Joe Budden is expanding his media career into a new lane with the announcement of a true crime podcast titled Crime In America. The project is expected to arrive in August and will pair Budden with legendary television producer Dick Wolf, the creator behind the Law & Order franchise.
Budden revealed the upcoming series during a recent conversation with Forbes, where he discussed his podcast success, independent business model, and future plans as a media personality. While he did not reveal every detail about the show, he explained that Crime In America will explore real stories through a fresh and modern true crime lens.
According to Budden, true crime is a genre he personally follows closely. He said he watches a lot of true crime content and wants to bring his own perspective to the format. Instead of simply retelling cases in a traditional way, the podcast will focus on storytelling, analysis, and giving listeners a different type of conversation around crime, culture, and real-life events.
The partnership with Dick Wolf gives the project major credibility. Wolf is one of the most successful names in crime television, best known for creating Law & Order and building a massive television universe around crime, justice, investigations, and courtroom drama. His experience in scripted crime storytelling could help give Crime In America a strong structure and professional edge.
For Joe Budden, the move shows how far his career has evolved from rapper to one of the most influential voices in podcasting. After building The Joe Budden Podcast into a major platform, Budden has become known for his direct opinions, long-form conversations, business commentary, and ability to control his own media lane.
Crime In America also fits into Budden’s larger independent media strategy. Over the years, he has spoken openly about ownership, creator value, and the importance of building outside traditional systems. By partnering with Wolf and Headline while still maintaining his own brand identity, Budden appears to be expanding into a bigger media space without abandoning the independent approach that helped define his podcast career.
The true crime genre has become one of the most popular categories in podcasting, with audiences regularly tuning in for detailed case breakdowns, investigations, and real-life storytelling. Budden entering that space could bring a different audience to his network while also giving his current listeners something new from him.
While a full episode lineup, release schedule, and specific cases have not yet been revealed, Crime In America is already gaining attention because of the unexpected combination of Budden and Wolf. The pairing brings together hip-hop media, podcasting, crime storytelling, and television experience in a way that could make the show stand out.
For now, fans can expect Crime In America to arrive in August. If the project delivers on its promise, it could become another major step in Joe Budden’s transition from rapper and commentator to full-scale media entrepreneur.