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.
In My Sleep
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So it's only natural I asked her "what I said?"
She said she woke up when she heard
But she was so damn tired she couldn't make out a word
She said she was trying to see if eventually if I would scream the name of a bird
I told her "that's absurd"
And then gave her the face like "word?!"
And then she replied "yeah"
I said "that's the side effect that you get when you trade bad dreams for some great nightmares"
When I close my eyes, I escape the poltergeist
My escape from reality just what I needed
Brings me to a place where shorty never cheated
And even if she tried and succeeded
In this other world I wouldn't even get heated
Fuck the details, I don't care about why
I'm chillin with my grandmother, she ain't die
I was browsing online and seen Mike on that banner
And said "you can be like me and beat cancer"
Anything I touched I feel
Know its fiction but it seems so real
Was leaving out the casino with a nympho
Yes Ray it can be so simple
Here's how I avoid problem with my kin folk
Learn how to build me a house with no win
Dows.. and that's when I think I saw a ribbon in the sky but it wasn't from an in
Tro... 'cause where I'm at there's no rumors or gossip but still got love for Miss In
Fo... she said in my sleep I be laughing, but shit seem funny to me
My ice cream was 200 degrees
If it dripped I'd get a hole in my dungarees
See my animinoty is my protection
And me and hip hop have no connection
Which got me to reflecting
Is that why the mirror don't show my reflection
When I close my eyes there's no dollar
So we can stretch that one as an excuse
Of why folks do the things they do
Or why people act so brand new?
I had wings on flying outta prison with a ratchet
Was only there 'cause someone snitched
No ones poor but no ones rich
Just my way of creeping if life's a bitch
Took a walk on the ceiling just to get my mind right
That was yesterday... so in hindsight
Since I was able to haul off
I took it as God telling my I'll never fall off
Got rid of the name brands and the jewelry
Most people just use it as medicine
Like it takes them somewhere they ain't never been
But here you better off not better then
Stuck in the room with an elephant
Open the closet and dapped up my skeleton
Had a convo with a man with no ears
And all of a sudden everything became so clear
Have no fear
I just bought a first class trip to nowhere, everybody goes there
But they don't stay the whole year,
Me I got 365 shows there
My girl said in my sleep I be walking, so I ask baby "where I go?"
She said I be walking slow,
She don't ever wanna get outta bed so she don't know
I went to see a man walking on water
Asked if he'd ever get things back in order
I been there two years over a quarter
But every time I open my eyes it's like torture
He said "please I gave you a whole other world for you to go do with as you please
Just so you appeased mixed with a couple of signs bout real life while you make believe"
So I teleported outta there with a grin
Met a bum with a mansion that invited me in
Then we politiced about politics
He mentioned def jam but I ain't acknowledge it
I went to see a virgin with AIDS, yea I thought about smashing that
Yea her ass was fat, so appealing
Tattoo on her inner thigh that said "she was doin better then she was feeling"
I think I seen shorty before, maybe in the club or something
Maybe in VIP, but wasn't nobody there but me
And the club was all red, and she started playing with my head
And then I came
Then I asked shorty what's her name and it was weird 'cause she fucked around and disappeared
Like what a cruel joke
Cig lit but from it was no smoke
Flicked in the ashtray and seen Stack's face
Slashed to a school hallway on a half day
Was getting chased, couldn't tell by who
Then the hallway turned into a cliff
Screamin "piff" before I was dead
Somehow I jumped my ass up out that bed
Then baby girl told me in my sleep I was screaming
So I said "that's a lie"
She put her right hand in the sky
And said "you was but I don't know why"
Gotta go, goodbye..
The song "In My Sleep" by Joe Budden speaks of his dream experiences, where he finds escapism from reality. In his sleep, he feels safe and wishes to be in the company of his grandmother who never died, walks on the ceiling without falling off, and even visits virtual places where he never lost his loved ones. He mentions that his sleep world is beyond reality, where even if his girlfriend cheats on him, he won't be affected. However, he realizes that his dream world is also plagued with imperfections, and he wants to come back to reality as he wakes up sweating and screaming. The song conveys the theme of the complexities and dualities of human experience, which make reality and dreams both distinct and interconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby girl told me in my sleep I was talkin
Joe Budden talks in his sleep.
So it's only natural I asked her "what I said?"
Joe inquires about what he was saying in his sleep.
She said she woke up when she heard
Joe's girlfriend was awakened by the sound of his talking.
But she was so damn tired she couldn't make out a word
Joe's girlfriend was too exhausted to comprehend what he was saying.
She said she was trying to see if eventually if I would scream the name of a bird
Joe's girlfriend was trying to figure out if there was any real significance or meaning to his sleep talking.
I told her "that's absurd"
Joe thinks that his girlfriend's suspicions are ridiculous.
And then gave her the face like "word?!"
Joe was surprised but still skeptical.
And then she replied "yeah"
Joe's girlfriend confirms that he was sleep talking.
Said "it was quite weird", said she was type scared
Joe's girlfriend found his sleep talking to be unsettling and frightening.
I said "that's the side effect that you get when you trade bad dreams for some great nightmares"
Joe suggests that perhaps his sleep talking is a result of his dreams.
When I close my eyes, I escape the poltergeist
Joe finds solace in his sleep when he's away from the paranormal.
My escape from reality just what I needed
Joe enjoys escaping from the real world.
Brings me to a place where shorty never cheated
In Joe's dream world, his girlfriend has never cheated.
And even if she tried and succeeded
Even if, in real life, his girlfriend were to cheat on him, it doesn't matter in his dreams.
In this other world I wouldn't even get heated
Joe doesn't get angry in his dream world.
Fuck the details, I don't care about why
Joe doesn't want to focus on the details.
I'm chillin with my grandmother, she ain't die
Joe enjoys hanging out with his deceased grandmother in his dreams.
I was browsing online and seen Mike on that banner
Joe saw Michael Jackson on an online banner.
And said "you can be like me and beat cancer"
Joe saw Michael Jackson on an online banner and tells him that he can beat cancer.
Anything I touched I feel
In Joe's dreams, he feels everything he touches.
Know its fiction but it seems so real
Joe knows his dreams aren't real but they seem so vivid.
Was leaving out the casino with a nympho
Joe is leaving a casino with a promiscuous woman in his dreams.
Yes Ray it can be so simple
In his dreams, Joe finds life to be easy and uncomplicated.
Here's how I avoid problem with my kin folk
Joe finds ways to avoid problems with his family in his dreams.
Learn how to build me a house with no win
Dows..
Joe is learning how to build a house without windows.
And that's when I think I saw a ribbon in the sky but it wasn't from an in
Tro...
Joe sees something in the sky that looks like a ribbon.
'cause where I'm at there's no rumors or gossip but still got love for Miss In
Fo...
Joe is in a place where there are no rumors or gossip, but he still has affection for a girl named Miss Info.
She said in my sleep I be laughing, but shit seem funny to me
Joe's girlfriend tells him that he was laughing in his sleep.
My ice cream was 200 degrees
If it dripped I'd get a hole in my dungarees
In his dreams, Joe is eating very hot ice cream that could burn a hole in his jeans.
See my animinoty is my protection
And me and hip hop have no connection
In his dreams, Joe's creativity is his shield and protection.
Which got me to reflecting
Is that why the mirror don't show my reflection
Joe wonders if his creativity is the reason why he can't see his reflection in the mirror in his dreams.
When I close my eyes there's no dollar
Joe doesn't think about money in his dreams.
So we can stretch that one as an excuse
Of why folks do the things they do
Joe thinks people use money as an excuse for their behavior.
Or why people act so brand new?
Joe ponders about why people behave in strange ways.
I had wings on flying outta prison with a ratchet
Was only there 'cause someone snitched
In Joe's dream, he's got wings and he's flying out of jail because someone ratted him out.
No ones poor but no ones rich
Just my way of creeping if life's a bitch
In his dreams, no one is poor or rich and Joe finds his way even when life is tough.
Took a walk on the ceiling just to get my mind right
Joe takes a walk on the ceiling to clear his head in his dreams.
That was yesterday... so in hindsight
What Joe just mentioned happened yesterday.
Since I was able to haul off
I took it as God telling my I'll never fall off
Because Joe was able to succeed, he thinks God is telling him he can never fail.
Got rid of the name brands and the jewelry
Most people just use it as medicine
Joe realized that name brands and jewelry are superficial, and most people use them as a way to feel better.
Like it takes them somewhere they ain't never been
But here you better off not better then
Joe thinks these material things take people to a place they've never been, but where he is, it's better not to have these things.
Stuck in the room with an elephant
Open the closet and dapped up my skeleton
In Joe's dream, he's stuck in a room with an elephant and then he greets his own skeleton in the closet.
Had a convo with a man with no ears
And all of our sudden everything became so clear
Joe has a deep conversation with a man who has no ears in his dream, and suddenly everything became very clear.
Have no fear
I just bought a first class trip to nowhere, everybody goes there
Joe has nothing to fear because he's going on a first class trip to nowhere, where everyone goes.
But they don't stay the whole year,
Me I got 365 shows there
Most people don't stay there the entire year, but Joe has a show there everyday of the year.
My girl said in my sleep I be walking, so I ask baby "where I go?"
Joe's girlfriend tells him that he walks in his sleep, so he asks her where he goes.
She said I be walking slow,
She don't ever wanna get outta bed so she don't know
Joe's girlfriend doesn't know where he goes when he walks slowly.
I went to see a man walking on water
Asked if he'd ever get things back in order
Joe meets a man who walks on water in his dream, and he asks him if he will get everything back in order.
I been there two years over a quarter
But every time I open my eyes it's like torture
Joe has been there for over two years, but every time he wakes up it's painful.
He said "please I gave you a whole other world for you to go do with as you please
Just so you appeased mixed with a couple of signs bout real life while you make believe"
The man walking on water tells Joe he has a place to go where he can do whatever he pleases, but it's still mixed with real-life elements.
So I teleported outta there with a grin
Met a bum with a mansion that invited me in
Joe teleported out of the walking on water man's place and into a mansion where he met a bum.
Then we politiced about politics
He mentioned def jam but I ain't acknowledge it
Joe has a conversation about political issues with the bum, but he doesn't acknowledge the mention of Def Jam.
I went to see a virgin with AIDS,
yea I thought about smashing that
In his dream, Joe goes to see a virgin with AIDS and considers having sex with her.
Yea her ass was fat, so appealing
Tattoo on her inner thigh that said "she was doin better then she was feeling"
Joe was drawn to the virgin's appearance, despite her disease, and he noticed a tattoo on her inner thigh.
I think I seen shorty before, maybe in the club or something
Maybe in VIP, but wasn't nobody there but me
Joe recalls seeing a girl in the club or VIP section.
And the club was all red, and she started playing with my head
And then I came
Then I asked shorty what's her name and it was weird 'cause she fucked around and disappeared
Like what a cruel joke
In the dream, the girl played mind games with Joe and then disappeared.
Cig lit but from it was no smoke
Flicked in the ashtray and seen Stack's face
Slashed to a school hallway on a half day
Was getting chased, couldn't tell by who
Then the hallway turned into a cliff
Screamin "piff" before I was dead
Somehow I jumped my ass up out that bed
Joe has a series of vivid but disjointed dreams, involving smoking a cigarette, seeing Stack's face and then being chased and eventually falling off a cliff.
Then baby girl told me in my sleep I was screaming
So I said "that's a lie"
Joe refuses to accept that he was screaming in his sleep.
She put her right hand in the sky
And said "you was but I don't know why"
Joe's girlfriend confirms that he was screaming in his sleep but doesn't understand why.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nate
This song is a classic I don't care what no one says. But listeners don't want to dig deeper
Proximal_Memoire_Productions
yes, it can be so simple
King Boston
This song is so epic if you dig into it...amazing
Daniel Putnam
It really is, it really paints a picture
Slick Miracle
he really does portray vivid dreams in his music so well, every time I hear it it sounds like a dream
Po Pov
Man why the fuck is this not on Spotify
Flee GSC
Best song ever made! i seriously became the biggest mouse fan when i heard this years years ago
trent hall
The Fact that none of the other jbp fans made it hear...low key disappointed and simultaneously feeling "enlightened". This song helped me through so much when padded room dropped and ever time I listen I gain more insight into my own critical thought.
PokeyLoki23
This song takes me back. Sooo good. Flicked in an ash tray. And seen stacks face.
Andrew
RIP Stack Bundles