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.
Pop Off
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha... About... About the city y'all's
No one to a top y'all's
J... J... Just Blaze
Break a one Now, Freak a one now
Freak and let me see your check to the pace rain
Who's just gay
Jump Off beezy and am I to Just Blaze
I've been waited your face in your hectic eight to lore the guess freedom,
Son I got a black all smash,
For he's got him moll in black scow aaaahhhh,
You can hear we're flak your starch.
You can got for be the snatch your ass you just pole have a skin but when fell off you fake into your clap like.
You get a no let really strong and off the care where you wait but you re-call her.
It's all facts, get up man into your home and get that line and had a go back.
CHORUS: We don't keep this thing jumble
We don't keep this thing topple
We never been for be the snatch it
(TCHE) I'm break break break by asshole
A snare fall y'all ... pena
A snare fall y'all ...
Keep that ...(Yap that fool)
Keep that ...(Yap that fool)
We will want tin, we will want tin
Let me tell and check what will want tin
Freak and let me check what we will want tin
Whole wish we gonna go we'll want tin
Not the cabs in the last is so get not no bless before anybody.
I 've get the rain and she can forth maybe don't be stings in your bless in north.
Two second you reach and off we won't do back in the fake in staff
Still the like have you do there barmy
Still the no on your and white fee
I've just tried before you like me like host these quote you'll passive
I mean the club do you jump off I see for no the try me and who's my snatch it
CHORUS
Break a one now, Freak a one now
That your neck mean to freak a want now
Maybe got a know where she wake up main
She want to cut and to take on a tin
Oh mama my you do a neutral
My ass is do a narrow
How we gone swigs to open a jeans
How we gone piss red up to my team
How we gone a be a nerd them respect we'll not to be a nerd.
How we gone wore that term we'll not tried to her we said we'll not tried her she said she's quelled
Let flitch hailed a piston
Let her do hailed a piston
Come to come rap which above a do when a Rap star pack a poke felled
CHORUS
The lyrics of Joe Budden's song Pop Off are somewhat difficult to interpret due to the use of slang and non-standard English. However, the song seems to be about asserting oneself as superior to others, particularly those who are fake or disingenuous. The opening lines reference Jersey City, where Budden is from, and he says that he is on top and no one can touch him. The chorus repeats the idea that they won't be taken down or messed with.
Budden then references a person or group who he seems to believe are fake and says that they will be exposed. He mentions having a "black all smash" which could be a reference to a car, and says he can "flak your starch" which may mean he can intimidate or scare his opponents. The rest of the song continues with this theme of asserting superiority and calling out those who are not authentic.
Line by Line Meaning
AJ ... AJ... Jersey City haa...
Joe Budden is shouting out and representing his hometown of Jersey City.
Ha... About... About the city y'all's
Continuing the previous thought, Joe Budden asserts that this song is about his city.
No one to a top y'all's
Joe Budden is the top artist representing Jersey City.
J... J... Just Blaze
Joe Budden is giving a shoutout to Just Blaze, the producer of this song.
Break a one Now, Freak a one now
Joe Budden is telling the listener to get hype and break/freak it down.
Freak and let me see your check to the pace rain
Joe Budden wants the listener to dance and show off their moves.
Who's just gay
Joe Budden is calling out someone who is acting fake or not being true to themselves.
Jump Off beezy and am I to Just Blaze
Joe Budden is saying that he's the Jump Off (a term for someone who's really into hip-hop culture) and he's in charge, not Just Blaze.
Chop the beef and why (Hééééé)
Joe Budden wants everyone to squash their beef and come together to have fun.
I've been waited your face in your hectic eight to lore the guess freedom,
This line is a bit difficult to interpret, but it seems like Joe Budden is saying that he's been waiting for someone to show their true face and be free from their obligations.
Son I got a black all smash,
Joe Budden is saying he has a powerful impact and can destroy his opponents in a rap battle.
For he's got him moll in black scow aaaahhhh,
This line is unclear, but it could be interpreted as someone being caught off-guard or surprised by Joe Budden's power.
You can hear we're flak your starch.
Joe Budden is saying that he can hear someone's weakness in their speech or lyrics.
You can got for be the snatch your ass you just pole have a skin but when fell off you fake into your clap like.
Again, this line is difficult to interpret, but it could be Joe Budden saying that someone is acting fake and will eventually be exposed for it.
You get a no let really strong and off the care where you wait but you re-call her.
This line is unclear, but it seems like Joe Budden is saying that someone is strong in certain situations but ultimately makes poor decisions.
It's all facts, get up man into your home and get that line and had a go back.
Joe Budden is saying that everything he's saying is true, and challenging someone to come back at him with their own lyrics.
CHORUS: We don't keep this thing jumble
The chorus is saying that they don't keep things messy or disorganized.
We don't keep this thing topple
The chorus is saying that they don't let things fall apart or fail.
We never been for be the snatch it
The chorus is saying that they don't try to steal or take what doesn't belong to them.
(TCHE) I'm break break break by asshole
This line is unclear, but it could be interpreted as someone trying to break down Joe Budden's confidence.
A snare fall y'all ... pena
This line is unclear, but it seems to be a repetitive vocalization to add to the beat.
Keep that ...(Yap that fool)
This line is urging someone to keep talking trash or acting foolish.
We will want tin, we will want tin
The chorus is saying that they want something, but it's unclear what 'tin' represents.
Let me tell and check what will want tin
Joe Budden is saying that he needs to figure out what 'tin' refers to.
Freak and let me check what we will want tin
Again, Joe Budden is telling the listener to dance and follow his lead while he figures out this 'tin' situation.
Whole wish we gonna go we'll want tin
The chorus is saying that they have a goal and they will obtain whatever 'tin' represents in order to reach it.
Not the cabs in the last is so get not no bless before anybody.
This line doesn't make sense grammatically, but could be interpreted as saying that they won't be the last ones to succeed and won't bless anyone who tries to hold them back.
I 've get the rain and she can forth maybe don't be stings in your bless in north.
This line doesn't make a lot of sense, but it could be Joe Budden saying that he has reached his potential and others should follow his lead, and not try to bring him down.
Two second you reach and off we won't do back in the fake in staff
This line is tough, but it could mean that once they reach their goal, they won't look back, and won't adhere to fake or artificial methods.
Still the like have you do there barmy
This line is unclear, but 'barmy' is British slang for crazy or foolish.
Still the no on your and white fee
This line doesn't make grammatical sense, but it could be Joe Budden saying that he's not influenced by anyone else's opinion or agenda.
I've just tried before you like me like host these quote you'll passive
This line is unclear, but it seems like Joe Budden is saying he's trying to be the best and succeed, despite anyone trying to 'host' him (block his success).
I mean the club do you jump off I see for no the try me and who's my snatch it
This line could be interpreted as Joe Budden saying that he's the Jump Off of the club scene and he's not interested in anyone trying to take him down or steal from him.
Break a one now, Freak a one now
Repeating the earlier line to encourage the listener to dance and have fun.
That your neck mean to freak a want now
Joe Budden wants the listener to dance and move their neck in rhythm to the song.
Maybe got a know where she wake up main
This line doesn't make sense, but could be interpreted as a callout to someone who thinks they're better than Joe Budden, but they'll eventually have to face reality.
She want to cut and to take on a tin
This line doesn't make sense, but it could be interpreted as someone trying to take something that doesn't belong to them.
Oh mama my you do a neutral
This line doesn't make sense, but 'neutral' could mean that someone isn't taking sides or is being indecisive.
My ass is do a narrow
This line is unclear, but could mean that Joe Budden is focused and determined.
How we gone swigs to open a jeans
This line doesn't make sense.
How we gone piss red up to my team
This line doesn't make sense, but seems to be emphasizing that Joe Budden will stick with his team and they will support each other.
How we gone a be a nerd them respect we'll not to be a nerd.
This line is unclear, but could be interpreted as saying that they won't be considered nerdy, but will still earn others' respect.
How we gone wore that term we'll not tried to her we said we'll not tried her she said she's quelled
This line is unclear, but it seems like Joe Budden is saying that they won't let others label them, and they won't try too hard to please anyone.
Let flitch hailed a piston
This line is unclear, but 'let flinch' could mean that Joe Budden is daring someone to step up and make a move.
Let her do hailed a piston
This line doesn't make sense.
Come to come rap which above a do when a Rap star pack a poke felled
This line is unclear, but it seems like Joe Budden is saying that he's above other rappers and will beat them in a rap battle.
CHORUS
Repeating the chorus again to emphasize the themes of the song.
Writer(s): DON CAMPBELL, ELBERT CRAVER, JOSEPH BUDDEN, JUSTIN GREGORY SMITH
Contributed by Parker L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jordon Vazquez
My favorite song from this era of Joe Budden.
SSG Koop
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Johnson family vacation