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.
Family Reunion
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh oh, It's that time again, It's been too long, It's family reunion
(Joe Budden)
Mic check, mic check
We gotta school y'all to the game (one, two, one, two), you know what lets talk to em, Lets go!
(Joe Budden)
Them wolves is out nigga
(Ransom)
Ain't nobody tryna rap or play me
I'll be at they crib wit a couple hammers and a black OAV
Black gon' pay me still get the smack on Baisly
'Cause I'm touchin' more diesel than Shaq old lady boy
You did it I done it I get I punish
The shit that I come wit'll separate a rib from a stomach
I'm the boss when I spit it you love matta fact I'm a Viking
I need a whole village to plumage yea
The nigga is here the city is scared
You got the throne then I think I need to sit in ya chair
We could really get physical here and the sky's the limit nigga
I'll put the whole clique in the air baby
So quit playin' fore the clip spray 'em
And have his ass M.I.A. like Nick Saban
His whole shit caved in my whole clique cave men
Hardbody nigga my whole shit pavement
You can't spit if you dead in the ground
In the woods where ya head'll be found
And its good that you getting it now in the prescient confessin' it now
I can't fuck wit the rest of you clowns faggot
(Hitchcock)
I am the silence before the storm Lincoln Park to Audubon
Slang rock on the same block that the water on
I be more than gone run and get your order form
Next time I record a song gon' put my daughter on
'Cause she realla than most niggas I tote trigga
For you broke nigga and gold diggas wit no figga
That's why I palm the heater for all you non believers
I'm on ya ass like white on rice on Condoleezza
Betta con the preacher you tryna get on a feature
Betta get ya casket bastard I'm gon' eat cha
We ain't in the same weight class ya fake ass
Couldn't stop a nigga wit brake pads I'm way pass
Anything that you ever did I'm betta kid
And we never sweat a bid it's easy to get a sig
In the bing I'm like Ving Rhames I bring pain
I sling cane off the wing like I'm King James
Y'all doubtin' who when I spit the whole lead
They be callin' code read like Mountain Dew
'Fore I count to you can get cha back blown
'Cause ya gimmicks out of minutes like a track phone
Get back holmes I'm back on my shit
I don't mangle I'm like Pringles stackin my chips
Clappin' my fifth you the test me types
Comin' out wit a blade and get Wesley Sniped
So the cops could arrest me right it's not happenin'
You ain't never gon' get on so stop rappin'
H2O comin' this summer so stop askin'
All heat like wall street ya stock crashin'
Now the fed wanna read his rights
Lord have mercy Jesus Christ I got passion
I'm blackin' all my niggas getting this fetti
We in the Chevy and ready to pop tags in
[Chorus:]
So whatever you tryna do lil niggas I already done
And since you wanna live by it lil nigga then die by the gun
See whatever you tryna do lil niggas I already done
So how the fuck you gon win lil nigga when I already won
(Fabolous)
Ayo money is the root of evil I thought
But when I'm broke is when I usually have the evilest thoughts
That's when the arms come out like sleeves when it's short
Wit more bullets than ya favorite wide receiver has caught
And that Randy Mossberg ya Steve Smith and Wesson ya
The shoes pop up like instant messenger
You've got mail nah nigga you got shells
And my Mac you can't use for iChat
A guy that confused that will lie flat
And my gat is on leg like thigh tap
I that nigga who you dudes
Some broke niggas who tryna get some youtube views
Unless you wanna point blank boy ya too close
Bails in pocket this is Lawyer Lou Los
I'm pretty sure more hotties see me in that foou door roddie
Double pipes like a sawed off shotty
(Joe Budden)
I flow sickly ridin' bumpin' old biggie
Roll wit me or lose wait Nicole Richie
Fuck plat if I don?t reach diamond fame
Ill treat a nigga face like that old simon game
I figured out why men try us 'cause we o-d on rims and thin tires
For that we Len Bias
All it takes a punch he ain't brave he a punk
I'll put his family in boxes meet the Brady Bunch
How y'all feel y'all selves Shaquille y'all selves
Us cowboys don?t need you you Bill Parcell
And you ain't gotta empty ya pockets when the K's out
Whatever you holdin' is mine you my Paypal
See I don't get how this guy is a treat
I'll make his life a net por pie to the neck
Ride or die or do both nigga ride to the death
I'll acapella the whole left side of his chest
Not retiring still got that pension pendin'
Tryna pop the hood and see the engine messin'
Double barrel shotgun how ya men get missin'
She got pretty brown eyes and she in mint condition
Or the sig in the car you dissin' muah
Get the ratchet go home and just Chris Benoit
I tell a bird like it is you promise the broad
I one line her you Isaiah Thomas the broad
I can send a clip cartridge at a nemesis target
And catch a R.O.R. on some Jena six charges
Nah I put the thing away
I don't even need a whole handle to flip em all it takes is one finger wave
But in the bing for days show you how I'm real
Come home to the truck with the Optimus Prim grille
Handin' out crack got the scene poppin' off
They not sleepin' on 'em the fiends is noddin' off
For real tell me how you a thug and you Superman (Nigga)
I just seen you in the club doing the Superman (I Said Nigga!)
A bunch of clowns holmes all
I need in this world is the pound chrome Huxtable brownstone
Major paper cake by the layers
If these dudes is live I'm the created player
They callin' 'em kings when they so so hot
Somethings wrong wit that picture must be photoshopped
I don't promote violence but when sparking the flame Blam
Arms start waving like the Carlton Banks dance
When them tools go pop it move whole blocks
Come around wit cha dog or get Kujo shot
These emcee's is lame I tryta be an emcee wit brains
These niggas is M.C. Brain
Yeah nice rapper just far from bein' nice
I'm on the rooftop recordin' and niggas is bein' sniped
That's light
[Chorus:]
So whatever you tryna do lil niggas I already done
And since you wanna live by it lil nigga then die by the gun
See whatever you tryna do lil nigga I already done
So how the fuck you gon win lil nigga when I already won
The song "Family Reunion" by Joe Budden ft. Fabolous, Ransom, and Hitchcock is a rap song that features raw and aggressive lyrics. The song is all about asserting dominance over other rappers and proving oneself as the best in the game. The verses discuss topics such as rap skills, street cred, and the use of weapons. The chorus contains a message of warning to those who try to challenge the rappers' status as the best.
The first verse, performed by Ransom, talks about his skills as a rapper and his ability to take down his competition. He boasts about his skills and describes how he can physically harm anyone who challenges him. Hitchcock's verse focuses on his street credibility and his willingness to use a gun to defend himself. He mentions his daughter as a motivation for his actions and how he is not afraid to engage with his enemies.
The final verse, performed by Joe Budden, takes a more personal and introspective tone. He talks about how his skills as a rapper and his success have alienated him from his friends and colleagues in the industry. He also suggests that emcees who use fake personas and gimmicks will never be successful. The overall message of the song is that the rappers are the best in the game and are not to be challenged.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh oh, It's that time again, It's been too long, It's family reunion
The group is back together for a family reunion after being apart for some time.
Mic check, mic check
The beginning of the rap performance, testing the microphone.
Them wolves is out nigga
There are dangerous people around and they should proceed with caution.
Ain't nobody tryna rap or play me
Nobody wants to challenge the artist in a rap battle.
I'll be at they crib wit a couple hammers and a black OAV
He will come with weapons to someone's house.
Black gon' pay me still get the smack on Baisly
Even though he will be paid, he will still cause trouble.
'Cause I'm touchin' more diesel than Shaq old lady boy
He is lifting more weight than Shaq's older transgender girlfriend.
You did it I done it I get I punish
He has accomplished many things and delivers punishment to those who cross him.
The shit that I come wit'll separate a rib from a stomach
His words are so powerful that they can physically hurt someone.
I need a whole village to plumage yea
He needs a lot of people to support him.
The nigga is here the city is scared
He has a big presence and intimidates the city.
So quit playin' fore the clip spray 'em
Stop pretending and face the consequences.
We could really get physical here and the sky's the limit nigga
They can get violent and there's no limit to what they could do.
I'll put the whole clique in the air baby
He and his team will dominate the situation.
I am the silence before the storm Lincoln Park to Audubon
He is the calm before a big event, like a storm brewing in the distance.
Slang rock on the same block that the water on
He deals drugs on the same block as the water supply.
I need a whole village to plumage yea
He needs a lot of people to support him.
'Cause she realla than most niggas
His daughter is more genuine and trustworthy than most men he knows.
I sling cane off the wing like I'm King James
He sells drugs like LeBron James playing basketball.
Ayo money is the root of evil I thought
He used to believe money was the source of all evil.
That's when the arms come out like sleeves when it's short
Weapons are brought out when in a tough situation.
And that Randy Mossberg ya Steve Smith and Wesson ya
He will use a shotgun on someone like Randy Moss catching a football.
I'm pretty sure more hotties see me in that foou door roddie
He attracts more women in his fancy car.
Fuck plat if I don't reach diamond fame
He doesn't care about a platinum record, only diamond status.
Ill treat a nigga face like that old simon game
He will hurt someone's face like the electronic game Simon.
Y'all doubtin' who when I spit the whole lead
He proves his doubters wrong when he raps.
They callin' 'em kings when they so so hot
People call others kings even though they are not that good.
These niggas is M.C. Brain
Other rappers don't have the intelligence and skills he does.
When them tools go pop it move whole blocks
Guns make a big impact and can cause a lot of damage.
I don't promote violence but when sparking the flame Blam
He doesn't encourage violence but is willing to use it.
Arms start waving like the Carlton Banks dance
When gunshots go off, people start flailing their arms like a funny dance from the TV show Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
How y'all feel y'all selves Shaquille y'all selves
They shouldn't feel too confident in themselves, similar to how Shaquille O'Neal is not as good as he thinks.
So whatever you tryna do lil niggas I already done
He has already experienced and accomplished what others are trying to do.
And since you wanna live by it lil nigga then die by the gun
If they want to live by violence, they will die by it.
So how the fuck you gon win lil nigga when I already won
He has already succeeded, so it's pointless for others to try to compete with him.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SHATEK KING, UNKNOWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind