Joe Budden (born August 31, 1980 in Spanish Harlem, New York) is a rapper f… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Budden (born August 31, 1980 in Spanish Harlem, New York) is a rapper from Jersey City, New Jersey. In recent years he has come to prominence as one of the most skilled and sought-for rappers in the game, despite his best work being on the internet mixtape circuit.
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.
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.
12. WELCOME TO REAL LIFE
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Yo, I seen shorty on the staircase
In front of an empty beer case weird face
Almost like he was scared straight
Like he ain't have a care in life
(uh) , wipin' tears from his eyes
That already appeared to have been dried
We chopped it, said he was adopted
And there's a lot of shit he
Just tucks in his closet (uh)
Real calm, said he'd always feel harm
And all he want to do is meet
His real dad and real mom
All the nice home and clothes do is remind me
(how when) in all these years
They ain't even tried to find me
Never mind love
I feel like they never liked me
If I thought there was a God
I would ask the nigga "why me?"
But some things you better
Off havin' never knew
Maybe they wanted better for you
Than they could ever do you got a family
I see that you don't care for them
But love gon' always be love
No matter where it's from
What if I said your moms couldn't give birth
Contemplated leavin' Earth
'til you brought her life worth
Whatever you goin through
Could always be much worse
Don't make a mistake
Mistakin' your blessings for a curse (so)
So, told dude you in the right place
Right here can't run to your corner when
Life don't wanna fight fair (talk to 'em)
Things'll become quite clear
When you decide to wake up and
Stop havin' fantasies about a nightmare
(oh) , yeah
They don't see, who you are
They too busy posin' (uh)
But the front won't go far
Just thank God your fantasy ain't real
(welcome to real life) fantasy to real life
You got everything but ain't got nothin'
Fantasy to real life
You got everything but ain't got nothin'
(Welcome to real life)
Yeah, you damn right she on her high horse
She say "don't worry 'bout hers nigga
Ride yours"
Before you talk, clean your own backyard
Souped up and sought after by
The athletes and rap stars (uh)
Developin' a name, creepin to fame
She quick to trade her vagina for
A seat at the game
And it's so foul, she don't see the shame
In the act or the fact that she
View it as an equal exchange (oh)
But she stay with the newest on, Louboutins
Buyin' groceries with coupons
Sleepin' on a futon
No self-esteem to cover her
Lack of confidence she get on Twitter
Retweetin' all the compliments
Pretty face, nice strut with a nice butt
Disguise of a slut
Only tryin' to get wifed up
But when it's party time
She won't be a second late
Once she leaves VIP
It's back home to Section 8
What confused me is niggas tried to kick it
But she come across bougie
In her best friend's jewelry
Part-time mother
(but) , but somethin' real shady when her
Two year old daughter much
Closer to the babysitter (uh)
Cry when she alone
Product of a broke down home (yeah)
Won't change 'cause she already grown
(talk to 'em) already set in her ways
No need in tryin' to help (talk to 'em)
So she'd rather find wealth before
She can find herself (oh) , yeah
They don't see, who you are
They too busy posin' (yeah)
But the front won't go far (uh)
Just thank God your fantasy ain't real
(welcome to real life) fantasy to real life
You got everything
(tah) but ain't got nothin'
Fantasy to real life (uh)
You got everything but ain't got nothin'
(talk to 'em)
You can be what you want
But it's too much for ya to let go
Ain't got to be somethin' else (uh)
Better off just bein' yourself
Ain't gonna get you far (never)
When you gonna wake up and
Deal with the real life? The real life
(Tah, welcome to real life)
Real quick
Let me introduce y'all to Maverick
Lifetime addict
Who recently kicked the habit (uh)
Lookin' for a job
Companies won't let him have it
'Cause there's drug and gun charges up
And down his whole jacket (uh)
Constantly rejected
Can't deal with the aggravation (so)
So now he scared to be
Honest on the application past caught up
'cause every door shuts like "sorry
We can't help ya"
Then it's back home to the shelter (oh)
Nothin' to lose
Givin' up like many other minions
Pendin' his trial in the
Court of public opinion
'Til he got a call from a temp agency
Said they had a void
Asked could he fill the vacancy? (okay)
Unlike what he appears
Been employee of the month for a year
(I guess) self doubt is related to fear
And they'll never replace him
If ya gon' catch up with your dreams
Gotta be willin' to chase them (oh) , yeah
They don't see, who you are
They just see your posin'
But the front won't go far
You can turn your fantasy to real
Fantasy to real life
You got everything but ain't got nothin'
Fantasy to real life
You got everything but ain't
Got nothin', nothin', nothin'
In front of an empty beer case weird face
Almost like he was scared straight
Like he ain't have a care in life
(uh) , wipin' tears from his eyes
That already appeared to have been dried
We chopped it, said he was adopted
And there's a lot of shit he
Real calm, said he'd always feel harm
And all he want to do is meet
His real dad and real mom
All the nice home and clothes do is remind me
(how when) in all these years
They ain't even tried to find me
Never mind love
I feel like they never liked me
If I thought there was a God
I would ask the nigga "why me?"
But some things you better
Off havin' never knew
Maybe they wanted better for you
Than they could ever do you got a family
I see that you don't care for them
But love gon' always be love
No matter where it's from
What if I said your moms couldn't give birth
Contemplated leavin' Earth
'til you brought her life worth
Whatever you goin through
Could always be much worse
Don't make a mistake
Mistakin' your blessings for a curse (so)
So, told dude you in the right place
Right here can't run to your corner when
Life don't wanna fight fair (talk to 'em)
Things'll become quite clear
When you decide to wake up and
Stop havin' fantasies about a nightmare
(oh) , yeah
They don't see, who you are
They too busy posin' (uh)
But the front won't go far
Just thank God your fantasy ain't real
(welcome to real life) fantasy to real life
You got everything but ain't got nothin'
Fantasy to real life
You got everything but ain't got nothin'
(Welcome to real life)
Yeah, you damn right she on her high horse
She say "don't worry 'bout hers nigga
Ride yours"
Before you talk, clean your own backyard
Souped up and sought after by
The athletes and rap stars (uh)
Developin' a name, creepin to fame
She quick to trade her vagina for
A seat at the game
And it's so foul, she don't see the shame
In the act or the fact that she
View it as an equal exchange (oh)
But she stay with the newest on, Louboutins
Buyin' groceries with coupons
Sleepin' on a futon
No self-esteem to cover her
Lack of confidence she get on Twitter
Retweetin' all the compliments
Pretty face, nice strut with a nice butt
Disguise of a slut
Only tryin' to get wifed up
But when it's party time
She won't be a second late
Once she leaves VIP
It's back home to Section 8
What confused me is niggas tried to kick it
But she come across bougie
In her best friend's jewelry
Part-time mother
(but) , but somethin' real shady when her
Two year old daughter much
Closer to the babysitter (uh)
Cry when she alone
Product of a broke down home (yeah)
Won't change 'cause she already grown
(talk to 'em) already set in her ways
No need in tryin' to help (talk to 'em)
So she'd rather find wealth before
She can find herself (oh) , yeah
They don't see, who you are
They too busy posin' (yeah)
But the front won't go far (uh)
Just thank God your fantasy ain't real
(welcome to real life) fantasy to real life
You got everything
(tah) but ain't got nothin'
Fantasy to real life (uh)
You got everything but ain't got nothin'
(talk to 'em)
You can be what you want
But it's too much for ya to let go
Ain't got to be somethin' else (uh)
Better off just bein' yourself
Ain't gonna get you far (never)
When you gonna wake up and
Deal with the real life? The real life
(Tah, welcome to real life)
Real quick
Let me introduce y'all to Maverick
Lifetime addict
Who recently kicked the habit (uh)
Lookin' for a job
Companies won't let him have it
'Cause there's drug and gun charges up
And down his whole jacket (uh)
Constantly rejected
Can't deal with the aggravation (so)
So now he scared to be
Honest on the application past caught up
'cause every door shuts like "sorry
We can't help ya"
Then it's back home to the shelter (oh)
Nothin' to lose
Givin' up like many other minions
Pendin' his trial in the
Court of public opinion
'Til he got a call from a temp agency
Said they had a void
Asked could he fill the vacancy? (okay)
Unlike what he appears
Been employee of the month for a year
(I guess) self doubt is related to fear
And they'll never replace him
If ya gon' catch up with your dreams
Gotta be willin' to chase them (oh) , yeah
They don't see, who you are
They just see your posin'
But the front won't go far
You can turn your fantasy to real
Fantasy to real life
You got everything but ain't got nothin'
Fantasy to real life
You got everything but ain't
Got nothin', nothin', nothin'
The lyrics to Joe Budden's song "Welcome to Real Life" delve into three different narratives that explore the challenges and struggles faced by individuals in various aspects of life.
In the first verse, Budden tells the story of a young man who feels neglected and abandoned by his adoptive family. He shares the pain and longing of wanting to meet his biological parents, feeling like he was never truly loved or accepted. Despite the material comforts he has in life, they only serve as painful reminders of his emotional isolation. Budden tries to provide comfort and perspective, reminding him that love will always be love, regardless of where it comes from.
The second verse shifts focus to a woman who seeks validation and a sense of worth through attention from athletes and rap stars. She compromises her self-respect by using her sexuality as currency, believing that it is an equal exchange for fame and success. Budden highlights the contradiction in her behavior, as she presents herself as classy and high-value but is actually struggling financially and emotionally. He addresses the underlying issues of self-esteem and the need for her to find her own identity before seeking external validation.
Finally, in the third verse, Budden introduces Maverick, a reformed drug addict who is trying to turn his life around. Despite his past mistakes and a criminal record, he faces constant rejection from employers who dismiss him based on his history. The system seems to be working against him, making it difficult for him to break free from his circumstances. However, he ultimately finds a job and proves his worth, showing that with determination and persistence, one can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
Overall, "Welcome to Real Life" brings attention to the complexities and challenges faced by individuals in different walks of life. It explores themes of identity, self-worth, the struggle for acceptance, and the need for resilience and perseverance.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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