Joe Budden (born August 31, 1980 in Spanish Harlem, New York) is a rapper f… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Budden (born August 31, 1980 in Spanish Harlem, New York) is a rapper from Jersey City, New Jersey. In recent years he has come to prominence as one of the most skilled and sought-for rappers in the game, despite his best work being on the internet mixtape circuit.

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.

If All Else Fails
Joe Budden Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If all else fails, I'll get back to what I know
Rachet for my foes, watching for it fallin take a stab at it was snow
Long john jacket for the cold
Some habits are hard to outgrow
I work so hard you think the studio's my lodge inn
If all else fails
I don't have a doubt that I'd be back in that studio apartment
Getting it in, closet size living room, and the kitchen's my den

Playing lotto hoping numbers will save the day
Back to price checking, back to layaways
Since I ain't never hit nothing like a bad fadeaway
Back to the corner, takin a bag of haze to face
Basic flow, when I tried to get my cake to grow
I hit the pawn shop and turn into Trader Joe
Shiesty kid, yack ya jewels while they glistenin
Snatch the hearing aid from a senior, while they're listening
If all else fails, don't know where I'd be
Scratch that, probably at home, nowhere to be
Or probably fuckin a broad that, I treat like a floor mat
Ugly enough to cover her face when the ?
And that's a step down from my New York rat
They ride it like a horse's back, with the horseback
But it won't fail so if you try to rob the kid
Banana clips by the bed will put a stop to it
Nevermind that, first you gotta beat the guard
I can change the channel on my tv and see my yard
If it all failed, I'm ready for the sham
Forging fake checks screamin "Catch Me If You Can"
If all else fails, I'd be out pullin Jerz capers
Knowing me I'd be best friends with my worst haters
I'd be dustin off the AR or be behind state bars
For jackin a bait car
If all failed, I'd be back in them block cyphers
Just to show these local niggas I'm a lot nicer
Cause the less you succeed the more you loved for it

While the more you achieve the more you snubbed for it
If all else failed and my pockets were empty
Everything I despised I'd probably envy
Ignorant shit rappers floss that offends me
Cause I wouldn't be able to attain it, it would tempt me
Frontin' in my mans Maserati
I might bag something with a modest body, from a college party
Next morning hung over so she don't remember
I'd deck my whole crib out from Rent-A-Center
If all else failed and I didn't get a break yet
I'd get unemployment while collecting a paycheck
Would it mean I wasn't build for the bright lights
Say goodbye to front row seats and fight night
If it all failed I'd have a pretty common future
From a Chart House nigga to a ramen noodler
Would my girl say you no longer attract me
Pack up all her shit and head south with an athlete
My name would hold no wait so I'd lose the perks
OD on Oxycontin, abuse the percs
I'd be a felon getting my scriptures tatted on
First 48 star getting ratted on
If all else fails I wouldn't take precaution
New hoopty every month would be my way of flossin
And the crib would be an all night party
With 6 baby moms that I Jet on like Lombardi
Fantasizing the girls I coulda dated
Pull the burner ? on the ones that coulda made it
I'd be the only one that cared
Am I just reciting my fears as they appear

Shouldn't even put the idea in the air
Cause it's not possible, let's make that clear BABY!

Overall Meaning

The song "If All Else Fails" by Joe Budden is essentially about the artist's willingness to do whatever it takes to survive, regardless of how morally questionable some of those methods may be. Budden suggests that if he were to fail in his current endeavors, he would resort to his old ways, such as theft, scamming people, and even selling drugs. He refers to past habits as "hard to outgrow" and emphasizes the difficulty of leaving behind certain behaviors. Budden also discusses his love for music and how he is determined to make it in the industry, even if it means living in a small apartment and working tirelessly in the studio. Overall, the song expresses the internal struggle that many people face when attempting to succeed in life and the difficult choices they may have to make in order to survive.

Line by Line Meaning

If all else fails, I'll get back to what I know
If nothing else works out, I will revert to my original skills and talents.

Rachet for my foes, watching for it fallin take a stab at it was snow
Preparing for my enemies and waiting for them to make a mistake so I can strike.

Long john jacket for the cold
Wearing warm clothing to protect myself from the cold.

Some habits are hard to outgrow
It can be difficult to change one's bad habits.

I work so hard you think the studio's my lodge inn
I work tirelessly on my music, as if the studio is my second home.

If all else fails
If everything else does not work out.

I don't have a doubt that I'd be back in that studio apartment
I have no doubts that I would be right back in my small studio apartment where I started from.

Getting it in, closet size living room, and the kitchen's my den
Working hard in my small living space, where the kitchen doubles as my bedroom.

Playing lotto hoping numbers will save the day
Trying my luck with the lottery, hoping for a big win to solve my problems.

Back to price checking, back to layaways
Returning to checking prices and putting items on layaway due to financial difficulties.

Since I ain't never hit nothing like a bad fadeaway
Since I have never experienced failure as bad as a missed shot in basketball.

Back to the corner, takin a bag of haze to face
Returning to the street corner to smoke marijuana and try to forget my problems.

Basic flow, when I tried to get my cake to grow
Having a simple rapping style when I tried to become successful.

I hit the pawn shop and turn into Trader Joe
Going to the pawn shop to sell my belongings and becoming someone who constantly trades and sells items.

Shiesty kid, yack ya jewels while they glistenin
A dishonest person who steals my jewelry when it is shiny and new.

Snatch the hearing aid from a senior, while they're listening
Taking a hearing aid from an elderly person while they are still wearing it.

If all else fails, don't know where I'd be
If nothing works out, I have no idea where I would end up.

Scratch that, probably at home, nowhere to be
Actually, I would probably be at home with nothing to do.

Or probably fuckin a broad that, I treat like a floor mat
Maybe I would be having sex with a woman who I disrespect.

Ugly enough to cover her face when the ?
She is so unattractive that I would have to cover her face when I am with her in public.

And that's a step down from my New York rat
She is even less attractive than the women I am used to dating in New York.

They ride it like a horse's back, with the horseback
They overuse something until it is unusable, like a horse's back ridden too hard.

But it won't fail so if you try to rob the kid
My plan won't fail, so if you try to rob me, you will not succeed.

Banana clips by the bed will put a stop to it
I have weapons ready and waiting to protect myself.

Nevermind that, first you gotta beat the guard
Before you can rob me, you have to get past my security.

I can change the channel on my tv and see my yard
I have security cameras set up to monitor my property, and I can see them on my TV.

If it all failed, I'm ready for the sham
If everything falls apart, I am prepared to cheat or scam my way out of it.

Forging fake checks screamin 'Catch Me If You Can'
Falsifying checks, emulating the 'Catch Me If You Can' film.

If all else fails, I'd be out pullin Jerz capers
If nothing else works, I would resort to committing robbery in New Jersey.

Knowing me I'd be best friends with my worst haters
I would likely become friends with people who dislike me if it means they can help me achieve success.

I'd be dustin off the AR or be behind state bars
I would have to either use weapons or end up in jail.

For jackin a bait car
For stealing a car that was bait for criminals.

If all failed, I'd be back in them block cyphers
If everything falls apart, I would return to performing rap music in the city streets.

Just to show these local niggas I'm a lot nicer
Trying to prove to local rappers that I am better than them.

Cause the less you succeed the more you loved for it
People will love and respect you more if you work hard and overcome obstacles, rather than just achieving success easily.

While the more you achieve the more you snubbed for it
The more successful you become, the more people will try to bring you down.

If all else failed and my pockets were empty
If everything else did not work out and I was broke.

Everything I despised I'd probably envy
I would likely become jealous of everything I hate.

Ignorant shit rappers floss that offends me
Rappers who flaunt their money and possessions in an obnoxious way bother me.

Cause I wouldn't be able to attain it, it would tempt me
I would be tempted by things I cannot afford.

Frontin' in my mans Maserati
Pretending to own my friend's Maserati.

I might bag something with a modest body, from a college party
I might try to have sex with someone of average attractiveness who I meet at a college party.

Next morning hung over so she don't remember
Waking up the next morning with a hangover, realizing that the person I had sex with does not remember it.

I'd deck my whole crib out from Rent-A-Center
I would furnish my entire home with rental furniture from Rent-A-Center.

If all else failed and I didn't get a break yet
If nothing else works out and I still have not had any lucky breaks.

I'd get unemployment while collecting a paycheck
I would collect unemployment while also receiving a paycheck from a job.

Would it mean I wasn't build for the bright lights
Does that mean I am not meant for success and fame?

Say goodbye to front row seats and fight night
I would no longer be able to afford or have access to the best seats at sporting events.

If it all failed I'd have a pretty common future
If everything falls apart, my future would be average and unremarkable.

From a Chart House nigga to a ramen noodler
Going from a person who frequents expensive dining establishments to being someone who eats cheap, instant ramen noodles.

Would my girl say you no longer attract me
Would my girlfriend leave me because I am no longer successful?

Pack up all her shit and head south with an athlete
My girlfriend would leave me and move away with a successful athlete.

My name would hold no wait so I'd lose the perks
If I lose my success, my name would hold no weight, and I would no longer have privileges or special treatment.

OD on Oxycontin, abuse the percs
Overdosing on prescription drugs and abusing painkillers.

I'd be a felon getting my scriptures tatted on
I would be a criminal with tattoos of religious passages on my body.

First 48 star getting ratted on
Appearing on the television show 'First 48' as a person who is informing the police on other criminals.

If all else fails I wouldn't take precaution
If everything falls apart, I would not take any measures to protect myself.

New hoopty every month would be my way of flossin
Buying a new, cheap car every month to show off my money.

And the crib would be an all night party
Having non-stop parties in my home.

With 6 baby moms that I Jet on like Lombardi
Ignoring my six ex-girlfriends who are the mothers of my children.

Fantasizing the girls I coulda dated
Daydreaming about women I could have been with if I were more successful.

Pull the burner ? on the ones that coulda made it
Threatening or using a gun on people who I could have been successful with to make myself feel better.

I'd be the only one that cared
Feeling isolated and alone without anyone to rely on or care for.

Am I just reciting my fears as they appear
Wondering if I am only speaking about my fears as they manifest.

Shouldn't even put the idea in the air
I should not even mention the possibility of failure.

Cause it's not possible, let's make that clear BABY!
I am confident that failure is not an option, so I should not worry about it.

Contributed by Christopher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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