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.
Pray For Them
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pray for me, somebody just pray for me
Somebody pray for me, need y'all to just pray for me
Somebody pray for me, need y'all to just pray for me
Now if it goes to the wire
I will never fall, I got the soul of a fighter
Walk barefoot over the coals through the fire
I thought the toll would be lighter
I tell 'em I'm just looking for some piece of mind
But they say I'm only working with a piece of mine
If I'm a do it it be on my own accord, no crutch
Swear to god I've never called upon the lord so much
Play the corner of the club, laughing at the wanna-bes
It's ironic cause they everything I wanna be
Would light a ton of reef
But that's gon' unleash
Everything I'm trying to hide underneath
Then I'd lose all I've earned
And if there's two things that I've learned
Is I'm the only thing at stake
And when you the only thing real
Really you the only thing fake
It must be time to escape from that
And fuck rhymes, might be time to escape from rap
Why should I be the only nigga to escape from the act?
So I lie since everybody just escapes from facts
Yo that sucka shit niggas be on I can't dig it
Joe won't lose even if you plan to rig it
Yeah, nothing to prove, with no fear of how I'm depicted
I'm here, won't move, I don't care to be evicted
You don't like how I move?
Well I ain't gonna keep still
Any nigga want me killed
Wanna leave me in the streets peeled
Well if it happens it happens, I believe in free will
Just know that ain't how we built
I'll call niggas that'll dead you for a cheap thrill
When the clips empty, they gonna try to refill
And I'm a be the dude to try and stop 'em like, "please chill."
Y'all know all I'm about
They keep putting up roadblocks
I keep finding alternate routes
Now success seems likely everybody wanna try me
I'm all for it, can't trip me up
I won't fall for it
I'm just a man without a care
Neighbor to heartache, roommate with despair
Reminded my past is darker
Cause when A.M. died I was staring at Travis Barker
Wishing it was something I could say to make him cheer up
And so I prayed â?? he teared up
I ain't wanna see him go through that
The same shit that I feel, never showed you that
Cause it's none of nobody's business
And it just makes you look weaker
Every joke is just smoke
Look deeper, nevermind, don't bother
Some of y'all smarter
Enough ain't got sense that if you try harder
You'll get a glimpse of everything that I harbor
We all ain't got the strength to be a martyr
So to everyone who ever loved me:
I apologize and I'm sorry
Wholeheartedly, can't change it's just part of me
Not music, shit's art to me
Too fucked up to drive, here's the car keys
I don't care where we go, get it far from me
Choices I don't wanna make
I know I have to
Worlds going faster
So my ride or die chose the latter
I'm looking for a rush out of habit
Truth is, there is such thing as too much for a addict
Ain't the nigga I'm belittled as, riddle that, nigga come from middle class
If you speak to me, show a little class
Dropped out of school, a nigga couldn't sit through class
Learned to fall asleep through the sound of a pistol's blast
I come from where dad taught mom to get high
She's strong so we still got by
When I picked up the drug why the fuck was they surprised?
If it wasn't for your genes I wouldn't lust the supply
I come from a whole hood, telling me that I'm next
Handed me a mag, must've known that I was Complex
They say that you a wild individual
You just not getting my style, you too typical
Now everybody got a word for me
Shit y'all deem important ain't pertinent to me
Put your opinion with a feather, balance that
Grab medicine, when the success and the talent match
Now pray for them
The song "Pray For Them" by Joe Budden is a song about asking others to pray for him as he battles personal demons and struggles in his life. The repeated chorus of "pray for me, somebody just pray for me" emphasizes his need for support and help from others. In the first verse, he talks about how he will never give up, even when faced with adversity, and how he has turned to religion for guidance. However, he also acknowledges the challenges he faces in his life and the struggles he has with drugs and addiction. He talks about the pressure he feels to succeed in the music industry and the feeling of being trapped in his own life. The lyrics also touch on the pain he has experienced with the loss of friends and loved ones.
The second verse focuses on his refusal to give up despite the obstacles in his life. He talks about the people who try to bring him down and sabotage his success, but he won't let them stop him. He also addresses the judgment and opinions of others, emphasizing that their opinions don't matter to him, and he won't let them bring him down. Finally, he apologizes to those who have loved and supported him, acknowledging that he is not perfect but that his flaws are a part of him.
Overall, "Pray For Them" is a powerful and emotional song that dives deep into Joe Budden's struggles and personal demons. It shows the vulnerability of an artist who, despite being successful, is still fighting to overcome his inner demons and stay true to himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Pray for me, need y'all to just pray for me
Please pray for me and my struggles, as I am in need of help and support.
Now if it goes to the wire
I will never fall, I got the soul of a fighter
No matter how difficult the situation becomes, I will never give up as I have the spirit of a fighter.
Walk barefoot over the coals through the fire
I thought the toll would be lighter
I am willing to endure any hardship or obstacle that comes my way, but I never expected it to be this difficult.
Make sure that blunt is rolled a little tighter
I tell 'em I'm just looking for some piece of mind
But they say I'm only working with a piece of mine
I may smoke to find peace of mind, but others say I'm not thinking clearly and only have a small fraction of my reasoning left.
If I'm a do it it be on my own accord, no crutch
Swear to god I've never called upon the lord so much
I will make my decisions autonomously and without depending on anyone else. However, I have been praying to God for guidance more often than usual lately.
Play the corner of the club, laughing at the wanna-bes
It's ironic cause they everything I wanna be
I watch people at the club who I envy, but it's ironic because they represent what I aspire to be.
Would light a ton of reef
But that's gon' unleash
Everything I'm trying to hide underneath
Although smoking marijuana can relieve stress for me, it may also reveal things I'm trying to keep hidden.
Then I'd lose all I've earned
And if there's two things that I've learned
Is I'm the only thing at stake
And when you the only thing real
Really you the only thing fake
If I smoked weed and let my guard down, I would risk losing everything I've worked hard for. I realize I am the only person to blame for my actions, and when I am not being true to myself, everything else is just an act.
It must be time to escape from that
And fuck rhymes, might be time to escape from rap
Why should I be the only nigga to escape from the act?
So I lie since everybody just escapes from facts
I need to get away from the rap game and writing rhymes. Why should I be the only one to walk away from this industry that everyone else seems to escape reality in? Therefore, I have lied to myself and others to stay in the business.
Y'all know all I'm about
They keep putting up roadblocks
I keep finding alternate routes
Now success seems likely everybody wanna try me
I'm all for it, can't trip me up
I won't fall for it
People keep trying to hold me back, but I keep finding new ways to achieve my goals. Now that I am on the brink of success, everyone seems to want a piece of me. However, I am confident in my abilities and won't fall for anyone's tricks.
I'm just a man without a care
Neighbor to heartache, roommate with despair
Reminded my past is darker
I don't care about much, and often feel down. My past experiences have been very difficult and continue to haunt me.
Cause when A.M. died I was staring at Travis Barker
Wishing it was something I could say to make him cheer up
And so I prayed â?? he teared up
I ain't wanna see him go through that
When my friend A.M. died, I was with Travis Barker and saw how upset he was. I wanted to say something that could make him feel better, but all I could do was pray with him and let him cry. I didn't want to see him suffer like that.
The same shit that I feel, never showed you that
Cause it's none of nobody's business
And it just makes you look weaker
I don't show my emotions to others because it's nobody's business and it would make me appear vulnerable.
Every joke is just smoke
Look deeper, nevermind, don't bother
Some of y'all smarter
Enough ain't got sense that if you try harder
You'll get a glimpse of everything that I harbor
People make fun of me and don't take me seriously, but if they looked deeper into my personality and background, they would understand the reasons behind my behaviors and thoughts.
We all ain't got the strength to be a martyr
So to everyone who ever loved me:
I apologize and I'm sorry
Wholeheartedly, can't change it's just part of me
Not music, shit's art to me
We all can't endure the same hardships or take the same risks. Therefore, I apologize to everyone who has ever cared about me for how I am, as it's not something I can change. Music is more than just a profession to me, it's a form of art that expresses my deepest emotions.
Too fucked up to drive, here's the car keys
I don't care where we go, get it far from me
Choices I don't wanna make
I know I have to
Worlds going faster
So my ride or die chose the latter
I am too intoxicated to drive, so here, someone else take the car. I don't care where we go, as long as it's away from me. I must make choices I'd rather not make, but I know they must be made. The world is moving at a faster pace, and my ride or die has chosen to move on without me.
I'm looking for a rush out of habit
Truth is, there is such thing as too much for a addict
Ain't the nigga I'm belittled as, riddle that, nigga come from middle class
If you speak to me, show a little class
I seek excitement as a result of my addiction, but the truth is, there is such a thing as too much stimulation for someone addicted. I am not the person I am mocked to be, listen more closely, and you will see that I come from a middle-class family. Please speak to me with respect.
Dropped out of school, a nigga couldn't sit through class
Learned to fall asleep through the sound of a pistol's blast
I come from where dad taught mom to get high
She's strong so we still got by
When I picked up the drug why the fuck was they surprised?
If it wasn't for your genes I wouldn't lust the supply
I couldn't bear staying in school, so I dropped out. I got used to the sound of violence in my neighborhood. My father taught my mother how to use drugs, but we still managed to get by because of her strength. When I started using drugs myself, why was anyone surprised? It's because of my genes that I crave drugs.
I come from a whole hood, telling me that I'm next
Handed me a mag, must've known that I was Complex
They say that you a wild individual
You just not getting my style, you too typical
The whole neighborhood expects me to be the next big thing, which puts a lot of pressure on me. Someone gave me a gun, and they probably knew I was Complex, meaning I overthink everything. People think I'm a wild person, but they don't really understand my unique style and personality.
Now everybody got a word for me
Shit y'all deem important ain't pertinent to me
Put your opinion with a feather, balance that
Grab medicine, when the success and the talent match
Now everyone has something to say to me, but I don't care about their opinions. What they think is important is not relevant to me. If you want to voice your opinion, do it delicately. When I am both successful and talented, I can take my medicine and face any criticism.
Now pray for them
Now let us ask God to help those who are struggling, including myself and others around me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH ANTHONY BUDDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
moodmuzik
The raw emotional content in this track is incredible. Joe is one of the best and deepest rappers of all time. I put him above Pac on deep shit.
Jesus Lopez
This guy💀
Earvin Cintron
Listening to this high right now. And up to this day it's gotten me through a whole lot in life. Joe Budden The #MoodGod
TBH Witchall
i WOULD light a ton a reef
100%TRUTH
We are dealing with the curses in Deuteronomy 28! We are God's Chosen!
Vu Tran
like wise. this shit sick
Tim Jarmuzek
dam joey has ripped this piano sample like 3 times lol bodied it everytime
mercy r
godamn i swear hes the most underated rapper/ lyricist out there i dint care im just proud i know of it!
Chris Featherston
Handed me a mag, must of noticed I was COMPLEXed.... Ironic
jumpoffmusik
"Gotta be cool with complex and pitchfork if i wan' get my shit off" - Joe Budden