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.

Nobody loves me
Joe Budden Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Turn me up in the headphone something
(New Joe Budden)
Look

First off let me shout out the fam, y'all so gracious
Been chilling in the room for growth, it's so spacious
Getting to the money, counting these old faces
Like I found the smoking gun in cold cases (nah)

Them dark thoughts never got to 'em still
I'm like the legendary Robin Will
Even though I understand I never dealt with the pain like that
A knot from that same rope, but I don't hang like that
We had a couple break-ups - gotta respect Cuzz and I'll hit the reset button
You try to reset Budden, it's real
My accomplishments, already show 'em how I deal with the consequence
And you can ask Consequence
She reached out via text, like "what up with the guy?"
Which is weird, it's been a year since we fraternized
Still I made my way back in her life
Only to prove to myself I wouldn't fuck up twice
We reminiscing, thinking hella back
You had to watch me with her, but the hell with that
Cause I think that me carrying that thought kinda washed me with her
And even that's cool, cause me and you is not me and her
I took a little hiatus, hope you could see the change
I was too high to say this, how could I explain?
Thought my mouth was quiet, my mom was like a Ferguson riot
Why it only get worse when I'm in private
Were we victims to the game, trying to do it over
Here's the gift for an exchange
It's timeout for the public these niggas won't know a thing
So we keep each other blocked on Twitter, it's not a game
Like a picture in a frame for now
Drunk models, couple Swishers and a stack here

Everytime I walk away, you [???]
But your words don't mean a thing when [???]
Tell me is this the way
The way that you love me
Tell me is this the way
The way that you care

She said she wanna set boundaries
Can't continue to have you surrounding me
Cause that'll lead to you on this couch pounding me
That'll bring them feelings back, that's just out of bounds to me
It's been years, last bitch ain't come around to me
Send my tone of voice down, like you speaking down to me
Said I said some things to begrudge you
But I can't ask to not be judged, then judge you
She said, all this time I've been screaming "Fuck You"
When she implies I can't move on, I'm stuck, too
Blood flowing, there's an adrenaline rush, too
Everytime I'm tryna leave it's when you're in a rush, too
She said, looking back I can see how you was gaming me
Which is fine, I can see how you could feel there
Which means, I just gotta ask you one question now
If it was game, tell me why them feelings still there?
I know the answer to that: you still fallin'
You never felt so strong, it feels foreign
Probably got me saved in her phone as Phil Collins
Hear it in the air of the night, it's still callin'
Everytime you see me, a couple of bills on him
Got rich, then did it again, we still ballin'
You ain't gotta respond to that
If you did, it would look like it's a [???] to that
I'm so far beyond that
Chillin' with a couple of hoes that like hoes
That like niggas that don't act like hoes
I don't say that cuz I'm vain or some strangers can know I'm the man
We not fuckin' em, sometimes it's better knowin' you can't
She come runnin' back everytime she throw in the can
Just to holla when she feel like not a soul understand
Baby, I already proved that I ride out
You can't bear to be hurt again so you hide out
You ain't gotta say that, I know you inside out
We communicate so well when all the pride's out
You gotta give it one more go, we ain't tried out
Nah that love wouldn't a been real if it died out
Joey

Everytime I walk away, you [???]
But your words don't mean a thing when [???]
Tell me is this the way
The way that you love me

Tell me is this the way
The way that you care

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joe Budden's song "The Way You Love Me" tell a story of past relationships and the emotions that come with them. Budden talks about his friend's breakup and how he understands their pain, but also how he deals with the consequences that come with certain actions. Budden also reminisces about a past relationship with someone and how they were afraid to take it to the next level because they didn't want to re-experience the pain. Additionally, Budden talks about setting boundaries, the importance of communication, and the struggle of letting go of someone you care about.

The lyrics of "The Way You Love Me" have a relatable quality, as they depict the common struggles that many people experience in their relationships. Budden's words remind listeners of the complexity and nuance that comes with loving and losing someone. The themes of forgiveness, trust, and communication are woven throughout the song, making it a poignant commentary on the trials and tribulations of love.

Line by Line Meaning

First off let me shout out the fam, y'all so gracious
Acknowledging his fans for being great and supportive

Been chilling in the room for growth, it's so spacious
Enjoying a positive environment and being able to grow as a person

Getting to the money, counting these old faces
Making money and recognizing familiar faces from the past

Like I found the smoking gun in cold cases (nah)
Discovering something groundbreaking like a smoking gun in a cold case but later denies the analogy

Them dark thoughts never got to 'em still
Expressing that he was able to avoid negative thoughts and remain strong

I'm like the legendary Robin Will
Comparing himself to the iconic actor Robin Williams

Even though I understand I never dealt with the pain like that
Acknowledging the struggles of others but recognizing he hasn't experienced the same level of pain

A knot from that same rope, but I don't hang like that
Acknowledging similar challenges but overcoming them differently

We had a couple break-ups - gotta respect Cuzz and I'll hit the reset button
Respecting past relationships with someone referred to as 'Cuzz' and starting over fresh

My accomplishments, already show 'em how I deal with the consequence
Pointing out his previous accomplishments and how he's dealt with the consequences of his actions

And you can ask Consequence
Suggesting to ask Consequence for verification of his actions

She reached out via text, like "what up with the guy?"
Referring to someone who texts him to ask how he's doing

Which is weird, it's been a year since we fraternized
Admitting it's odd for this person to reach out considering they haven't seen each other in over a year

Still I made my way back in her life
Reconnecting with the person mentioned in the previous line

Only to prove to myself I wouldn't fuck up twice
Demonstrating the ability to not make the same mistake twice

We reminiscing, thinking hella back
Looking back at the past and reminiscing about memories

You had to watch me with her, but the hell with that
Acknowledging someone had to watch him with this person, but dismissing it

Cause I think that me carrying that thought kinda washed me with her
Suggesting that thinking about the past relationship affects his current one

And even that's cool, cause me and you is not me and her
Acknowledging that current relationship is separate and different from past relationships

I took a little hiatus, hope you could see the change
Taking a brief break and hoping others can notice his positive change

I was too high to say this, how could I explain?
Possibly referring to being emotionally overburdened and unable to articulate his feelings at the time

Thought my mouth was quiet, my mom was like a Ferguson riot
Acknowledging his inability to keep quiet like a peaceful protest despite his mother's calming presence

Why it only get worse when I'm in private
Reflecting on why things tend to get worse when alone

Were we victims to the game, trying to do it over
Questioning if they were victims of a situation and wanted to do it differently

Here's the gift for an exchange
Offering something as a trade or gesture of good will in return for something else

It's timeout for the public these niggas won't know a thing
Taking a break from public life and staying away from drama and attention

So we keep each other blocked on Twitter, it's not a game
Experiencing conflict with someone, resulting in blocking each other on social media

Like a picture in a frame for now
Acknowledging that this temporary situation will be a brief memory like a picture in a frame

Drunk models, couple Swishers and a stack here
Possibly referring to a social gathering with alcohol, models, and cigars

Everytime I walk away, you [???]
Mystery phrase left to the listener's interpretation

But your words don't mean a thing when [???]
Mystery phrase left to the listener's interpretation

Tell me is this the way
Asking if this is the correct way of handling the situation

The way that you love me
Referring to the way someone expresses their love and affection towards him

Tell me is this the way
Asking again if this is the correct way of handling the situation

The way that you care
Referring to how someone takes care of him emotionally and physically

She said she wanna set boundaries
Having a conversation about setting boundaries in the relationship

Can't continue to have you surrounding me
Acknowledging the difficulty of having someone around all the time

Cause that'll lead to you on this couch pounding me
Referencing perhaps a physical altercation if boundaries aren't respected

That'll bring them feelings back, that's just out of bounds to me
The thought of a physical altercation will bring back negative feelings and discomfort and is not acceptable

It's been years, last bitch ain't come around to me
Referencing past negative experiences and being careful of repeating them with new people

Send my tone of voice down, like you speaking down to me
Asking for the tone in the conversation to change

Said I said some things to begrudge you
Admitting to saying things that may have hurt the other person

But I can't ask to not be judged, then judge you
Realizing it's unfair to ask others to not judge him while continuing to judge others

She said, all this time I've been screaming "Fuck You"
Acknowledging that there has been tension and negative feelings in the relationship

When she implies I can't move on, I'm stuck, too
Feeling stuck in the relationship and unable to move on as well

Blood flowing, there's an adrenaline rush, too
Referring to the intense and emotional nature of the conversation and how it causes an adrenaline rush

Everytime I'm tryna leave it's when you're in a rush, too
Coincidentally, when he tries to leave, she seems to want to rush into things

She said, looking back I can see how you was gaming me
Admitting she feels like a victim of being gamed or manipulated

Which is fine, I can see how you could feel there
Acknowledging that the other person had their own motives and feelings

Which means, I just gotta ask you one question now
Prompting a question for the other person to answer

If it was game, tell me why them feelings still there?
Asking why despite feeling gamed or manipulated, the other person still has feelings for him

I know the answer to that: you still fallin'
Suggesting that it's because the other person is still in love with him

You never felt so strong, it feels foreign
Recognizing that the other person may be feeling a strong love for the first time and it may seem new

Probably got me saved in her phone as Phil Collins
Possibly referencing a love song or simply referring to the fact that the other person may have his name saved with heart emojis or something similar

Hear it in the air of the night, it's still callin'
Referring to the song "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins and alluding to the feeling that the other person may still have him on their mind

Everytime you see me, a couple of bills on him
Referring to using money to impress others or make oneself more attractive

Got rich, then did it again, we still ballin'
Referencing to making money and continuing to enjoy life

You ain't gotta respond to that
Assuming that the other person doesn't need to respond to everything he says

If you did, it would look like it's a [???] to that
Mystery phrase left to the listener's interpretation

I'm so far beyond that
Suggesting that he has moved past certain things or situations

Chillin' with a couple of hoes that like hoes
Hanging out with people who are comfortable with and accepting of different sexual orientations

That like niggas that don't act like hoes
Being around people who don't engage in negative behavior or drama

I don't say that cuz I'm vain or some strangers can know I'm the man
Not mentioning positive traits or accomplishments just to seek attention or praise

We not fuckin' em, sometimes it's better knowin' you can't
Hanging out with women without the expectation of sexual activity, acknowledging that sometimes it's better not to mix sex and friendship

She come runnin' back everytime she throw in the can
Referencing to someone who comes back when they feel down or in need

Just to holla when she feel like not a soul understand
Venting to someone when they feel like no one else will understand

Baby, I already proved that I ride out
Assuring someone that he has their back in any situation

You can't bear to be hurt again so you hide out
Recognizing that the other person may be hesitant to get hurt again and may need space

You ain't gotta say that, I know you inside out
Not requiring verbal confirmation, knowing the other person well enough to understand their needs and feelings

We communicate so well when all the pride's out
Acknowledging that communication is best when both parties set aside their pride

You gotta give it one more go, we ain't tried out
Encouraging the other person to give the relationship another chance and recognizing that they haven't officially tried to make it work

Nah that love wouldn't a been real if it died out
Believing that their love wasn't real if it would've faded away or died out

Joey
In reference to the artist himself

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Felicia Temple, Joe Budden

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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