Joe Budden has spoken out in support of Tsu Surf just ahead of the rapper’s virtual appearance in court to enter a plea in his federal racketeering case.

A segment of a new episode of the Joe Budden Podcast uploaded on October 22 was dedicated to the battle rapper. Budden expressed his support for Tsu Surf and his family, while also saying that he feels a level of guilt about the situation.

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“I’ll be honest, for me I’m a little conflicted on how I feel about it,” Joe Budden said. “Cuz like Black men in this country, I’m trying to see what part I’m responsible for. With this being my man and with me being older and just knowing a little more. But the truth is, there’s nothing you could do.”

He continued: “You just keep running the shit back to see what maybe you could have done differently or said differently to end in a different result.”

On Thursday (October 27), Tsu Surf entered a “not guilty” plea in the RICO case, appearing in a US District Court in Newark via teleconference, reporter Lisa Evers tweeted. She added that the artist, born Rahjon Cox, is still being held at the Essex County jail.

Tsu Surf was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service NY NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force at a home in Jersey City on October 13. According to RLS Media, he had barricaded himself inside a building in the 200 block of Wilkinson Avenue, before attempting to flee out of the back. Police officers had already set a perimeter around the building, which forced the rapper back inside.

Rich Homie Quan Now Rethinks His Lyrics Since YSL RICO Case
Rich Homie Quan Now Rethinks His Lyrics Since YSL RICO Case

After crisis negotiators joined law enforcement at the scene to encourage Tsu Surf to surrender peacefully, he turned himself in and was charged with racketeering.

Tsu Surf was one of 10 people named in an indictment handed down by a Newark grand Jury on October 15, Fox 5 NY reports. All of the suspects included in this RICO case are believed to be members of the Silverbacc Gorillas or “SBG,” an extension of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips.

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Tsu Surf and his co-defendants are accused of a number of crimes dating back as far as 2015, including drug trafficking, murder, robbery and automobile theft. The indictment covers incidents that took place in and around Newark, Irvington, Elizabeth and East Orange.

Federal prosecutors also accused Tsu Surf of shooting a rival gang member in 2017.