM in Albany.” The song surfaced just days before the official release of his ninth studio album, ICEMAN. It directly references Budden’s well-documented sleepwalking incident. Also, it alludes to a woman widely believed to be his former longtime partner, Tahiry Jose.
The leaked recording — which has not been confirmed as part of the official 18-track ICEMAN tracklist — includes the lines: “Showed her the time of her life while broski having stomach aches… send her back to you while you sleepwalking naked in another state.” The verse ends: “We ain’t crying for your punk […] anyway.”
The track is part of Drake’s triple-album rollout alongside the companion projects MAID OF HONOUR and HABIBTI, which arrived this morning (May 15). The leak significantly accelerated discussion ahead of the official drop. Fans were immediately breaking down the Budden-directed bars.
The Sleepwalking Incident That Became Public Years Ago
The “sleepwalking naked in another state” line directly references a documented incident from Joe Budden’s personal history. Budden was reported to have been seen sleepwalking while unclothed in a building hallway. The event drew legal attention. In addition, it was later discussed openly by Budden himself on multiple occasions. That episode has periodically resurfaced in discussions for years.
Drake’s decision to include the reference in “1 AM in Albany” represents a notable escalation in tone from their long-running exchanges. Earlier responses from Drake were mostly indirect. This includes his line in 2016 on French Montana’s “No Shopping:” “Tell Joe Budden to stick to the rap, he was wack / Shout to the […] that’s got my back like a chiropractor.” After that, there was the 2023 bar on “Stories About My Brother” about “an ex-musician searchin’ for recognition.” In contrast, this track incorporates personal details rather than strictly professional critique.
The verse also claims intimate involvement with a woman described as one of Budden’s “bubble shaped tings.” That phrase was widely interpreted by fans as a reference to Tahiry Jose, Budden’s former long-term partner. If the implied timeline is accurate, the alleged encounter would predate or overlap with the early years of the Drake-Budden tension, which most observers trace to Budden’s 2016 critique of Views.
Drake and Joe Budden’s Tension Dates Back to a 2016 Album Review
The public friction between Drake and Joe Budden began in April 2016. It happened shortly after the release of Drake’s album Views. Budden, who was still releasing music at the time while growing his podcast audience, described the project as sounding “uninspired.” He suggested Drake had grown disconnected from creative innovation even as he maintained massive commercial success. The critique carried extra weight because Budden was a former major-label artist with his own history in the industry.
Drake initially stayed silent before responding with indirect references in later releases, including the line on French Montana’s “No Shopping” and the track “4PM in Calabasas.” Budden fired back with a series of diss tracks — “Making a Murderer Pt. 1,” “Wake,” and “Afraid” — that sampled Drake’s music and expanded on his original criticisms. Over time, Budden transitioned fully into podcasting, where he continued offering candid commentary on Drake’s music, business moves, and public image.
While tension eased at times, most notably around 2020, the exchanges reignited in 2023 after Budden reviewed For All the Dogs. Drake responded on the Scary Hours 3 track “Stories About My Brother” with the line: “Imagine us gettin’ our validation from an ex-musician searchin’ for recognition.” Another reference surfaced in February 2025 on the track “Gimme A Hug” with PARTYNEXTDOOR, which named Melyssa Ford, at the time a regular figure on Budden’s podcast, and her own history with Drake.
Fan Speculation Centers on Tahiry Jose as the “Bubble Shaped Tings”
The lyric “bubble shaped tings” has been widely interpreted by fans as a reference to Tahiry Jose, a model, actress, and former Love & Hip Hop: New York cast member. Tahiry had a highly publicized on-again, off-again relationship with Joe from roughly 2005 to 2013, marked by multiple breakups and reconciliations, including a public proposal in Times Square that she rejected on camera.
Public records and interviews show that Jose was romantically linked to Drake in late 2012 and early 2013 — a period when her relationship with Budden had breaks. Reports and social media recollections from that time mention a joint trip to the Dominican Republic, including photos and accounts of the pair swimming with dolphins. This timeline overlaps with the early roots of the Drake-Budden tension.
Some fans have also retrospectively connected earlier indirect references in Drake’s catalog — particularly elements in “4PM in Calabasas” — to Jose. Older interview clips and social media posts recirculated after the leak show Drake making lighthearted comments about Budden’s then-girlfriend as far back as 2009–2010. This adds fuel to narratives of a personal rivalry that existed beneath the professional critiques.
Budden Responded Quickly, Framing the Diss as Content Opportunity
Following the leak of “1 AM in Albany,” Joe Budden addressed the track promptly during an X Spaces broadcast with his business partner Ian Schwartzman and on subsequent episodes of his podcast. He noted that the record appeared to direct bars at multiple figures, including Kendrick Lamar, LeBron James, and J. Cole. Also, he said the personal nature of the reference to him would drive significant interest in their platform’s coverage.
Budden stated, “If he doing that, we’re gonna have to paywall” and “If he’s doing that, we’re gonna have to pay-to-view.” He added that he had expected a less substantive approach. However, he recognized the clear market value in responding to the material. In his initial reactions, he avoided engaging with the specific claims in detail. So, instead he framed the exchange as content-generating rather than disruptive.
The response aligns with Budden’s evolution from rapper to media personality. Earlier rounds of the feud might have prompted a diss track in return. However, his 2026 reaction centered on how his platform could monetize the added attention. The X Spaces session and follow-up podcast episodes became the main vehicles for his reply rather than new music.
Drake’s ICEMAN Album Addresses Multiple Critics Across Its Tracks
“1 AM in Albany” is not the only track on ICEMAN or its companion projects that targets public figures. Reports indicate the album includes direct responses to DJ Khaled on the song “Make Them Pay,” along with additional commentary tied to Drake’s 2024 conflict with Kendrick Lamar. The triple-album rollout marks Drake’s first major solo release since that high-profile battle.
The main ICEMAN project consists of 18 tracks, with MAID OF HONOUR and HABIBTI serving as companion albums. While “1 AM in Albany” has not been confirmed as part of the official 18-track tracklist in every report — with some speculation that it may be a preview, bonus cut, or strategically held material — the leak still achieved its goal. It shifted pre-release focus onto the album’s content and reminded audiences of Drake’s readiness to directly engage his critics.
The leak surfaced shortly after Drake’s final promotional livestream, accelerating discussion well ahead of the official May 15 release. By the time ICEMAN officially dropped, the Budden diss had already been dissected, memed, and widely debated across social platforms.
The Leak Served Its Purpose: Attention on ICEMAN
Whether “1 AM in Albany” ultimately appears on the final version of ICEMAN or remains a leak, the track has already achieved what Drake likely intended. It transformed pre-release conversation from general anticipation into focused controversy, reminded audiences of his willingness to directly engage critics, and gave Budden fresh material for his podcast — driving more listeners to both sides.
For Budden, the exchange functions as much as an opportunity as an attack. His brand is built on commentary, and every Drake reference increases the relevance of his platform. The two have operated in this symbiotic cycle for a decade: Drake releases music, Budden critiques it, Drake responds, and Budden monetizes the attention. The pattern continues.
The personal nature of the bars in “1 AM in Albany” raised the stakes of their long-running feud. Yet the underlying dynamic remains unchanged — Drake raps, Budden talks, and both benefit from the spotlight.