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.
Fire
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loud and clear, Jersey's here
Hey, Ja, Joey
Triangle Offense do it like (whoa)
Maybe it's the vinta' deuces
The twin' Jesuses with diamonds in them, that's clear they grey gooses
Maybe cause I'm in they roofless or the Hypno I put in they juices
Is gonna get picked and gonna get dicked
I'm all that and then some, y'all cats have been bums
That's pocket change, you call that an income?
Tell the way I walk that I'm doin' my thing (uh huh)
A lot a niggaz talk but ain't doin' a thing (uh uh)
Whatever come in the fall, I do in the spring
See I told y'all I'm doin' my thing
And I'm winnin' by a landslide, damn right
Don't you see the way they point at this man's ride
Now, look at here, I took it there
I'ma make this statement loud and clear Brooklyn's here
That fire, problems in the club, reach for that snub
Look dog it's on fire, that's when you turn it up
You wanna burn it up, come deal with them riders
Small one on my hip, when you hear the clip
You 'bout to see fire, when it all hits the wire
We gonna light it on fire
We gonna do it like (We gonna light it on fire)
We gonna do it like
Triangle Offense daddy
Cain' (we gonna light it on fire)
I know you got somethin' more
Don't even hold back
Woo, we gonna do it like
Yeah get 'em
Here with the white and the Canary cross (yeah)
Bracelets to match, diamonds clear of floss
Convertible hard top in a Carrera Porsche (Cain)
I'm young but I'm damn near a boss
And of course your boy ride with a thing in the stash box
Quick to hit the button, even quicker to blast shots
Nobody gonna eat, 'less we see chips
This not even funny, not the way we freak chicks
My waiters make ladies see sick
I'm "So So Def" like a J.D. Remix
I got enough whips to keep switchin' up flavors
Drafted outta high school, straight into the majors
These haters, fake smiles, but they hardly like me
They hate to see me in a party icy
Clean white T, sippin' on Bacardi lightly
Suade low cut Force, one caramel nightly
That fire, problems in the club, reach for that snub
Look dog it's on fire, that's when you turn it up
You wanna burn it up, come deal with them riders
Small one on my hip, when you hear the clip
You 'bout to see fire, when it all hits the wire
We gonna light it on fire
We gonna light it on fire
Yeah, whoa
I got a ear for your amp it up with Jersey's answer
The chancellor standin' up for ten minutes man
It's tough plan, plan that's what the hammer does
And Jam's son it's the new King, done with the cameras
You pop lip like you got shit
That's a minor congestion you not sick
Now you wanna call names like Tupac did
Home boy here's a few glock clips
Still Junior like Lou Gossett
Joey right back on
Overcharge New York to cut the lights back on
Before Bloomberg to come get me all
I send the goons to make bad things happen in city hall
All, K's spray cats, we don't play that
She allowed to sway why don't use say that (yeah)
Can't stop, won't stop, shots heard, one shot, gun shot
Make your lungs stop, breathe easy
That fire, problems in the club, reach for that snub
Look dog it's on fire, that's when you turn it up
You wanna burn it up, come deal with them riders
Small one on my hip, when you hear the clip
You 'bout to see fire, when it all hits the wire
We gonna light it on fire
We gonna light it on fire
We gonna light it on fire
We gonna light it on fire
We gonna light it on fire
The lyrics of Joe Budden’s song “Fire” are a bold proclamation of his presence and talent in the rap game, presented in a way that is both confident and assertive. He starts by announcing his identity and where he’s from, pointing out that he isn’t afraid of his detractors. The chorus features the repetition of the phrase “cause we, ah get down”, which seems to be a boastful statement of his ability to perform and entertain. The verses are filled with boastful lyrics that highlight his wealth, the number of women he has at his disposal, and his skills as a rapper.
Budden seems to be taking a shot at the state of the rap industry, criticizing the lack of creativity and the egos of the performers. He expresses his disdain for artists who sell their own music to stores and buy it back to boost their sales numbers. He resents the decline of creativity in the industry and the focus on profit rather than artistry.
Overall, the song is a braggadocious display of Joe Budden’s confidence and talents. It may also be interpreted as a commentary on the commercial nature of the rap game and how the focus on profits has adversely affected the quality of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me just make this statement
I want to make something clear
Loud and clear, Jersey's here
I am representing Jersey and I am here strongly
Some dude's got problems wit me
Someone has a problem with me
Over there, I ain't scared
I am not afraid of them
Some people see me creep
Some people notice me moving quietly
They mack all type, that's alright
They hit on all kinds of people, but it's okay
You know I slurp my drink
I am drinking loudly
I'm clipped inside, kids aight (Just Blaze!)
I am armed and children are okay, Just Blaze produced this song
Yes y'all it's the one and only (what else?)
I am the one and only, what else needs to be said?
And I came to have fun, here homie (what else?)
I came here to have a good time, what else is there?
And I came wit a ton of money (but!)
I have a lot of money, but
Don't get it twisted the gun is on me (now)
Don't mistake my wealth for safety, I am armed
This chick's wit her man frontin' on me
This woman with her boyfriend is disrespecting me
I'll holla at her when she done wit homie
I'll talk to her when she's finished with him
Cause, Jump Off I got a ton of grown freaks
I have a lot of adult women interested in me
One named Tasha, one named Monique
I know women named Tasha and Monique
One's diva'd out, keep her make-up tight
One is a diva and is always looking good
She got her good heels on wit her Jacob ice
She is wearing good heels with her Jacob watch
And ma love to club, so she stay up nice
She loves to go out and stay looking good
And she give me brains just the way I like!
And she knows how to pleasure me intellectually
One's real ghetto, don't give a reason
One is very street-like and doesn't offer any explanation
She knows I'm not her man, she don't riff bout cheating
She knows I am not her man, so she doesn't argue about cheating
Joey only go to her crib on weekends
I only go to her place on weekends
Real real late when the kids are sleeping
Very late when the children are asleep
'Tis the season, no more BS music
It is the season for good music without any nonsense
Watch and learn, see us do this
Watch and learn from us as we perform
Geeks here's new shit
I have some new music for the nerds
Playboy I keep exclusives to make dudes see less units (c'mon!)
I keep exclusive music to limit the sales of other artists
Can't stop won't stop
I won't stop
Rock it to the rhythm
Move to the beat
Cause we, ah get down
Because we move sensually
Joe Budden, Busta Bus
I am Joe Budden and with me is Busta Rhymes
And we seeing that There's some hoes in this house
And we notice there are women here
Light that 'dro in tha house
Light up some marijuana in here
Smoke that 'dro in tha house
Smoke that marijuana in here
Bring that doe in this house
Bring in that money
Where dem hoes in this house?
Where are the women?
Where my niggas at?
Where are my friends?
Guess who's coming?
Can you guess who is coming?
It be the God of the flows
It's me, the master of rhyming
It be the God of the spitting
It's me, the master of rapping
It be the God of the blows
It's me, the master of fighting
You'll be black and blue up your shit
You'll be beaten up
And probably swell up your nose
And your nose may become swollen
Lotta bitches love when I spit so let me dazzle you hoes
Many women love when I rap, so let me impress you
Let me prazzle your head, do and skidattle wit Joe
Let me mess with your head and leave with Joe
And get a stack of that money and get a stack of the 'dro
And get a lot of money and marijuana
Better back it up money before they crack through the dome
Better secure your money before someone busts in
I got a pack of them niggas that leave a crack in yo skull
I have a group of people who can cause harm to you
Hold up! See I ain't finished wit y'all
Wait! I am not finished yet
Before I diminish let me handle my business wit y'all
Let me finish my work with you before I leave
Watching you niggas, you shook! all you looking all nervous
I am observing you and you all seem nervous
Maybach infront the club, parked crooked on purpose
My Maybach is parked in front of the club, intentionally crooked
Now ladies my Mercedes Maybach
Now ladies, my luxury car
Probably hold six in the back and three if ya fat
It can probably fit six people in the back and three if they are overweight
Probably hold more in the back if they sit on the lap
It can probably fit even more people in the back if they sit on someone's lap
I gotta go and move to the party to see where it's at
I need to go and find out where the party is
I see creativity dying fast
I am noticing that creativity is waning
I'm glad producers charge so high for they tracks (tell em why though)
I am pleased that producers are charging so much for their tracks
Now they do it all, you just applying the rap
Now anyone can do it, you're just reciting lyrics
Honestly now, it's not the economy's down
Truthfully, it's not just because the economy is struggling
Now rap dudes suck they own pee hole
Now rappers are terrible and only care about themselves
The wacker the music the bigger the ego
The worse the music, the bigger the ego of the artist
Fans left suffering, gasping!
Fans are left unsatisfied and longing for something better
And it's embarrassing! Jump Off I'm the aspirin
It's shameful! I am the solution
I'm still hungry, I'm still fasting
I still have hunger and passion for this
y'all fade out, I'm just getting it cracking
You all are fading away while I am still becoming successful
Who!
Who's next?
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eddie Morris, Guy Williams, Joseph Anthony Budden, Justin Gregory Smith, Melvin Glover, Nathaniel Glover, Robert Keith Wiggins, Trevor Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind