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.
Castles
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So why don't I say it
I'll only say this one time
Just once
Just listen
Check this
My castle started shrinking, something's gotta give
One of the reasons I would do away with fame, to say the least
Don't know who these people are, their names ain't on the lease
It's a different type of monster, entertainment is a beast
Was supposed to eat together, then I became the main feast
If you preying on my kindness, taking advantage of Joe's cool
I'd have to ask, what's your definition of soul food?
I bust my ass for my whole life, and I worked hard for my profit
And envy I know cuts like a knife, so you probably work hard to stop it
If you know me like you claim then how could you disregard my logic?
You know I cut my arm short and put my heart in my pocket
A pretty good judge of character, maybe I mistaked a few
Cut some people off, but had no choice, it's what they made me do
Why would you take advantage when it's something I'd have gave to you?
And in the long run, it doesn't take from me, it takes from you
You'll probably tell me I'm a fucked up nigga
You got it wrong, I just won't be fucked up with you
Which forces me to get distant, and I never want to act a way with you
But passion and desire never blends with lackadaisical
No longer enable you, that's no longer favorable
But pride is on your sleeve, so you'll just act like nothing phases you
Which can never equal good, in fact
So love can't be lost, I know exactly where I put it at
Word got no problem with nobody though
So have no problem with me figured
It's no beef, no malice
I got no vendetta with y'all
So I only want better for myself
Might even want better for y'all
My castle started shrinking, I tried my best to fight it
Don't know how it happened, don't know how they got invited
Was good with cabin fever, and maybe that helped create the space
Fuck your good intentions, more concerned with what's taking place
But everyone feels entitled, made up their mind they got a right to
My peers transforming right before my eyes into my rivals
Y'all can have the cars, y'all can have the clothes, take all that shit that I don't love
I'm learning fast that recognition is its own drug
And what's worse than some of your actions being feminine
Is I got no way of knowing if your moves are really genuine
You there when it's right, better be there when it's dark
You wasn't there for the ride, don't be there when I park
Figure I love niggas enough to let the world come and stay with me
And I'll stay trapped in this room to keep y'all away from me
What's supposed to happen when I'm not hot anymore?
Your job rely on me being crazy, but what if I'm not anymore?
The funny shit, them molly's were cool when we all were doing 'em
But nobody recalled when I was the only one they were ruining
I learned a long time ago in life that not much is fair
So No Love Lost, but not much is there
Deja vu, this happened rapidly before
Everyday's a constant struggle and you're a casualty of war
Which could only equal good, in fact
So love isn't lost, I know exactly where I put it at
In Joe Budden's song "Castles," the rapper describes his struggles with fame and the people in his life who he feels are taking advantage of him. The metaphor of a shrinking castle represents how his world is closing in on him and becoming too small for comfort. He speaks to those who are preying on his kindness and taking advantage of his "cool" and questions their definition of "soul food." He laments the fact that he is unable to trust those who were once his friends and how people feel entitled to what he has earned. While he still wants what's best for himself and others, he acknowledges that it's okay to cut toxic people out of his life.
The theme of "Castles" is the rap industry's cutthroat nature and how it can isolate even the most charismatic and "cool" of people. Budden's controversial personality and behavior have led to public feuds with other rappers, and the song shows the costs of these actions. The lyrics show how people will use Budden's past behavior to discredit him, even as he tries to move past it.
The song highlights the tension that arises between one's passion and desire and their lackadaisical approach to life. Budden's successful career has allowed him to live in his "castle," but the same path that led him to the top also caused it to shrink. The lyrics talk about the fear of losing love but reassuring that he knows exactly where he put it.
Line by Line Meaning
My castle started shrinking, something's gotta give
Joe Budden's living space is getting smaller and he needs to do something about it.
Ended up being the smallest place that I had ever lived
His current situation is the worst he's ever encountered.
One of the reasons I would do away with fame, to say the least
Joe doesn't enjoy being famous and would easily trade it for something else.
Don't know who these people are, their names ain't on the lease
People around him are unknown freeloaders, potentially taking advantage of him.
It's a different type of monster, entertainment is a beast
Fame is a beast that takes over your life in ways difficult to imagine.
You know I cut my arm short and put my heart in my pocket
Joe is sacrificing himself for others despite their lack of gratitude.
Cut some people off, but had no choice, it's what they made me do
He had to let go of people who were taking advantage of him.
And in the long run, it doesn't take from me, it takes from you
Taking advantage of him doesn't harm him, it harms the person doing it.
No longer enable you, that's no longer favourable
He won't enable people taking advantage of him anymore because it doesn't benefit him.
But pride is on your sleeve, so you'll just act like nothing phases you
People will try to pretend that they don't care when caught doing wrong.
Which can never equal good, in fact
Pretending like nothing is wrong never leads to anything good.
My castle started shrinking, I tried my best to fight it
Joe did his best to stop his space from getting smaller.
But everyone feels entitled, made up their mind they got a right to
People feel like they deserve things, even when they don't.
Y'all can have the cars, y'all can have the clothes, take all that shit that I don't love
Joe is willing to give up material possessions he doesn't value.
I'm learning fast that recognition is its own drug
Getting attention and recognition can be addictive.
Which could only equal good, in fact
Acknowledging the addiction is a good thing.
So No Love Lost, but not much is there
Love is not the problem, but there isn't much else there either.
Everyday's a constant struggle and you're a casualty of war
Life is a battle and sometimes people end up getting hurt.
Which could only equal good, in fact
Acknowledging the struggle can be a good thing.
So love isn't lost, I know exactly where I put it at
He still loves, but not blindly, and knows where he directed his love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joseph Anthony Budden, Anderson Hernandez, Allen Ritter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Colicchie
He's the reason I still make music. Biggest influence!!!!
Curtis Lee
@B. Steady this cat is amazing. And Hella slept on.... 😴. DUUUUDE LETS THUMP THIS SHIT EVERYDAY UNTIL JOE WANTS TO COME BACC 😤 😒 🙄... 🤞
B. Steady
I found your music in rehab 8 months ago. Amazing. By Gods grace Im still sober 🙏
stevie fresh
Love this
Gabriel Lynch
Colicchie villaincity1 on sound cloud let me know what you think
p col
I wish Joe knew what this album helped me through. At the time this album dropped I was homeless, a drug addict, alcoholic. This fucking album helped me through some fucked up shit, felt like every fucking song off this album fit something going on in my life. I'll forever love Joe for this shit. He may never know, but his lyrics helped me become a better person and battle demons.
DOUBLE AA VIBES
Much respect
Jessica A
❤️🙏😊
Morpheus
This man has alot of pain in his heart and soul. And he let's it bleed from the pen to paper. Love this dude
Erlinda Hill
I Love his Music I Feel his Pain 😢