“I can't sit them and censor them”- N.O.R.E. opens up about Kodak Black’s controversial Drink Champs appearance

Drink Champs host N.O.R.E. recently spoke up about the backlash over Kodak Black's show. People couldn't stop talking about the rapper's off-the-wall actions during the episode. In a chat on The Joe Budden Podcast, N.O.R.E. opened up on why he didn't step in or cut the interview short, even though viewers were worried.

The seasoned rapper and host believes his job isn't to police guests but to let them be themselves, warts and all.

"As an OG, I don't need clickbait. But as an OG in this rap game, I also have to let other people be who they are," said N.O.R.E. "Like I can't sit them and censor them."

He pointed out that this view comes from his time in the business and his aim is not to shape a story but to show the real deal of a guest's situation and tale. When talking about Kodak's attitude, N.O.R.E. mentioned that the rapper's actions on the show weren't out of the ordinary or unexpected. He said he'd seen Kodak acting many times, even when not in public. He remembered often running into Kodak at a nearby bank, where Kodak would show up barefoot and acting strangely.

"Kodak Black, I see at the bank every two days. This is what you don't know. Like, I see him and he's crazy. He's there with no shoes on," N.O.R.E. added. "I had to let Kodak be who he was."

N.O.R.E. stands firm after fans react to Kodak Black's wild Drink Champs appearance. He let Kodak be his true self, no matter the backlash. Get the story behind the interview: https://t.co/zG5bxrvRDW pic.twitter.com/qpkn3KORln

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) July 6, 2025

Concerns grow over Kodak Black’s behavior and health

Kodak Black’s appearance on Drink Champs started a lot of conversations online. Clips from the episode showed the rapper looking out of it and restless. Joe Budden brought up the topic while talking to N.O.R.E. on his podcast. He said he was worried about Kodak, pointing to the interview and some other recent moments in the public eye.

"Kodak Black looked like pure shit on Drink Champs," Budden said. "And he looked like shit when he was wiggling around on the floor, talking to himself in the dark when his man was taping him … didn't look the greatest when he dodged that bullet from two feet away that we all watched."

Kodak Black’s battles with drug use have been more noticeable. During a freestyle on On The Radar, he called himself a “young n***a with a meth habit.” This has made people wonder even more about his health and whether he has the right kind of help.

As the Drink Champs episode keeps growing popular, N.O.R.E. emphasizes that his goal is to create an unfiltered space for guests to share their thoughts, allowing the audience to decide how to interpret them.