Logic Asked What He & Joe Budden Have In Common: “We’re Both Black Men”

Logic was a recent guest on MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber, where he participated in a rapid fire round of questioning.

Melber, who clearly did his homework, asked him straight up what he had in common with longtime nemesis Joe Budden. Budden, of course, once said Logic was the “worst rapper” to ever pick up a mic. Looking straight at the camera, Logic said simply, “We’re both Black men.”

Melber shared a clip of the segment to his Instagram account and, as one can imagine, the comments were messy. One person said, “Logic is black, where?,” while another offered, “the whole Logic is Black thing is so weird to me.” Another netizen called him “White Hennessy.”

Others questioned why Melber would post that specific clip. As one person inquired, “Now Ari who made you post this ? I watched this when it aired and he clearly said that to get reaction cause it was cringy when he said it …even if his daddy black …he could have said they was both ‘rappers’ because why is that even the first thing he thought he had uncommon.”

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Logic, born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, was born to a Black father and white mother. He grew up in a difficult environment in Maryland, experiencing poverty, family addiction and racism—even from his own mother, who used racial slurs against him and his siblings. Among his seven biracial siblings, Logic has said he appears the most white, which has played a central role in the controversy surrounding his identity.

His light skin and white appearance have led many to question his authenticity as a Black artist within Hip-Hop. Some critics argue that because he “looks white,” he hasn’t faced the same societal challenges as visibly Black people, and therefore cannot fully claim a Black identity or speak on Black issues.

Logic frequently references his biracial identity and the struggles it brings in his music, especially on albums like Everybody. While some appreciate his openness, others have criticized him for bringing it up too often, perceiving it as repetitive or as a means to gain attention or sympathy. Jokes and memes about Logic “always mentioning he’s biracial” have become common.

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Logic has spoken publicly about the complexities of using the N-word as someone who’s biracial but appears white. He’s discussed the backlash and confusion this causes, both within the Black community and among wider audiences, further highlighting the challenges of navigating his identity in public.

He himself has acknowledged the pain of having his identity questioned and the difficulty of expressing his experiences when the world insists, “No, you’re not [Black]”.

Logic has been candid about the emotional toll of these controversies. He claims he’s never the first to bring up race in interviews but is constantly forced to explain or defend his identity. He raps about being called both the N-word and “cracker,” and about feeling caught between two worlds—never fully accepted by either.

“It’s scary to say, ‘This is who I am,’ and the world goes, ‘No, you’re not,’” he once said. “You know, ‘You haven’t experienced that, you didn’t grow up like this.’”