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.
No Idea
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I?ll be out the country with the phone off, f-ck it
Grown from when I was dusted
But took something away out of every moment I suffered
So y?all can go on and judge it
There?s a reason that I?m tellin baby girl she gotta practice patience
I plan on changing my ways I?m just procrastinating
Putting it off like I?ll never be in a casket layin
Prideful, I don?t even succumb when I?m defeated
All it do is get me mad, and I?m comfortable heated
I come from a family of drunks, I?m the one that succeeded
So nowadays I talk to God when nothing is needed
I?m sorry I don?t speak the language of
Rappers in the closet, but they won?t hang it up
I?m only trying to build what they attempt to destroy
We had a perfect game until it was Jim Joyce?d
Check it, what was once so majestic
Is now only adored by epileptics
I record to resurrect it, by my own accord I can?t accept it
But when something gives you nightmares, can you afford to recollect it
If you can just know them odds stacked
Airplanes ain?t shooting stars, you can?t B.O.B. that
I found out when discussing paper
Some will sell their soul and deal with the repercussions later
[Chorus]
With every curve they throw
Every shot that blows, I?m still here
It be the ones that?s pretending to know that really have no Idea
I just let em all go ahead and speak my name
How far you gonna reach for fame
Go ahead and fuck up your career
I don?t care, cause they have no idea
[Verse 2]
So sick it?s livid, all pics are vivid
A stiff of being gifted, gotta be equipped to live with
His critics, misquote him and miss tidbits
So he?s mislabeled, misunderstood, misfit?d
Anytime I was misinformed or misguided
I went and got advice from a dude that wouldn?t apply it
And he?ll give out that lesson for free
Without a grudge, but I keep the past present with me
So every morning on the wake up, and she?s applying make up
I?m pondering all the different ways for us to break u
Women have a tendency to get fickle
Predictable, lie and say his dick little
It be the ones you could see yourself with forever
Giving you a lecture talking about you neglect her
Couple years in, the strip club will upset her
And she?ll act like you ain?t have them same habits when you met her
When you can?t take her
You start dropping hints for her to read between the lines
But she?ll act like Fantasia
It?ll be so much to be said but no one will convey it
The relationship will be over but no one will say it
A doomed fate, living with who you?d soon hate
Ex life partners trying to co-exist as roommates
Once you go through it you?ll believe it
And you?ll never give a woman more than you?ll want her to leave with
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
How can the fans think us rappers are invincible
Cant find anything about that logic that?s sensible
I?m thinkin they should know better off of principle
To them we?re action heroes, to labels we?re Expendables
My old approach was apprehensible
Some started thinkin their 15 minutes of fame was extendable
They dont cherish the moment like they probably should
Once they star?s submitted they act Hollywood
Gwapped up stacks to grip
Now you?re being chauffeured in the back of whips, life style?s immaculate
Out of touch with reality, I?ll help you get a grasp of it
Success breeds change, but so does a lack of it
The homie?s sending out subliminals,
Since you a failed rapper, failed criminal, four bars is the minimal
Since you ain?t from the streets I?ll help and tell you the way it works
Say a nigga snitching, I?m saying show me the paper work
I don?t get why the inferior bother to diss me
Heart of my city, when I go take a part of it with me
I think god will understand that was part of my misery
So instead of ?father forgive me? it?s ?father ya dig me??
Spectated just to see if I?d get checkmated
Less progress brings less hatred which would segue it
I learned the hard way somethings are better kept sacred
Fail at given em your all, you?ll just be left naked
[Chorus]
In the song "No Idea" by Joe Budden, the rapper talks about his life experiences and observations while reflecting on his mindset towards success and relationships. He starts off by sharing how he learned to disconnect from stressful situations and go out of the country, taking an indifferent stance on life. Despite growing up in a family of alcoholics, he feels accomplished and grateful for what he has overcome. Budden implies that he needs to change but is struggling with procrastination. He also criticizes rappers who pretend to be something they are not and refuse to give up their careers despite not keeping up with the rest of the industry. He shares his thoughts on fame, relationships, and the music industry in general.
Throughout the rest of the song, Budden continues to share his thoughts on relationships and the music industry. He speaks about the pressures and the hype surrounding celebrities and how difficult it is to maintain this image. The song suggests that one should keep their private life intact and avoid exposing their flaws to the public. Budden warns about how your partner can change over time and how you should only give them what you are willing to lose. He also speaks about his struggles with relationships and the pressure to conform to the societal norm of marriage. The song ends with Budden discussing how he learned to keep some information private and avoid letting others take advantage of his vulnerabilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Look, I was always told you can?t make it make sense don?t trust it
I was taught that not everything can be explained and some things shouldn't be trusted.
So I?ll be out the country with the phone off, f-ck it
I'll go somewhere far away and turn off my phone to escape from everything.
Grown from when I was dusted
I've come a long way from when I was lost and confused.
But took something away out of every moment I suffered
I learned something from every difficult time I faced.
So y?all can go on and judge it
People can judge me all they want.
There?s a reason that I?m tellin baby girl she gotta practice patience
I'm advising a girl to be patient for a reason.
I plan on changing my ways I?m just procrastinating
I intend to turn over a new leaf, but I'm delaying it.
Putting it off like I?ll never be in a casket layin
I'm procrastinating as if I'll never die.
With both my parents going crazy as the pastor?s praying
As my parents suffer, I'll be mourned in the presence of a preacher.
Prideful, I don?t even succumb when I?m defeated
I'm too proud to admit defeat even when I've lost.
All it do is get me mad, and I?m comfortable heated
It only makes me angry, but I'm used to it.
I come from a family of drunks, I?m the one that succeeded
My family has struggled with addiction, but I've overcome it.
So nowadays I talk to God when nothing is needed
I speak to God even when I don't need anything.
I?m sorry I don?t speak the language of Rappers in the closet, but they won?t hang it up
I don't understand why some rappers pretend they're still relevant when they're not.
I?m only trying to build what they attempt to destroy
I'm trying to create something that others have tried to tear down.
We had a perfect game until it was Jim Joyce?d
Our perfect game ended suddenly and unfairly, like Jim Joyce's call.
What was once so majestic Is now only adored by epileptics
What was once beautiful is only appreciated by those with epilepsy.
I record to resurrect it, by my own accord I can?t accept it
I create music to bring back what's been lost, but I can't accept the current state of things.
But when something gives you nightmares, can you afford to recollect it
When something causes you traumatic memories, can you afford to remember it?
Airplanes ain?t shooting stars, you can?t B.O.B. that
Airplanes are not shooting stars, you can't confuse the two.
If you can just know them odds stacked
If only you knew the odds against you.
Some will sell their soul and deal with the repercussions later
Some people will make a deal, even if the consequences are bad.
With every curve they throw, every shot that blows, I?m still here
I've faced many challenges and obstacles, but I'm still standing.
It be the ones that?s pretending to know that really have no Idea
Those who claim to know the truth often have no idea what they're talking about.
I just let em all go ahead and speak my name
I let people say whatever they want about me.
How far you gonna reach for fame
How much are you willing to do for fame?
Go ahead and f*ck up your career
Do whatever you want to destroy your own career, I don't care.
So sick it?s livid, all pics are vivid
I'm disgusted with the way things are, and it's clear in all the pictures.
A stiff of being gifted, gotta be equipped to live with his critics
It's tough being talented, you have to be strong enough to handle criticism.
Misquote him and miss tidbits, so he?s mislabeled, misunderstood, misfit?d
People often misrepresent me or miss important details, leading to me being misunderstood.
I went and got advice from a dude that wouldn?t apply it
I once sought advice from someone who didn't follow their own advice.
Women have a tendency to get fickle, predictable
Women often change their minds and their actions are easy to predict.
It be the ones you could see yourself with forever giving you a lecture talking about you neglect her
The person you thought you could be with forever is now giving you lectures about neglecting them.
The strip club will upset her, and she?ll act like you ain?t have them same habits when you met her
Going to strip clubs will upset her, but she's acting like you didn't have those habits when you started dating.
When you can?t take her You start dropping hints for her to read between the lines
When you can't tolerate her anymore, you begin hinting for a break-up.
It?ll be so much to be said but no one will convey it
There's so much to say, but nobody will communicate it.
The relationship will be over but no one will say it
The relationship has ended, but nobody has officially ended it.
A doomed fate, living with who you?d soon hate
Living with someone you'll end up hating is a terrible fate.
How can the fans think us rappers are invincible
Why do fans think we rappers are untouchable?
Cant find anything about that logic that?s sensible
There's no logic to it that makes sense.
To them we?re action heroes, to labels we?re Expendables
Fans think we're like action heroes, but to labels, we're disposable.
My old approach was apprehensible
My old approach was understandable.
They dont cherish the moment like they probably should
They don't appreciate moments as much as they should.
The homie?s sending out subliminals
My friend is sending indirect messages.
Say a nigga snitching, I?m saying show me the paper work
If you're accusing someone of snitching, show me the proof.
I don?t get why the inferior bother to diss me
I don't understand why those beneath me bother to try and insult me.
Heart of my city, when I go take a part of it with me
I love my city, and I'll always take a part of it with me wherever I go.
I think god will understand that was part of my misery
I believe that God will understand why I went through this tough experience.
?father forgive me? it?s ?father ya dig me??
Instead of asking for forgiveness, I'm asking if God understands me.
Spectated just to see if I?d get checkmated
People are watching me to see if I'll fail.
Less progress brings less hatred which would segue it
If I make less progress, there will be less hatred, leading to a smoother transition.
I learned the hard way somethings are better kept sacred
I've learned the hard way that some things should be kept private.
Fail at given em your all, you?ll just be left naked
If you give it your all and still fail, you'll be left with nothing.
Contributed by Sydney A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
myke
This song gives a vibe that is unexplainable, his music sets a mood that feels good and is very personal, I like Nas Jay, banks, Jadakiss and fab but out of them all I listen to Joe budden albums the most, all of his albums are timeless and almost no skips and his songs never get old, he makes the best albums, not saying he's the best but he definitely make some of the best music and one of the underrated Goats.
kryz Hamid
Facts
Track Courtesy Of J. Cardim
One of my favorite beat I made for Joe
Rxdreiz Thegreat
Word? U on soundclick bro?
Seven Eighty Uno
I Definitely want like 10 beats from you!! Joe should of did a whole J.Cardim tape. You a different type of animal with the beats!
fortydeebz
that sober up beat
WingDMonT
this my shit..this whole mixtape helped me get through a rough time..thats what music is supposed to do..those luxury rappers only make music for about 2% of the worlds population which is total bulllshit.
Anthony Bloomberg
Joe Budden raps better than most. Probably the most clever rapper out right now. "when you can't take her, you start dropping hints for her to read between the lines but she'll act like fantasia" ...fantasia can't read for the slow ones
whoodkid
the shits he says are so clever that the average intellect might overlook it and it's very relate-able lyrics and metaphors. mouse is that dude
SpliffStar2006
this track go hard. but i think if Drake were spittin this verse, it would make millions tho. da game is wild eff'ed up.