His music initially gained popularity on New York City's famous mixtape circuit in 2002. Although his biggest mainstream hit to-date is 2003's up-tempo "Pump It Up," Budden is known for his reflective and often insecure lyrics. He is widely considered one of hip-hop's most gifted lyricists, thanks largely in part to his numerous works on mixtapes by such DJ's as DJ Clue, Clinton Sparks, DJ On Point, and DJ Envy.
On one particular mixtape song, called "Crosscountry Connection", Joe started a feud with the G-Unit camp. The Game took offense to a line where Joe claims that gangsta rappers should "be in a G-Unit video with all the gangsta actors", obviously claiming G-Unit are fake gangstas. Unbeknownst to Budden, The Game had just recently signed with the G-Unit camp. The Game and G-Unit fired a few diss songs Budden's way; he replied in kind. The feud was ended when The Game and Budden met in a club in New York City and put the past aside.
During winter and spring of 2005, through Joe Budden mixtapes and hip-hop rumor mills, it was said that he departed from Def Jam to Roc-A-Fella Records with CEO Damon Dash. In reality, Budden was legally obligated to stay with Def Jam. In the beginning of Budden's career, it took him a long time to get public exposure, working more than three years from the first time his demo tapes were heard to the first time he was on the radio. He has appeared on many tracks with other artists including 112, Amerie, Brandy, Cassidy, Fabolous, Fat Joe, Freeway, Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Jin, Kelly Rowland, Lil' Kim, LL Cool J, Marques Houston, Usher, and more recently a remix to the hit song "Hollaback Girl" with Gwen Stefani. Some of these were not official remixes, simply mixtape tracks where a Joe Budden verse was added to an existing song.
Though he is thought of as one of rap's most skilled lyricists, Budden's success outside of the mixtape circuit has been marginal purposely. He is known to have invested in real estate in North Jersey and instead of blowing up into the rap scene he decided to make money from other methods instead of getting a record deal. His music is usually more sensitive and thought provoking than that of gangsta rappers, but subsequently, it is also more explicit and unrelenting than most "conscious" or "backpack" rappers.
In late December of 2005, Joe released a mixtape after almost 5 months of being absent from the game. Mood Muzik 2 is considered by most to be a lyrical masterpiece and with so deep tracks such as "Dumb Out" and the emotional "3 Sides to a Story" (in which Joe harrowingly describes a disturbing situation), many wondered had these songs originally been scheduled to appear on The Growth.
In 2007, he was released by Def Jam. In December 2007, he released Mood Muzik 3, which many are calling the best mixtape of the year, with some even saying it's the album of the year since it contains all original material. Some have questioned this since the beat for 'Ventilation' is an edit of 'It's A Shame (Da Butcher's Mix)' by Kool G Rap.
In October 2008, Joe Budden released another highly-rated mixtape, Halfway House; featuring album cuts such as 'Touch & Go' and a snippet of 'Blood On The Wall', a diss to Prodigy of Mobb Deep.
In his career up to his 2nd album, he has worked with artists such as Busta Rhymes and Christina Milian, and has been involved in feuds with rapper The Game and G-Unit. He has since reconciled with The Game.
Since this reconciliation, Joe Budden signed to Amalgam Digital records, and both artists finalized the beef and have collaborated on the single 'The Future' for Joe Budden's now-released 2nd album, Padded Room. The album released February 24th in the U.S. and March 3rd in Canada.
#1
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Let's go back in the days before your present
Back when it was a little more pleasent
Before I knew this rap shit would ever lure me in
Let's go back like Mike Fox in the Delorean
Back in the day shit, back to the basics
When brass knuckles used to leave a nigga face ticked
Its back to the Diadoras and the Asics
I'm Number one, one, one, one
Damn it feels good to see hip-hop sayin somethin'
Let's go way back if you able to do the math yeah
I'm talkin' bout the pool table in the cafe yeah
When the strip was introduce to Paruiqo
Commodore 64 and Coleco
Not back to Cali back to the valley
Back to dapadere yall back to Bally's
Back before Puma and Stange'
Before Zhane and go a little further back to Kwame
Damn we came a long way
I'm Number one, one, one, one
Damn it feels good to see hip-hop ?
I remeber break dancin' cardboards and backflips
the royal blue and the orange Patricks
wudn't like you homo sucka's
I had the low top Converse cause I could change my logos color
I remember way back when every clan was stylin'
Flava Flav clocks and X-Clan medallions
In class see a girl you glance at her
pass her a note do you like me? Circle a answer
I'm Number one, one, one, one
Damn it feels good to see hip-hop sayin somethin
Winters not the best time warm it up Kane had came through
The eight ball jackets and Columbia Rain suits
We ain't pay minds to the length of our chains
Transformers was a dance Decepticons was a gang
yall I'm talkin bout sheep skins
Talkin bout wearn two pair of jeans when moms gave me a beatin'
after school three o clock we was able to fight
park dibs yall two turn tables and mike like
I'm Number one, one, one, one
Damn it feels good to see hip-hop sayin somethin
What about when Public Enemy came out and they dropped a classic
or the Pee-Wee Herman and the Roger Rabbit
and the nerds took our tests and they passed em for us
back to the roof top back to latin quarters
the olds school's new school now it's the same ol
It's back to Fila's, gazelles and Kango's
It's back to 40 ounces back to OE
Not back to rope chains but back to Gold teeth
I was the class clown just snappin at cats
Let's go back to the (?) with the matchin' hats
Remember the Real Roxanne remember all (?)
Remember Kool Moe Dee remember Lord Finesse
I bumped Run-D.M.C. almost every weekend
The Bronx and Queensbridge just couldn't stop beefin'
Kept it on wax they ain't have to pack heat
Back to Ron Zee tapes back to Black Sheep
I'm Number one, one, one, one
Damn it feels good to see hip-hop sayin somethin
Come on say it with me
Im talkin' old Bobby Brown before he (?) Whitney
I used bring all my touys in the tub with me
A snotty nose kid eatin boogers
It was Ultimate Warrior and Jimmy Fly Snooka on
sometimes I read scriptures like Psalms maybe
and I didn't wanna go to church but my moms made me
TV made me laugh
I remember night rider cause Kit used to save his ass
Let's go back to spoonin' back to Black Moon and
back to when wrestlin' had it's own cartoon and
they used to sleep on us now they demand us
Will smith told parents they just can't understand us
back to playin the dozens
back to humpin' our prettiest girl cousin
psyche! I'm buggin.
NWA was simply known
Let' get back on the block I'm talkin Quincy Jones
I gotta Jones yall
I'm Number one, one, one, one
Damn it feels good to see hip-hop sayin somethin
Let's go back before I burned the booth
when Tevin Campbell was ill before the whole world learned the truth
Hip hop had a message then dudes was droppin
I never got what I wanted on back to school shoppin'
Think about, used to be about shit
That was back when I still got easter outfits
We all grew up all older folks
Its more than just music its a culture folks
We Number one, one, one, one
Damn it feels good to see hip-hop sayin somethin
Remember sugar water
what was the name of the fuckin' drink
that they said the fuckin triple K
The Klu Klux Klan and shit had put some shit in and
The black niggaz were gon' die - huh?
Whatever that was, you niggaz knew about it
In Joe Budden's song "#1," the lyrics take us on a journey back in time, reminiscing about the earlier days before the rapper's present success. The song highlights the nostalgia and appreciation for the simpler times and the foundations of hip-hop. The lyrics paint a picture of a time when life was more pleasant, before the allure of the rap industry seduced him. The references to Michael J. Fox in the DeLorean allude to going back in time to relive those moments.
The lyrics also pay homage to various aspects of the culture. From classic hip-hop groups like New Edition and Take 6 to iconic fashion brands like Diadoras and Asics, the song celebrates the essence of old-school hip-hop. The mention of breakdancing, schoolyard crushes, and cultural icons such as Flavor Flav and Transformers further immerses the listener in the golden era of the genre. The lyrics also touch on the influence of significant artists like Public Enemy and the impact of hip-hop on society.
Overall, "#1" serves as a reflection on the evolution of hip-hop and the importance of remembering and appreciating its roots.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Abrim Jr. Tilmon, Rodney Lemay, Joseph Anthony Budden, Lawrence Krsone Parker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind