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.
Don
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Top down with the fresh cut
With A. Baker (Anita Baker) through the speakers, 'Best Of'
A crisp white tee, I'm still feelin' dressed up
Everythin' else healthy, don't get me messed up
A good pair of shades on, you gon always see me in disguise
Not for style, I don't want you to seein' my eyes
But for now, tell God hurry my plans
Us two was on some brother shit
But if I learned anythin', if you take life for granted it'll grant you some other shit
I know I can't be the only one troubled with
I talk 'bout hard shit like I discovered it
Thought I had enough of it, still won't cut a wrist
I just wrote the book, he published it
Simply read holdin' back the years
Cause when I strayed, it looked like he holdin' back some tears, he sayin'
(Hook)
(Verse 2)
Sometimes I feel like it's a ghost behind me
Nudge in my back, got the toast behind me
Clockin' my every move, takin' notes behind me
Crowd laughin', there must be a 'Roast' behind me
But the boy won't bend
Though the road to the riches is startin' to look like it don't end
I'm on 9-5 speedin', truly love it
No idea where I'm goin', that's the beauty of it
But still I'm here waitin' on a sign
Or a F.Y.I. to be notified, cause (WHY)
Do it matter what he got it store for niggas if they too broke to buy
I know I want heart, my back carryin' some tons ya'll
From the devil's bedroom on to his front yard
Pop up in the backseat and keys the chauffeur
Let em know before I hop out with him on my shoulder, I said
(Hook)
(Verse 3)
Wouldn't be smart to tangle wit ya guardian angel
Not when they got a strangle from every angle, head to ankles
Get mangled, so I don't got shit
My eyes everywhere, on my Stuart Scott shit
Tryin' to be fly every second that the clock tick
But there's a suicide bomber in the cockpit
See my intent is to be content
But that's contingent off fly hoe's usin' ??
Since mama concieved me
Me and dude been stuck in a melee
He's tellin' me I gotta ball like Beasely
But I could give a fuck how a nigga percieves me
So until God retrieves me
I'm followin' behind the nigga that misleads me
If need be, bounce from where he tryin' to keep me
But everytime I try he tells me that he needs me
In Joe Budden's song, "Don't Make Me," he conveys a sense of vulnerability and grit through his lyrics. In the first verse, he describes his personal style, juxtaposed with the recent loss of a close friend. He also speaks on his grappling with life's hardships, yet still trying to find hope in his future. He employs a powerful hook, expanding upon the song's themes in the subsequent verses.
Despite his tough exterior, Budden reveals a deep anxiety in the second verse, with a ghost-like presence following him everywhere he goes. He also touches on his rapid ascent to fame, but with no clear direction where he should go next. In the final verse, he acknowledges the difficulties of life, but chooses to persevere regardless of the obstacles; even if that means following a misleading force.
The song's themes of perseverance and vulnerability on the road to success resonated with many people, particularly Budden's fanbase. From being featured on multiple mixtapes and albums, track 9 off of his second studio album Metamorphosis was a standout hit. The song's sound is heavily influenced by the East Coast Hip Hop movement with a beat that never overshadows Budden's lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Top down with the fresh cut
Driving around in my convertible with a fresh haircut
With A. Baker (Anita Baker) through the speakers, 'Best Of'
Listening to Anita Baker's greatest hits on my sound system
A crisp white tee, I'm still feelin' dressed up
Wearing a plain white t-shirt and still feeling stylish
Everythin' else healthy, don't get me messed up
All other aspects of my life are good, don't misunderstand
A good pair of shades on, you gon always see me in disguise
I'm wearing sunglasses to avoid eye contact and blend in
Not for style, I don't want you to seein' my eyes
I'm concealing my true emotions and intentions from others
But for now, tell God hurry my plans
I'm in a hurry to achieve my goals and asking for help from a higher power
Cause I just had to bury my man
I recently lost a close friend and it's weighing heavily on me
Us two was on some brother shit
We had a close relationship like brothers
But if I learned anythin', if you take life for granted it'll grant you some other shit
I've realized that if you don't appreciate life, it can bring unexpected challenges
I know I can't be the only one troubled with
I'm sure I'm not the only one dealing with these problems
I talk 'bout hard shit like I discovered it
I discuss difficult topics as if I'm the first person to understand them
Thought I had enough of it, still won't cut a wrist
I've been through a lot but won't resort to self-harm
I just wrote the book, he published it
I came up with the idea but someone else took credit for it
Simply read holdin' back the years
Just read my book and you'll understand the difficulties I've faced
Cause when I strayed, it looked like he holdin' back some tears, he sayin'
My friend was emotional when I wasn't acting like myself
Sometimes I feel like it's a ghost behind me
I feel like something is constantly following me
Nudge in my back, got the toast behind me
Someone is threatening me with a gun
Clockin' my every move, takin' notes behind me
Someone is closely observing and documenting all of my actions
Crowd laughin', there must be a 'Roast' behind me
People are making fun of me in a public setting
But the boy won't bend
I won't give in to the pressure or threats
Though the road to the riches is startin' to look like it don't end
It's becoming increasingly difficult to achieve financial success
I'm on 9-5 speedin', truly love it
I'm living my life at a fast pace and enjoying it
No idea where I'm goin', that's the beauty of it
I don't have a specific destination, but that's part of the adventure
But still I'm here waitin' on a sign
I'm hoping for a clear indication of what to do next
Or a F.Y.I. to be notified, cause (WHY)
I want to know what's going on, because why not?
Do it matter what he got it store for niggas if they too broke to buy
It doesn't matter what opportunities are available if you don't have the means to take advantage of them
I know I want heart, my back carryin' some tons ya'll
I want to be strong and resilient, despite carrying a heavy burden
From the devil's bedroom on to his front yard
From facing personal demons to dealing with external challenges
Pop up in the backseat and keys the chauffeur
I'm taking control of the situation and commandeering the car
Let em know before I hop out with him on my shoulder, I said
Before I confront my problems head-on, I'm expressing my intentions
Wouldn't be smart to tangle wit ya guardian angel
It's not wise to challenge your protector or good fate
Not when they got a strangle from every angle, head to ankles
My guardian angel has my back from all sides, not just physically
Get mangled, so I don't got shit
If I challenge my good fortune, I'll end up with nothing
My eyes everywhere, on my Stuart Scott shit
I'm keeping a close eye on everything, like a journalist
Tryin' to be fly every second that the clock tick
I'm trying to stay stylish and cool at all times
But there's a suicide bomber in the cockpit
I'm facing a dangerous situation that could result in a tragic outcome
See my intent is to be content
I want to be happy and satisfied with my life
But that's contingent off fly hoe's usin' ??
I can only be content if attractive women are involved. (this line isn't very clear)
Since mama concieved me
Ever since I was born
Me and dude been stuck in a melee
I've been dealing with this problem for a while now
He's tellin' me I gotta ball like Beasely
Someone is pressuring me to be successful in a certain way
But I could give a fuck how a nigga percieves me
I don't care what others think of me
So until God retrieves me
I'll continue living my life until I die
I'm followin' behind the nigga that misleads me
I'm being led astray by someone who isn't trustworthy
If need be, bounce from where he tryin' to keep me
If necessary, I'll leave the situation where he's trying to trap me
But everytime I try he tells me that he needs me
Every time I try to break free, he persuades me to stay
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dmagic716
Don toliver don't miss ever !!!!!! His voice is very unique I don't see anyone sounding like him he give a vibe instantly when the song comes on !!!!! Definitely great body of work of this new album !!!
Searchlight T
@Ty Atkins nah ik exactly what you mean you not the first person I seen say this bro 👌🏾😂😂😂😂
L W
@Ty Atkins You're not wrong.
Ty Atkins
He sounds like phil collins on trap beats to me it’s hard tho
Promise MD
@RedPiLL Productions clean your ears
Chidori
Swangin on westhimer puts me in a heavenly mood album was a 9/10 for me
Random Dog
Bro I never though I’d see a nigga on YouTube with a yb pfp pic😭 I thought it was only Twitter and Instagram.
But yeah I liked the album too 8/10
Oj DaJuiceman
What makes Don so Lethal is his Voice and Pen🔥🔥🔥🔥
bjr816
Bro I’m so happy for don. When he dropped Donny Womack I knew not only would he be a star but he could be bigger than his mentor Travis Scott. It sounds crazy but it’s possible. He’s only getting better so versatile
The Sauce
The WUTang Saga is fire!! Just seeing how RZA creates and how he pieces everything together!! It's so dope!!