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 Couldn't Help It
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We had a beautiful relationship at one point
But then, that shit changed with the quickness
Maybe cause I was fuckin' other bitches
Or maybe we had no busniess havin' busniess
Not the girl that I would want to raise kids with
But still that shit happened regardless
I was so young, back then so heartless
Listen, I tried to talk to her normally
That shit didn't work for one second, she was on to me
I tried to explain, how I ain't have a dollar to my name
Pursuin' this rap shit, chasin' fame
Young dude stressed in the hood like Je-sus
I ain't ready for no child but she was
When you, piss poor get to havin' sick thoughts
While the chick probably sittin' there thinkin' bout marriage
I'm thinkin' abortion like a savage
On purpose accident to have a miscarriage
Her a mother of mine I couldn't end up seein'
Plus what type of mother would you end up bein'
You already a physco, I wouldn't let that pass
I ain't think lifetime bond, I thought fat ass
All them times you were pregnant and miserable
All them fights we had that got physical
Everytime I sent you packin', pissed at you
Like I ain't want to live wit you, yeah I kind of planned that
Ain't considerate, sounds just like me
Then you put someone out that looks just like me
I grabbed my little dude up, looked 'em in his eyes
And you can't understand right now I apologize
How could I not want you here, be that selfish
Fuck was on my mind at the time, my bad I Couldn't Help It
[Hook]
[Verse 2]
Now this is how you know we go through phases
Cause he done sold millions of records
Plus they done been together for ages
I don't really know how to say this
Me and old boy done shared a couple of stages
But he wasn't around when I saw her in Vegas
She said 'remember me?', I thought I should lie
I looked baby up and down and said 'should I?'
Maybe she my old broad, maybe she a singer
I looked down seen a chunky rock on her finger
She said I'm 'blanks' wife, how you been and what you doin' here?
I should of asked her that same shit
Snoop had already told me that bitches ain't shit
And the industries so small, that's how the game is
When you famous, everybodys a bilingual plaintiff
And the defendant speaks one language
But we exchanged numbers like fuck it
All we gon talk about is music
Neither one of us will ever use it
But shorty she ain't hesitate to use it
Four A.M., where do I begin?
She's leavin' the club, I'm about to win
She's so aggressive like 'what room are you in?'
I ain't answer, she said meet her downstairs in ten
Now we totally disrespectin' his star
I'm with his bitch, and she in his car
She said hop in let's head to the strip bar
Bad ass friend with her, and then she kissed ma
And now I'm so confused
She starts tellin' me about how she's so abused
How he beats her ass, how he takes that figure
And I'm in my head thinkin' 'I don't blame that nigga'
We hit the club like everythin's wonderful
She touchin' me, I'm feelin uncomfortable
And then the DJ threw on somethin' slow
I'm grindin' on her friend, now she wantin' to go
Dude's wife started whisperin' in my ear
I'm startin' to see it clear, she don't care shorty's down with whatever
She said let's go to your room all together
I'm sure the two of us'll make it worth your wild
Now your friend looks great and I really want to fuck her
But I can't be your side dude, can't be your lover
Caught on my old school shit just to thug her
We got to the room, told her I ain't have a rubber
I thought it worked at first
One looked disappointed and one looked hurt
But her trifelin' ass went and made shit worse
She reached down pulled a few of those out her purse
Got on her knees started playin' with the head
All her dudes lyrics started playin' in my head
Her friend I'm sayin', probably feelin' left out
I'm filled with guilt because all I can think bout was
He have her on TV with your kids
I got her on the TV in her ribs
Please God forgive, regret what I did
That ain't the lifestyle I want to live, just then I Couldn't Help It
The song "I Couldn't Help It" by Joe Budden addresses a difficult and complex subject matter, detailing the rapper's regret for cheating on his partner and impregnating her with a child he didn't want. The song is divided into two verses, each of which tackles a different relationship issue that Budden is guilty of. The first verse focuses on his past relationship and how he wasn't ready to have kids with her, so he asked her to have an abortion. He remembers the fights they had over this and how he wasn't considerate of her feelings at the time. He apologizes sincerely to her and their child, expressing his guilt and regret over his past actions.
The second verse highlights how Budden couldn't help but cheat on his partner with a married woman. Even though he knew it was disrespectful and wrong, he went ahead with it regardless of how it would hurt her. In the verse, Budden goes into detail about the affair and how it came to be. He acknowledges how he took a risk by getting involved with someone he shouldn't have and how he didn't think of the consequences. By the end of the verse, he is filled with regret and asks for forgiveness from his partner.
In summary, the song portrays Joe Budden as a flawed character plagued by guilt and remorse, trying to make amends for his mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
We had a beautiful relationship at one point
Our relationship was once filled with love and happiness
But then, that shit changed with the quickness
But things quickly turned sour and fell apart
Maybe cause I was fuckin' other bitches
Perhaps because I was being unfaithful
Or maybe we had no busniess havin' busniess
Or maybe we were never meant to be together
Not the girl that I would want to raise kids with
She wasn't the right person to start a family with
But still that shit happened regardless
But despite that, things happened the way they did
I was so young, back then so heartless
I was young and lacked compassion
And the shit I was thinkin' could of caught me some charges
The thoughts I had could have led me into legal trouble
Listen, I tried to talk to her normally
I attempted to have a normal conversation with her
That shit didn't work for one second, she was on to me
But she saw through me immediately
I tried to explain, how I ain't have a dollar to my name
I tried to justify my financial situation
Pursuin' this rap shit, chasin' fame
Explaining that I was focused on pursuing a career in rap and fame
Young dude stressed in the hood like Je-sus
I was a young guy dealing with stress in the neighborhood
I ain't ready for no child but she was
I wasn't prepared to be a parent, but she was
When you, piss poor get to havin' sick thoughts
When you're financially struggling, you start having disturbing thoughts
While the chick probably sittin' there thinkin' bout marriage
While she was likely thinking about starting a family and getting married
I'm thinkin' abortion like a savage
I considered abortion without much empathy or consideration
On purpose accident to have a miscarriage
I deliberately caused a miscarriage as a means to avoid responsibility
Her a mother of mine I couldn't end up seein'
She could have been the mother of my child whom I would never see
Plus what type of mother would you end up bein'
I had doubts about what kind of mother she would become
You already a physco, I wouldn't let that pass
You already exhibited unstable behavior, and I couldn't overlook that
I ain't think lifetime bond, I thought fat ass
I wasn't thinking about a long-term commitment, only physical attraction
All them times you were pregnant and miserable
All those times you were pregnant and unhappy
All them fights we had that got physical
All the fights we had that turned violent
Everytime I sent you packin', pissed at you
Every time I kicked you out in anger
Like I ain't want to live wit you, yeah I kind of planned that
Acting as if I didn't want to be with you, but deep down, I planned it
Ain't considerate, sounds just like me
I wasn't considerate, but that's characteristic of my behavior
Then you put someone out that looks just like me
Then you had a child who resembles me
I grabbed my little dude up, looked 'em in his eyes
I picked up our child and stared into their eyes
And you can't understand right now I apologize
I'm sorry, you may not understand it now, but I apologize
How could I not want you here, be that selfish
How could I not want you to be a part of our child's life, be so self-centered
Fuck was on my mind at the time, my bad I Couldn't Help It
I was consumed by selfish thoughts at the time, I apologize, I couldn't control it
[Hook]
[Verse 2]
Now this is how you know we go through phases
This is a clear indication of the phases we experience
Cause he done sold millions of records
Because he has sold millions of records
Plus they done been together for ages
And they have been together for a long time
I don't really know how to say this
I'm not sure how to express this
Me and old boy done shared a couple of stages
We have performed together on a few occasions
But he wasn't around when I saw her in Vegas
But he wasn't present when I encountered her in Las Vegas
She said 'remember me?', I thought I should lie
She asked if I remembered her, and I considered telling a falsehood
I looked baby up and down and said 'should I?'
I glanced at her, unsure if I should acknowledge our past
Maybe she my old broad, maybe she a singer
She could be an old flame or maybe she's a famous singer
I looked down seen a chunky rock on her finger
Then I noticed a large diamond ring on her finger
She said I'm 'blanks' wife, how you been and what you doin' here?
She revealed she was the wife of a certain person and asked about my presence
I should of asked her that same shit
I should have asked her the same question in return
Snoop had already told me that bitches ain't shit
Snoop Dogg had already warned me that women can't be trusted
And the industries so small, that's how the game is
The industry is so interconnected, that's just how things work
When you famous, everybodys a bilingual plaintiff
When you're famous, everyone can speak the language of accusation
And the defendant speaks one language
But the accused can only defend themselves in one way
But we exchanged numbers like fuck it
Despite the situation, we exchanged numbers without much concern
All we gon talk about is music
All we intended to discuss was music
Neither one of us will ever use it
Neither of us had any real intention of using those numbers
But shorty she ain't hesitate to use it
However, she wasted no time in utilizing the contact information
Four A.M., where do I begin?
At four in the morning, I find myself questioning my choices
She's leavin' the club, I'm about to win
She's leaving the club, and I feel victorious
She's so aggressive like 'what room are you in?'
She boldly asks me what room I am staying in
I ain't answer, she said meet her downstairs in ten
I didn't respond, but she instructed me to meet her downstairs in ten minutes
Now we totally disrespectin' his star
Now we are completely disrespecting her partner
I'm with his bitch, and she in his car
I'm with his woman, inside his car
She said hop in let's head to the strip bar
She invites me to join her in going to a strip club
Bad ass friend with her, and then she kissed ma
Her attractive friend is also present, and she kisses me
And now I'm so confused
Now I find myself feeling perplexed
She starts tellin' me about how she's so abused
She begins sharing details about how she is being mistreated
How he beats her ass, how he takes that figure
She describes how her partner physically abuses her and manipulates her financially
And I'm in my head thinkin' 'I don't blame that nigga'
Internally, I find myself thinking 'I can't blame him for his actions'
We hit the club like everythin's wonderful
We enter the club, acting as if everything is perfect
She touchin' me, I'm feelin uncomfortable
She starts touching me, but it makes me feel uneasy
And then the DJ threw on somethin' slow
Then the DJ plays a slow song
I'm grindin' on her friend, now she wantin' to go
I start dancing with her friend, and now she wants to leave
Dude's wife started whisperin' in my ear
Her partner's wife starts whispering in my ear
I'm startin' to see it clear, she don't care shorty's down with whatever
I start realizing that she doesn't care, she's willing to do anything
She said let's go to your room all together
She suggests that the three of us go to my hotel room
I'm sure the two of us'll make it worth your wild
I'm certain that the two of us will make it very exciting for you
Now your friend looks great and I really want to fuck her
Now her friend looks attractive, and I really want to have sex with her
But I can't be your side dude, can't be your lover
But I can't be your affair partner or your lover
Caught on my old school shit just to thug her
I revert to my old ways of seducing her
We got to the room, told her I ain't have a rubber
Once we reached the room, I admitted that I didn't have a condom
I thought it worked at first
Initially, I thought my excuse was effective
One looked disappointed and one looked hurt
One of them appeared disappointed, and the other appeared hurt
But her trifelin' ass went and made shit worse
However, she went and made the situation worse with her deceit
She reached down pulled a few of those out her purse
She reached into her purse and pulled out a few condoms
Got on her knees started playin' with the head
She got on her knees and started performing oral sex
All her dudes lyrics started playin' in my head
My mind was filled with thoughts of her partner's lyrics
Her friend I'm sayin', probably feelin' left out
Her friend likely felt excluded from the situation
I'm filled with guilt because all I can think bout was
I feel guilty because all I could think about was
He have her on TV with your kids
He appears with her on TV with their children
I got her on the TV in her ribs
I have her bent over in the hotel room
Please God forgive, regret what I did
I pray to God for forgiveness, regretting my actions
That ain't the lifestyle I want to live, just then I Couldn't Help It
That's not the kind of life I want to lead, but in that moment, I couldn't control myself
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ant G
track still gives me goosebumps
Yxng_Ash
one of the best underrated rappers, big up to you my man !
Darnell Holmes
I loved this song! It speaks to me on so many levels
Danger Zone
Joe budden music = stress relief
TheRapVault
joe got that music that bring u to a new level
Rimshot Robinson
Thank You Joe Budden... Needed This šÆ
Vicente Rodriguez
Too many ppl sleep on Joe. I love the sample. Prodigy HNIC š
Lion
Song makes me wanna think about my actions š¢
suleman021
This song always cracks me up
dayle. Johnson
7/20/19 still listening to this song now šÆšÆšÆ