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.
Calm Down
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Calm down... calm down...
Baby just calm down...
(Calm down...)
She use to tell me to... calm down...
Moms use to tell me to... calm down...
Baby just calm down...
She use to tell me to... calm down...
(She would pray that I would) Baby just calm down...
Calm down...
[Joe Budden]
Look, I was such a lost soul, just wanted to be down with something
Look at your son now mommy I amounted to something
You couldn't figure out, what I had messed with the streets for
Cause you saw my genius without a SAT score
I took drugs and laced it with things
But you a addict yourself,
For you I was people places and things (how the fuck you thought)
Angeldust use to have me in the hallways twurked
I tried to hide it, but Visine didn't always work
I needed someone to blame in my mind
I thought if you and dad never used dope I would a came out fine
And so I igged you hard when you threw in advice
Like what I want to talk to you about you ruined my life
You the reason why I ended up a con and I knew it
The reason I filled my body with that bomin fluid, mommy
You the reason that my life's gone illegal
The reason I'm kinda different, don't think like normal people, not calm
[Chorus]
She use to tell me to... calm down...
Moms use to tell me to... calm down...
(Use to pray that I would) Baby just calm down...
You gotta hold your head up cause we gone make it
She use to tell me to... calm down...
Moms use to tell me to... calm down...
(You got to understand what I was going through)
Baby just calm down...
Everything's gonna be alright
She use to tell me to... calm down...
Moms use to tell me to... calm down...
(But a nigga wouldn't) Baby just calm down...
You gotta hold your head up cause we gone make it y'all
[Joe Budden]
Listen... ain't shit like seeing your moms crying on the floor
Knowing you the reason why she ain't alright no more
But so young, I was like whatever
You use to chase me through the house with the knife like get your life together
Fucking drugs, how could I ever amp on you
And what made me think that I could lay my hands on you
I'm not surprised that you mad at me
Much as you hated my father, your youngest son is just like his daddy
Mommy I live life rude, how could you not understand it
On the same note I'm just like you
I got moms sensitivity, my fathers balls,
His humor, his g, yet my heart is yours
Fuck school, cause I had my major
Come to grips that it ain't so much the drugs, it's the addict behavior (no)
Wasn't the dip jar, it's the cut that came with it
Wasn't really the smoking, but the rush that came with it (wasn't calm people)
[Chorus]
She use to tell me to... calm down...
Calm down...
(but a nigga wouldn't) Baby just calm down...
You gotta hold your head up cause we gone make it y'all
(do it with me people) Calm down...
Calm down...
(try to understand it) Baby just calm down...
(those kind of things) Everything's gonna be alright
Calm down... (just bare with me for a... for a brief moment y'all)
Calm down...
Baby just calm down...
You gotta hold your head up cause we gone make it y'all
[Joe Budden]
I felt so alone, I had a crew, but so what
Then when Angela stabbed me guess who showed up
And when people said I?d always be ill and twisted
And when the therapist had told us that the pills would fix it
Was sick of being sick, I was finally hurt
With all the praying that you did ma, it finally worked
God gave you a son back, I won't offend you again
Won't let the disease turn me against you again
Use to be high as ever, (but I) Joey Jr. got his life together
As a result, now we tighter than ever
So blessed, so grateful to be seeing tomorrow (see the whole world)
That's why I can't take a drink, not if even a swallow
I can't picture me twisted, like what I'm a do now
Haters I can't stop yet, my mothers to proud
Secure now, don't need to be down with nothing
Look at your son now mommy, I amounted to something
I'm so calm
[Chorus]
Calm down...
Calm down...
(but a nigga wouldn't calm down) Baby just calm down...
You gotta hold your head up cause we gone make it y'all (hold up)
She use to tell me to... calm down...
(Use to pray that I would) calm down...
(But I couldn't, I couldn't, couldn't do it) Baby just calm down...
(Nothing heals like time people) Everything's gonna be alright
(Understand that) calm down...
Calm down...
(Fucking miracle) Baby just calm down...
You gotta hold your head up cause we gone make it y'all
(They said I wouldn't reach 21 y'all... I'm still standing)
Calm down...
Thanks ma...
Calm down...
I couldn't do it without you
Calm down...
Calm down...
You are appreciated
Calm down...
Fa sho...
Calm down...
It's a slow process y'all
One day at a time though... to get beautiful
The song "Calm Down" by Joe Budden is a tribute to his mother, who he thanks for helping him overcome his drug addiction and reach success. In the intro, he repeats the phrase "calm down" as a message to himself and as a reminder of what his mother used to tell him when he was struggling with addiction. The first verse describes his past struggles with drugs and his feelings of blame towards his parents for their own drug use. He reflects on how he used to use Angel Dust (PCP) in the hallways and how he tried to hide it with Visine. He also raps about being addicted to the rush that came with drugs rather than the drugs themselves. Budden then sings about how his mother's love and prayers helped him turn his life around and how he now has a better relationship with her.
The chorus of the song features Budden singing "She used to tell me to calm down, but a nigga wouldn't, baby just calm down. You gotta hold your head up cause we gon' make it y'all," acknowledging that his mother tried to help him but that he didn't listen until much later. The second verse continues with Budden reflecting on how his drug addiction hurt his mother and how he was like his father, who she hated. He also talks about his father's personality traits that he inherited but notes that his heart belongs to his mother. Budden then acknowledges that it wasn't just the drugs that were the problem but also his addict behavior, which he describes as a disease.
Overall, "Calm Down" is a message of hope and thanks to Budden's mother for helping him overcome his addiction and become successful. It highlights the struggles of addiction and how family support can help someone overcome it.
Line by Line Meaning
Calm down...
Please relax and remain calm.
Baby just calm down...
Sweetheart, please try to calm down.
(Calm down...)
I'm emphasizing the importance of staying calm.
She use to tell me to... calm down...
This woman, who was important to me, used to advise me to remain calm.
Moms use to tell me to... calm down...
My mother, who I hold dear, used to urge me to stay calm.
She would pray that I would) Baby just calm down...
She would even pray that I would find peace and tranquility.
Calm down...
I'm repeating the need to calm down.
Look, I was such a lost soul, just wanted to be down with something
I was lost and searching for acceptance, just hoping to belong to something.
Look at your son now mommy I amounted to something
Mother, observe your son's achievements and accomplishments.
You couldn't figure out, what I had messed with the streets for
You couldn't understand my involvement with the dangerous streets.
Cause you saw my genius without a SAT score
You recognized my intelligence even though I didn't have a good SAT score.
I took drugs and laced it with things
I mixed drugs with other substances.
But you a addict yourself, for you I was people places and things (how the fuck you thought)
But you were an addict yourself, and I was just a means to satisfy your addiction (how did you expect me to turn out).
Angeldust use to have me in the hallways twurked
I used to be under the influence of angel dust, disoriented in the hallways.
I tried to hide it, but Visine didn't always work
I attempted to conceal it, but using Visine eye drops didn't always mask the effects.
I needed someone to blame in my mind
In my mind, I needed someone to hold responsible.
I thought if you and dad never used dope I would a came out fine
I believed that if you and dad never used drugs, I would have turned out fine.
And so I igged you hard when you threw in advice
And so I rejected your advice and pushed you away when you tried to offer guidance.
Like what I want to talk to you about you ruined my life
I blamed you for ruining my life whenever you tried to have a conversation with me.
You the reason why I ended up a con and I knew it
I believed that you were the reason I became a criminal.
The reason I filled my body with that bomin fluid, mommy
You were the reason I poisoned my body with harmful substances, mother.
You the reason that my life's gone illegal
You are the cause of my life being filled with illegal activities.
The reason I'm kinda different, don't think like normal people, not calm
You are the cause of me being somewhat peculiar, not thinking like typical individuals, and not being calm.
You gotta hold your head up cause we gone make it
You need to stay strong and optimistic because we will overcome this.
Everything's gonna be alright
Please understand that everything will turn out fine in the end.
Listen... ain't shit like seeing your moms crying on the floor
Let me tell you... there's nothing worse than witnessing your mother in tears on the floor.
Knowing you the reason why she ain't alright no more
Being aware that you are the cause of her emotional distress.
But so young, I was like whatever
But at such a young age, I didn't really care.
You use to chase me through the house with the knife like get your life together
You used to run after me in the house with a knife, telling me to get my act together.
Fucking drugs, how could I ever amp on you
Damn drugs, how could I ever get high and turn against you?
And what made me think that I could lay my hands on you
What made me believe that it was okay to physically harm you?
I'm not surprised that you mad at me
It's no surprise that you're angry with me.
Much as you hated my father, your youngest son is just like his daddy
As much as you despised my father, your youngest son is just like him.
Mommy I live life rude, how could you not understand it
Mommy, I live my life in a disrespectful manner, how can you not comprehend that?
On the same note I'm just like you
On a similar note, I am just like you.
I got moms sensitivity, my fathers balls, his humor, his g, yet my heart is yours
I possess my mother's sensitivity, my father's courage, his sense of humor, and his street smartness, yet my heart belongs to you.
Fuck school, cause I had my major
Forget about school since I found my true calling.
Come to grips that it ain't so much the drugs, it's the addict behavior (no)
I have come to realize that it's not only the drugs themselves, but the addictive behavior that is the real issue.
Wasn't the dip jar, it's the cut that came with it
It wasn't just the drugs themselves, but the harmful consequences that accompanied them.
Wasn't really the smoking, but the rush that came with it (wasn't calm people)
It wasn't solely the act of smoking, but rather the euphoric feeling that accompanied it (wasn't calm individuals).
You gotta hold your head up cause we gone make it y'all
You need to remain optimistic because we will overcome these challenges, everyone.
You got to understand what I was going through
You need to comprehend the difficulties I was facing.
But a nigga wouldn't) Baby just calm down...
But unfortunately, I couldn't find the peace and calmness you desired.
Nothing heals like time people
Time is the ultimate healer, my friends.
(Understand that) calm down...
(Please) calm down.
Fucking miracle) Baby just calm down...
A true miracle, my dear, so please try to remain calm.
They said I wouldn't reach 21 y'all... I'm still standing
They doubted that I would live to see my twenty-first birthday, but here I am, still standing.
Calm down...
Please relax and remain calm.
Thanks ma...
Thank you, mom.
I couldn't do it without you
I couldn't have achieved all of this without your support.
You are appreciated
Please know that you are valued and cherished.
Fa sho...
For sure...
It's a slow process y'all
Recovery and growth take time, everyone.
One day at a time though... to get beautiful
However, we must take it one day at a time to reach a beautiful outcome.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH ANTHONY BUDDEN, JOSEPH E. KULESZYNSKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind