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.
Follow My Lead
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Closet full of brand names, I don't wanna wear.
Everybody got advice that I don't wanna hear, world in ya palm,
But you don't wanna share, still, I'm followin' you.
Are you leadin' me with the weapons drawn?
Co-dependent on her, but got me in bed alone.
You say if you love it, let it go.
Nothin' set in stone, plus every rock they throw, I use as a stepping stone.
No I may not never see you, I should know you never gone.
So I break the mirror cause, everything it's showin' me is wrong.
Grab your hand and go along, cause I'm followin' you.
Say I should be pleased, what if I'm saddened?
Always say I been through worse, what if I haven't?
But if that holds true, here's the lesson,
If you keep your head down, you might miss out on the blessing.
Sing!
[Chorus]
I don't need the money, I don't need the fame.
I don't need the lifestyle, I don't need the pain.
I don't need the clubs, I don't need the cars.
None of that really matters to me.
I don't want the bad bitch, I don't want the strain.
I don't want the high, enough shit on the brain.
I don't want whatever's gonna help me be sane,
I just wanna follow your lead.
You sayin', "follow my lead, follow, follow my lead"
Brought me to my knees, she must wanna holla at me.
When the world feel like swallowin' me,
When every decision costly, and I ain't got a dolla on me.
Check it, I don't wanna pretend, I don't wanna live a lie.
I don't wanna be judged, don't wanna be criticized.
I don't wanna talk, if nothin' I wanna say,
Boy, I let 'em get to know me, the more they just runaway.
And that, must be your way of sayin' we should stay together.
I know how to fuck it up, more then I can make it better.
I figured folk around me would learn to take it better,
Instead of tryna change me, I been this way forever.
Time will reveal, more will be shown.
You pushed it, I thought the door closed on it's own.
But uh, nevermind what caused it, livin' a dream,
Nothin' in this world powerful enough to pause it.
Sing!
[Chorus]
Sayin' "follow my lead, follow, follow my lead."
Cig in my mouth, prescription bottle by me.
And even when I think you might be making a mistake,
I may not know the destination but I make it there safe.
Check it, when I feel like I can't get weaker, uh
You always come and make a cameo or feature.
I'm good with my insanity and fevers
Cause Pac's looking from heaven saying "They ain't understand me neither"
Alotta times you leave me exposed,
And laugh at me, still thinking I could be in control.
Help me weather the storm, altogether I ain't norm.
Cause I always disagree, though you ain't never been wrong.
Listen, I was feeling nearly unstoppable,
And now I'm facing what appeared to be impossible.
Feeling unimportant enough to have to bother you.
But I'm down here alone nigga, all I got is you.
[Chorus]
Uh, follow my lead.
Ohhh, follow my lead.
(Check it, YAOWA)
I can't fit it all in a 16,
The night that I was tipsy,
And all them bullets just missed me.
The day they rushed the block,
I was strapped, but they didn't frisk me.
Why I ain't fuck that stripper?
Don't ask, and now she sick B.
The drop on that jewelry store for 50.
And I backed out last minute like "nah, this shit look risky"
One of my mans dead, the other one in pikipsy?
'nother one in the feds, he'll be there until he's sixty.
I wanna thank you for the blessings and the gifts.
And the lessons and the messages they left, I get the drift.
Fuck the cheddar or whatever, it don't measure up to this.
I mean, never did I ever not remember you exist.
When I hop up out my bed, here's together,
And our wish, is what you is from the heart,
Inside my chest, you let it tick.
I love you from my soul, with every spiritual molecule.
Fuck twitter, all a nigga gotta do is follow you.
[Chorus]
In Joe Budden's song Follow My Lead, he talks about how he follows his significant other's lead even when he's not sure where she's taking him because he trusts her. The lyrics talk about his struggles with fame, wealth, and success, and how ultimately none of that matters as much as the person he is following. He admits to feeling lost and vulnerable, but he also knows that he has his significant other to lean on. Through their relationship, he has learned to appreciate the blessings in his life and not take them for granted.
The chorus of the song talks about how Joe doesn't need materialistic things like money, fame, clubs, or expensive cars. He doesn't even want the things that might help him be sane. All he wants is to follow his partner's lead. He realizes that he doesn't always make the right decisions and is often tempted to give up or to do something reckless, but he trusts his partner to guide him in the right direction. Through his lyrics, Joe conveys how important it is to have someone we can trust and rely on, especially in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
Overall, Follow My Lead is a song about finding love and security amidst the ups and downs of life. It's a reminder that while material possessions may bring temporary happiness, it's the people we love and trust who truly make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, I got bitches on my dick, I don't want 'em there.
I have women after me that I don't want.
Closet full of brand names, I don't wanna wear.
My closet is full of expensive clothes, but I don't want to wear them.
Everybody got advice that I don't wanna hear, world in ya palm, But you don't wanna share, still, I'm followin' you.
People offer me advice that I don't want to listen to, and although you have the world at your fingertips, you don't want to share it, but I still follow you.
Are you leadin' me with the weapons drawn?
Are you guiding me, but with an aggressive approach?
Co-dependent on her, but got me in bed alone.
I'm dependent on someone, but they leave me alone in bed.
You say if you love it, let it go.
You believe if you love something, you should let it go.
Nothin' set in stone, plus every rock they throw, I use as a stepping stone.
Nothing is certain, but I use every obstacle as a stepping stone towards success.
Got questions, say the answers better left unknown.
I have questions, but sometimes it's better to not know the answers.
No I may not never see you, I should know you never gone.
I may never see you again, but I know you will always be with me.
So I break the mirror cause, everything it's showin' me is wrong.
I break the mirror because it shows me an inaccurate reflection of myself.
Grab your hand and go along, cause I'm followin' you.
I want to hold your hand and go with you because I am following you.
Say I should be pleased, what if I'm saddened?
You tell me I should be happy, but what if I'm actually sad?
Always say I been through worse, what if I haven't?
You always assume I've been through worse, but what if I haven't?
If you keep your head down, you might miss out on the blessing.
If you don't pay attention, you might miss out on opportunities.
I don't need the money, I don't need the fame.
I don't need wealth or popularity.
I don't need the lifestyle, I don't need the pain.
I don't need the extravagant life or the suffering.
I don't need the clubs, I don't need the cars.
I don't need the party scene or the fancy cars.
None of that really matters to me.
None of those things are important to me.
I don't want the bad bitch, I don't want the strain.
I don't want the troublesome woman or the stress.
I don't want the high, enough shit on the brain.
I don't want the drug-induced euphoria, I already have enough to think about.
I don't want whatever's gonna help me be sane, I just wanna follow your lead.
I don't want things that will bring me peace of mind, I just want to follow your guidance.
Brought me to my knees, she must wanna holla at me.
You brought me to my knees, which must mean you want my attention.
When the world feel like swallowin' me, When every decision costly, and I ain't got a dolla on me.
When the world feels overwhelming, and every choice seems expensive, and I have no money.
Check it, I don't wanna pretend, I don't wanna live a lie.
I don't want to pretend or live a dishonest life.
I don't wanna be judged, don't wanna be criticized.
I don't want to be evaluated or criticized.
I don't wanna talk, if nothin' I wanna say, Boy, I let 'em get to know me, the more they just runaway.
I don't want to speak if I don't have anything meaningful to say because people run away from me when they get to know me.
And that, must be your way of sayin' we should stay together.
That must be your way of saying we should remain together.
Instead of tryna change me, I been this way forever.
Instead of attempting to alter me, I have remained the same forever.
Time will reveal, more will be shown.
As time passes, more will be revealed.
You pushed it, I thought the door closed on it's own.
You pushed the door, and I thought it had closed by itself.
But uh, nevermind what caused it, livin' a dream, Nothin' in this world powerful enough to pause it.
But it doesn't matter what caused it, I am living a dream and nothing can stop it.
Cig in my mouth, prescription bottle by me.
I have a cigarette in my mouth and a prescription bottle nearby.
And even when I think you might be making a mistake, I may not know the destination but I make it there safe.
Even if I think you are making a mistake, I don't know the outcome, but you always keep me safe.
Check it, when I feel like I can't get weaker, uh You always come and make a cameo or feature.
When I feel like I can't get any weaker, you always make an appearance and help me out.
I'm good with my insanity and fevers Cause Pac's looking from heaven saying "They ain't understand me neither"
I am comfortable with my madness and passion because Tupac is looking from Heaven, saying they didn't understand him either.
Alotta times you leave me exposed, And laugh at me, still thinking I could be in control.
You often leave me vulnerable and laugh at me, even though I am still trying to be in charge.
Help me weather the storm, altogether I ain't norm. Cause I always disagree, though you ain't never been wrong.
Assist me in getting through the difficult times, even though I am not normal. I always disagree, but you have never been wrong.
Listen, I was feeling nearly unstoppable, And now I'm facing what appeared to be impossible.
I was feeling almost invincible, but now I am dealing with an issue that seems insurmountable.
Feeling unimportant enough to have to bother you.
Feeling insignificant enough to bother you.
But I'm down here alone nigga, all I got is you.
But I am here all by myself, the only thing I have is you.
I can't fit it all in a 16, The night that I was tipsy, And all them bullets just missed me.
I can't express everything I want to say in 16 bars. On the night I was drunk, bullets were fired but missed me.
The day they rushed the block, I was strapped, but they didn't frisk me.
The day they raided the block, I had a weapon, but they didn't search me.
Why I ain't fuck that stripper? Don't ask, and now she sick B.
Don't ask me why I didn't sleep with that stripper, and now she is sick.
The drop on that jewelry store for 50. And I backed out last minute like "nah, this shit look risky"
There was a plan to rob a jewelry store for $50,000, but I backed out at the last minute, thinking it was too risky.
One of my mans dead, the other one in pikipsy? 'nother one in the feds, he'll be there until he's sixty.
One of my friends has died, another is in a mental institution, and another is in prison, where he will stay until he is sixty.
I wanna thank you for the blessings and the gifts. And the lessons and the messages they left, I get the drift.
I want to thank you for the good things that have come into my life, and for the lessons and messages that have taught me valuable things.
Fuck the cheddar or whatever, it don't measure up to this.
I don't care about the money or anything else, it's not as important as this.
I mean, never did I ever not remember you exist.
I always remember that you exist.
When I hop up out my bed, here's together, And our wish, is what you is from the heart, Inside my chest, you let it tick.
When I get out of bed, I am with you, and our hope is what is in your heart, and it makes my heart beat.
I love you from my soul, with every spiritual molecule.
I love you from the depths of my heart, with every particle of my being.
Fuck twitter, all a nigga gotta do is follow you.
I don't care about Twitter, all I have to do is follow you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOELL ORTIZ, JONAS CARDIM, JOSEPH ANTHONY BUDDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leftylucious8280
forgot about this shit. his mood muzik shit is undeniable. helped me out in dark times no doubt.
@ItsJustTrav
Joe Budden is one of the most underrated rappers ever. This dude storytelling is something serious.
@whittpreslarii2567
The most underrated rapper of all time.. Do your research his catalog is phenomenal lol.
@JessicaMartinez-ry9lf
Whitt Preslar II well said . is a lyrical beast... Like they underestimate him like no other
@Sponsorship4u2
Agreed 💯
@evtheschon
HE AINT DONE SHIT FOR TEN YEARS
@angelserrano9049
@@evtheschon 5 years...and that's cause he retired
@dramahawkpromotions9621
@@evtheschon He doesn't need to. And Please he has retired from Rap
@daddymobuks
JOE BUDDEN I GOT MAD RESPECT FOR YOUR MUSIC AND WHAT YOUR SAYIN HITS DEEP BRO. REAL TALK
@Neptunee1991
Joel ortiz's verse was sooo sick in this OMG !!!!