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.
I'm Back
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shit's becomin' all that I feared, here's where it started
Seems that nothing's as it appears, swear it's retarded
No wonder I get speared by my peers, yeah I'm a target
It used to take a nation of millions for niggas not to be
AmeriKKKa's Most gave America hope
Back when the music had a message in it
We was rebels against it
But now y'all made a mess of it
And somebody gotta address this shit
Rakim would never wear a dress and shit
I ain't a pessimist to say I ain't impressed with it
Your hearing's bad, you think it's alive, now that's the death in it
When it was all about bars, wanted to weddin' it
Surround yourself with bullshit, you'll be liable to step in it
Came here with one objective, gettin' it further
Now I'm watchin' my first love die, witnessin' murder
When Common stopped lovin' ol' girl, what was he tellin' me?
Cold world, now she won't dig you without a melody
Love nerds, used to be into niggas with felonies
We need a new president, where the fuck is Eric B?
Or did my wordplay confuse her?
Now I see her with Young Thug and Future
Like what did you niggas do to her?
Now, my generalization is this generation
The imminent state of this gentrification, desensitization
I call her, she's in Marvin's room, everything is awkward now
She moved more to south, deserted her New Yorker crowd
Met her with a cane, she changed, prefer to walk it out
Stopped eatin' meat when she heard I worked in a slaughterhouse
Now she's a new dame glued to the fame
She used to hate accessorizin', now she's wearin' two chains
Relationship too strained, I don't know who to blame
When I tell her, "You changed", she say, "Who would be the same"
She right... cause this ain't the way we knew each other
Or do I face the fact that maybe we outgrew each other?
It took a while, but that's finally understood
She wouldn't change if she could
I swear if this is love, I'm good
Everything has changed, I can see it clear in fact
Starin' at these four walls, angry that they're starin' back
Took a while, now it's finally understood
Would we change it if we could?
I swear if this is love, I'm good
Look, I can't get with you at all, our issue is tall
You tied to every nigga now that dribbles a ball
Did I miss a red flag? You wasn't fickle before
I can't even ridicule y'all, that'd be a bitter resolve
Wanna talk about our history
I feel like everything you say is contradictory
Whenever you come visit me
I look at you and see remembrance, remnants
Plenty resentments, it's not you but there's resemblance
We diss each other all out of fun, shit amuses me
You threaten every girl I'm with, that just confuses me
Say you want kids real soon, now that's abuse to me
And I just write about it in song, you're like a muse to me
I wanna ask where you see yourself in five years
How you goin' about that, like what's the verdict?
I wanna ask if you ever replay the past over
And if you do, when you finished is it worth it?
I wanna ask if we love each other so much
How do we cause each other so much pain?
Still in all in each others lives
We've remained without a claim
I know some'll call that clinically insane
How do we remedy the games?
Was once enemies and then that energy refrained
Wasn't meant to be, the synergy had us mentally drained
Minimally sprained so relentlessly he aims
Despite when you said you never could depend on me again
Still we're here as none of this had ever taken place
Are we checkin' to see if someone's takin' our place?
As we front like we're takin' up space
I think currently the current we is makin' our case
But for what? Would that just seal it again
Did it all hurt so much? Do we wanna feel it again? I doubt it
Took a while, still nothing's understood
Would we change it if we could?
I swear if this is love, I'm good
Everything has changed, I can see it clear in fact
Starin' at these four walls, angry that they're starin' back
Took a while, now it's finally
The lyrics of Joe Budden's song "I'm Back" are a reflection of his feelings towards the current state of hip hop and his personal relationships. The first verse talks about how hip hop has changed, how artists have become more gimmicky and the message behind the music has been lost. He, rightly points out how the pioneers of the genre used to deliver powerful messages to their audience and how it was about the bars, not the image. Joe says that he's not a pessimist but he's not impressed with the current state of affairs. He feels that the new generation is desensitized to the world around them and is more concerned about trends and fame than anything else. Joe uses his words to demonstrate that the art of hip hop has lost its essence and the need to reclaim it is paramount.
The following verse is an emotional one. The lyrics speak of a relationship that has changed over the years. We get a sense of conflict, regret, and confusion as Joe reminisces on the past. The relationship has grown strained, and they have outgrown each other. The woman he speaks of moves towards fame and fortune, which is diametrically opposed to Joe Budden's preferences. As much as the relationship has gone sour, he isn't willing to let it go as they have a long history together. The last verse is an extension of the previous one but with a different approach. The focus of this verse is on personal relationships and how they've evolved over time. Joe Budden's lyrics reflect his desire to make amends with people he's fallen out with, and he's trying to understand how he can make it right. He wants to save his relationships but doesn't want to go through the pain of the past again.
Line by Line Meaning
To my dear dearly departed
Addressing someone who is no longer in his life, possibly a past lover or friend
Shit's becomin' all that I feared, here's where it started
Expressing that things have turned into his worst fears, and it all began from a certain point
Seems that nothing's as it appears, swear it's retarded
Realizing that things are not what they seem, feeling frustrated and calling it ridiculous
No wonder I get speared by my peers, yeah I'm a target
Understanding that he becomes a target for criticism and negativity from his peers
It used to take a nation of millions for niggas not to be
In the past, it required a united effort from a large group of people to combat racial inequality
AmeriKKKa's Most gave America hope
The group AmeriKKKa's Most provided a message of hope and empowerment for America
Back when the music had a message in it
Referring to a time when music was meaningful and conveyed important messages
We was rebels against it
They were rebels who fought against the commercialization and shallow nature of music
The best was intended to lessen the gimmicks
The intention was to reduce the use of gimmicks and focus on quality music
But now y'all made a mess of it
Pointing out that the current music industry has made a mess and devalued the artistry
And somebody gotta address this shit
Someone needs to confront and address the issues in the music industry
Rakim would never wear a dress and shit
Referencing Rakim, a renowned rapper, who would never conform to the current trends and compromises
I ain't a pessimist to say I ain't impressed with it
Acknowledging that he is not being negative, but simply not impressed with the current state of music
Your hearing's bad, you think it's alive, now that's the death in it
Indicating that people have lost their discernment and mistake shallow music for something meaningful
When it was all about bars, wanted to weddin' it
In the past, when lyrics and bars were valued more, he wanted to fully embrace and immerse in it
Surround yourself with bullshit, you'll be liable to step in it
If you constantly engage with negativity and shallow content, you will eventually be affected by it
Came here with one objective, gettin' it further
Arriving with a clear purpose and goal to achieve more success
Now I'm watchin' my first love die, witnessin' murder
Metaphorically witnessing the decline and death of the music he once loved and felt passionate about
When Common stopped lovin' ol' girl, what was he tellin' me?
Referencing Common, who stopped being passionate about the music, questioning the message it sends
Cold world, now she won't dig you without a melody
Reflecting on how the industry has shifted, where lyrical content alone is not enough to garner attention
Love nerds, used to be into niggas with felonies
Acknowledging that there was a time when people were attracted to those who had a rebellious or criminal nature
We need a new president, where the fuck is Eric B?
Calling for someone new to lead and make a difference in the music industry, mentioning Eric B as a symbol of change
Or did my wordplay confuse her?
Questioning if his clever wordplay and lyrics have caused confusion in his message or intentions
Now I see her with Young Thug and Future
Noticing that the person he used to know is now associating with artists like Young Thug and Future, questioning the change
Like what did you niggas do to her?
Expressing confusion and frustration about how these artists influenced the person he once knew
Now, my generalization is this generation
Making a general statement about the current generation and their impact on the music industry
The imminent state of this gentrification, desensitization
Highlighting the way the music industry has become gentrified and desensitized to meaningful content
I call her, she's in Marvin's room, everything is awkward now
He contacts her, but the situation feels uncomfortable and uneasy, referencing the song 'Marvin's Room' by Drake
She moved more to south, deserted her New Yorker crowd
Metaphorically, she has changed her style and abandoned her original audience, aligning herself with a different culture
Met her with a cane, she changed, prefer to walk it out
When they first met, she needed support (cane), but now she prefers to handle things on her own (walk it out)
Stopped eatin' meat when she heard I worked in a slaughterhouse
Illustrating how she changed her behavior and lifestyle choices based on his occupation, avoiding meat due to ethical concerns
Now she's a new dame glued to the fame
She has become a different person, obsessed with fame and seeking attention
She used to hate accessorizin', now she's wearin' two chains
Pointing out the noticeable change in her style and preferences, embracing materialistic symbols like wearing multiple chains
Relationship too strained, I don't know who to blame
Acknowledging that their relationship has become tense and difficult, unsure of who is responsible for the issues
When I tell her, 'You changed', she say, 'Who would be the same'
When he confronts her about the change, she denies it and questions why anyone would stay the same
She right... cause this ain't the way we knew each other
Admitting that she is correct, as their relationship is no longer how they originally knew each other
Or do I face the fact that maybe we outgrew each other?
Considering the possibility that they have simply grown apart and no longer fit together
It took a while, but that's finally understood
Realizing that it took time, but he now comprehends the situation
She wouldn't change if she could
Recognizing that she wouldn't change even if given the opportunity
I swear if this is love, I'm good
Expressing that if this is what love has become, he is content being without it
Everything has changed, I can see it clear in fact
Acknowledging that everything has changed and he can see it clearly
Starin' at these four walls, angry that they're starin' back
Feeling frustrated and trapped, as if the walls are mocking him
Took a while, now it's finally understood
After some time, he has come to understand the situation
Would we change it if we could?
Reflecting on whether they would change the circumstances if given the chance
I swear if this is love, I'm good
Reiterating that if this is the current state of love, he is fine without it
Look, I can't get with you at all, our issue is tall
Admitting that he cannot align with her anymore due to their significant differences and conflicts
You tied to every nigga now that dribbles a ball
Observing that she is now involved with every man who plays basketball, suggesting a lack of genuine connection
Did I miss a red flag? You wasn't fickle before
Questioning if he overlooked warning signs or if she has changed her nature over time
I can't even ridicule y'all, that'd be a bitter resolve
Acknowledging that he cannot even mock them, as it would only bring bitterness and negativity
Wanna talk about our history
Expression of a desire to discuss their past and the shared experiences they had
I feel like everything you say is contradictory
Feeling that everything she says contradicts her actions or previous statements
Whenever you come visit me
When she comes to meet him or see him
I look at you and see remembrance, remnants
Seeing glimpses and memories of their past in her presence
Plenty resentments, it's not you but there's resemblance
Having lingering resentment towards her, although he understands it's not entirely her fault
We diss each other all out of fun, shit amuses me
Recognizing that they playfully insult each other, finding amusement in it
You threaten every girl I'm with, that just confuses me
Feeling confused and puzzled by her tendency to threaten and intimidate the women he dates
Say you want kids real soon, now that's abuse to me
Viewing her desire to have children quickly as a form of emotional manipulation or abuse
And I just write about it in song, you're like a muse to me
Channeling his emotions and experiences into his music, using her as inspiration or a muse for his lyrics
I wanna ask where you see yourself in five years
Expressing a desire to know her future plans and aspirations
How you goin' about that, like what's the verdict?
Wondering about her approach and strategy in achieving her goals, questioning the outcome
I wanna ask if you ever replay the past over
Curious if she ever reflects on their past and replays memories in her mind
And if you do, when you finished is it worth it?
Wondering if the process of reminiscing about the past is ultimately satisfying or fulfilling for her
I wanna ask if we love each other so much
Posing a question about their apparent love for each other
How do we cause each other so much pain?
Questioning why their relationship is filled with so much pain and conflict, despite their love
Still in all in each others lives
Despite their issues, they are still present and involved in each other's lives
We've remained without a claim
They have stayed connected without officially being in a committed relationship
I know some'll call that clinically insane
Acknowledging that some may view their situation as mentally unstable or unhealthy
How do we remedy the games?
Questioning how they can solve the ongoing issues and games within their relationship
Was once enemies and then that energy refrained
Reflecting on their past conflicts and animosity that has now been restrained or subdued
Wasn't meant to be, the synergy had us mentally drained
Realizing that their relationship was not meant to last, as the connection and energy between them left them emotionally exhausted
Minimally sprained so relentlessly he aims
Despite only being slightly injured, he continues to target and hurt her emotionally
Despite when you said you never could depend on me again
Despite her previously stating that she could never rely on him, they are still entangled in each other's lives
Still we're here as none of this had ever taken place
Despite their tumultuous history, they remain connected and act as if none of the previous conflicts occurred
Are we checkin' to see if someone's takin' our place?
Questioning if they are constantly monitoring each other to see if someone else is replacing them in each other's lives
As we front like we're takin' up space
Pretending and putting up a facade as if they still hold significance in each other's lives
I think currently the current we is makin' our case
Believing that their current situation and connection is providing evidence or support for their ongoing relationship
But for what? Would that just seal it again
Questioning the purpose of staying connected and whether it would only result in repeating the same patterns
Did it all hurt so much? Do we wanna feel it again? I doubt it
Reflecting on the pain they have experienced in the past and expressing doubt about wanting to go through it all over again
Took a while, still nothing's understood
Despite the time that has passed, they still haven't fully comprehended or resolved their issues
Would we change it if we could?
Questioning whether they would alter their circumstances if given the opportunity
I swear if this is love, I'm good
Reinforcing that if this is the state of love, he is content and satisfied without it
Everything has changed, I can see it clear in fact
Noticing that everything has transformed, understanding the situation clearly
Starin' at these four walls, angry that they're starin' back
Feeling frustrated and upset as he stares at the walls that seem to be mocking him
Took a while, now it's finally understood
After some time, he has come to fully understand the situation
Would we change it if we could?
Considering whether they would alter their circumstances if given the opportunity
I swear if this is love, I'm good
Reiterating that if this is what love has become, he is content without it
Writer(s): Dj Battle
Contributed by Alice J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PamVlogs
Fire !!! Stack killed it rip
Rafael Silva
RIP STACK!
dieselshug
Joe don't spit like this no more