Why did Logic call out Def Jam in 2022? Rapper admits to half-heartedly creating songs to be let go by the record label 

Logic recently claimed that he intentionally created low-effort songs to terminate his contract with Def Jam Recordings, a strategy stemming from his 2022 public criticism of the label. This admission surfaced during the Discussion 4 skit from his June 2025 collaborative album Live and in Color with Juicy J.

"The only time I ever half-as*ed some sh*t was when I was trying to get out of my Def Jam deal," he stated. "I was like, take these songs and get the f*ck out of here."

This approach directly followed his viral Instagram outburst in 2022, where he accused Def Jam of mishandling his releases despite his creative preferences. The conflict began when Logic discovered Def Jam planned to release his tracks Decades and Tetris as simultaneous singles instead of the "two-pack" format he requested.

In a now-deleted May 2022 video posted hours after the singles dropped, he confronted the label, asking in the video why they were messing up with his releases. He specifically exempted executive Tunji Balogun from criticism, focusing anger on institutional decisions. He also rejected Def Jam’s stance on withholding music videos to appease partners.

"I don’t give a f*ck about none of that shit. I care about my fans, man. I care about hip-hop. I care about music," he said.

This friction culminated in Vinyl Days, his final Def Jam album released later in 2022. Logic confirmed on the Impaulsive podcast that he crafted the entire project in just 12 days to fulfill contractual obligations. Despite the rushed process, he took pride in the output.

"I made that album so I could leave, and guess what? I left them with some of the dopest sh*t I could give them," he said on the podcast.

The album arrived after his July 2020 retirement announcement and two 2021 projects (YS Collection Vol. 1 and Bobby Tarantino III), underscoring his urgency to exit the label.

---

Juicy J’s praise for Logic and unrelated extravagance

The Discussion 4 skit from the Live and in Color album, where the Take It Back singer admitted his "half-as*ed" strategy, also featured high praise from collaborator Juicy J. The Three 6 Mafia legend drew direct parallels to pop royalty, declaring:

"Michael Jackson was a superstar. Logic is a superstar. Juicy J is a superstar."

This mutual respect framed their collaborative album, contrasting sharply with Logic’s strained label relationship. In a separate May 2025 revelation, he surprised influencer Bobbi Althoff on The Really Good Podcast with his lavish approach to mundane items.

He showcased a $6000 Montblanc gold pen, explaining its refillable "best ink in the world." When Althoff questioned the cost, he revealed around "250 bucks", adding that replacing cheaper items was inefficient.

"Instead of buying 10 sh*t briefcases that are gonna fall apart over the next decade of my life, I can just get a really incredible one that’ll last a lifetime," he said.

The singer defended his spending by saying that it was due to his financial success, and also cited philanthropy. He said that he donated to various organisations that help single mothers and "all types of things like that."

---

Logic’s confession contextualizes his 2022 label criticism and the intentionally rushed Vinyl Days. Juicy J's "superstar" remark about Logic appeared on their collaborative album. The singer has stepped into filmmaking now, and his directorial debut, Paradise Records, premiered this year at the Tribeca Festival to rave reviews.