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.
5th Gear
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mic check, mic check
Ye'... y'all know who it is. Ta-ha
Oh! Uh. Uh-uh-uh
It's... it's... it's that on top music!
Look, come an' cruise wit' me
I'm good in any hood, no matter who's wit' me
Or my mind was off music, 'till Clue hit me
An' told me keep it on the booth strictly.
So I step in, watchin' my surroundings and my settin'
Then I let the Percocet set in.
Rough year, lost five of my homeboys
I ain't worried 'bout it, y'all alive, just home boy.
I feel like I'm the last real nigga left, or...
Or maybe all the real niggas just left
We growin' extinct, we like Dinosaurs
There's only a few exceptions, so minus y'all.
The greatest rapper alive, is wearin' suits and ties
So you got a buncha' whack niggas sayin' they him.
Used to be if you strive for so somethin' you could achieve it
Now just say shit, these niggas'll believe it.
I'm done screamin' out Jump Off rules
Lost my girl, broke all of my Jump Off rules.
Kept fu'ckin' the side chick, so a nigga lied more
Picked 'er up in the womans car, that I ride for
Creepin', I would hide more
Got confused as to who I'm 'sposed to fight for
I can't even blame the jump, it was my fault
'Cause I gave 'er the gun and she killed the only bi'tch I would die for.
So the noise is calt' for
When you goin' through Ts type of Pain -
Dawg, ya voice gets altered.
Know it's hard to stay calm
Goin' need State Farm
When you fu'ckin' with a con
No, not Akon. (Let's go!)
I'm high off life, a walkin' napalm
Fastballs comin' at 'em from a Dice-K arm!
Ridin' suspended L
No wonder I'm on fire, I already been through Hell.
So... when the the World's against you well...
Naw, I never snitch, but I'll let the pencil tell.
I suffer from wrong thinkin' (so?)
So I avoid straightjackets
And the bi'tch that dumped Sean Kingston. (Hmmm)
Better they respect'chu then to fear you
I learnt' that starin' at the World in my rear view.
But come get me, cocksucker I dare you
Rather box a felon than a nigga that's fearful. (Understand some'...)
Want a clear view, wit'out a clear view
I put the wall up but thoughts just tear through.
God, I hear you, givin' me a earful (but...)
But I'mma cruise in 5th gear until I'm near you. (Oh!)
Eye of a Tiger, naw, a Sniper wit' great aim
I won't be another great slain. (Nigga!)
Takes planes, embrace pain
Ask Eddie Griffin -
You gun lose gon' lose everytime goin' up against a freight train.
Niggas bleed like us, we in the same World
Keep the Patron comin' try an' make the day hurl
It's a few niggas checkin' out my chain pearls
Go ahead, try' an lift somethin' that'chu can't curl!
Far from Wayne's World
If life's a bi'tch, it ain't just R. Kelly an' Ush' fu'ckin' the Same Girl (nope!).
OG swag, walk gotta' limp in it
It's my World, everybody's payin' rent in it.
I left Jers. see I took flight on 'em
Dudes tried ta' take the crown, (dawg...) didn't look right on 'em (naw!)
How you gon' fu'ck wit' a crook, heist want 'em
Play Vanilla Ice, I get Suge Knight on 'em!
Meanest Porsches, gleamin' crosses
Came from Queens to restore this
Deemed it in orbit
When the red carpet rolled out, that mean it's bosses
Don't get it fu'cked up, we had fiends before this.
My third-eye sharp, so keen it's gorgeous (oh)
I've seen it all, even Halloween in August (talk to 'em!)
Gun in my hand
The game used to make you sell ya soul -
Now it gotta' come wit' a dance.
I'm on the clear view (whoa!)
Wit'out a clear view (oh!)
I put the wall up, but thoughts just tear through (oh!)
God I hear you, givin' me a earful
But I'mma cruise in 5th gear until I'm near you. (Oh!)
In the opening lines, Joe Budden introduces himself and his music, noting that he is good in any neighborhood and his mind is focused on making money and listening to new music until DJ Clue advises him to stay in the booth. He then reflects on a year that has been rough, revealing that he has lost five of his friends but remains unbothered since the rest are alive. He feels he is the only true representative of real rappers left, with many going extinct just like dinosaurs. He acknowledges that some rappers claim to be the greatest of all time despite being wack, but he knows the greatest is one wearing suits and ties.
He then opens up about some personal struggles, admitting to breaking all his Jump Off’s rules and cheating on his girlfriend, leading to confusion as to whom he should fight for. Ironically, he gave his female side chick a gun, resulting in her killing the one woman he would have died for. He trades bars about pain, retaliation, and keeping his calm before emphatically stating that he would rather “box a felon than a nig** that’s fearful.” He talks about his experience in life’s struggles, likening himself to a tiger with a good aim and a freight train that demolishes anything that meets it. He asserts that everyone in the world is the same, and there are only a few niggas checking his chain pearls that they can't curl. To conclude, he reflects on his top-notch status, noting that he left Jersey behind and took flight. Budden’s lyrics in “5th Gear” reflect his raw and honest attitude, chronicling a life of personal struggles, ambition, and determination to thrive in the rap scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Mic check, mic check
Introduction to the song, preparing the audience for what's to come.
I'm good in any hood, no matter who's wit' me
Being comfortable and accepted in any environment, regardless of the people present.
My mind on gettin' money, bumpin' new 50
Focussed on making money while listening to new music from 50 Cent.
Or my mind was off music, 'till Clue hit me
Previously lost interest in music until DJ Clue inspired him to keep making music.
So I step in, watchin' my surroundings and my settin'
Approaching things cautiously and being aware of the environment.
I feel like I'm the last real nigga left, or...
Feeling like he's one of the only genuine people in the current generation.
There's only a few exceptions, so minus y'all.
There are few exceptions to the lack of authenticity in the current time, not including some individuals.
Used to be if you strive for so somethin' you could achieve it
In the past, hard work would pay off and lead to success.
Now just say shit, these niggas'll believe it.
People today are more gullible and will believe anything someone says without proof.
Lost my girl, broke all of my Jump Off rules.
Violated the rules of his previous relationship and lost his partner as a result.
Got confused as to who I'm 'sposed to fight for
Unclear as to who he should defend or be loyal to.
I can't even blame the jump, it was my fault
Accepting responsibility for his actions and not blaming his infidelity on others.
So the noise is calt' for
Preparing for the upcoming difficult times and struggles.
But come get me, cocksucker I dare you
Challenging anyone to come and try to bring him down.
Rather box a felon than a nigga that's fearful.
Preferring to fight someone who is not afraid, rather than someone who is scared and unpredictable.
I won't be another great slain.
Refusing to become another victim or casualty of fame.
Far from Wayne's World
Not living a lifestyle like Lil Wayne's.
If life's a bi'tch, it ain't just R. Kelly an' Ush' fu'ckin' the Same Girl
Life is difficult, but it's not just R. Kelly and Usher experiencing the same struggles and problems.
I left Jers. see I took flight on 'em
Leaving New Jersey and pursuing success elsewhere.
How you gon' fu'ck wit' a crook, heist want 'em
Why would you mess with someone who is known for stealing, as they could steal from you too.
The game used to make you sell ya soul -
In the past, success in the music industry required sacrificing one's values and morals.
Now it gotta' come wit' a dance.
Today, success in the music industry requires a catchy dance or tune to go viral.
God I hear you, givin' me a earful
Acknowledging that God is speaking to him and he needs to listen.
Contributed by Jake L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ramal S
Joe got me through a lot of hard times
Dewayne Darmanie
ur not alone
XeroFailGames
I think joe had the most hype rap songs...shit makes you wanna get your adrenaline going
Percy Mack
Exactly why this mixtape got a 5 star review
Kilo Corleone
My goodness!!!! This takes me back ! Wish Buddens was still rappin
shadow moses
I wish dude still rapped
Michael Pichardo
Came back for the classic . Joe to gifted 🔥
Charlie Brown
*too
lando0901
Still fire in 2021
see more bx
Then i step in watching my surroundings and my settings then I let the Percocet set in!💯