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.
Slaughtermouse
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look, it was around '99
Baby comin' while I was at rock bottom
Ironic shit, I was listenin' to "Rock Bottom"
Pockets rabbit ears, no paper, lot of cotton
Had some charges stemmin' from me and my squad robbin'
Had to leave the hood, shit stayin', not an option
I bumped your shit forever, felt we had a lot in common
All that introspectiveness, I couldn't measure what it did
Listen, I'm writin' to you now 'cause we don't get to talk much
'Cept for in the stu' when we be passin' through the halls and such
I wonder if you catch me stare at you in awe much
And we be busy workin' so I never share my thoughts much
Remember signin' four niggas with an attitude?
Well maybe we'll get your star power and his magnitude
All I thought was it was 'bout to be on
But I never guessed that I was 'bout to be wrong
We encountered some things, maybe we should've figured out all along
Who the fuck was I to be too vocal in my doubt for some songs?
Even I can't be that dumb to step over the threshold
And be the guy who says no to so many records sold
Whole career, I never bit my tongue, I let it go
Too many times bein' the rebel, ain't end in what's best for Joe
That second album came and added truth to the slander
But we learned what's good for the goose ain't good for the gander
Guess I'm askin' for advice right now
Experience and leadership to help suffice right now
I guess I'm askin', "How would you do it?"
Before I do somethin' too stupid
Before my group lose it just to get our views lucid
Every other day these niggas want a new exclusive
Should I be in the mix more? Maybe I'm too secluded
Do you think you'd be as famous now
If you had to put out "My Name Is" now?
The way the game is now, awful lyrics, shit is shameless now
Just tell me how you'd maneuver if you came in now
It's just thoughts, everything is criss-crossed
Gotta be cool with Complex and Pitchfork if I wanna get my shit off
These simpleminded niggas won't think you fuck with us
If they don't see you poppin' bottles in the club with us
It's about fashion now, which I hate
Because I dress like shit, I'm just the best when I spit
But different times, I was feelin' like the odd man out
Like I should leave, they'd be better with the odd man out
Like when I wasn't on that intro, I felt a little weird
But that was for the team, so I didn't really care, for real
For the team, how I happen to be
When Bad met Evil, nigga who was happier than me?
Think back, the way that I was on that shit
You woulda thought it was my album and I was on that shit
Like fuck rap, happy to see a friendship get mended
Cemented and any frivolous tension get ended
Joell you my G, Weapon Waist you my OG 'cause
Nickel you know I look at you like it's blood
Here's the flowers, before this end is covered with mud
We can disband right now and it's gonna always be love
For a brief period I tried to rhyme like y'all
I was high, maybe tryin' to prove that I'm like y'all
But I'm not, I suck at all that syllable shit
I'd rather make the pen bleed to see the feelin' you get
I'm bein' honest, we might never sell a million and shit
To me it's more value in keepin' it trill with my nigs
And to Em, one of the illest ever on the mic
We're less different than we are alike
This ain't about star power, I ain't on the hype
Never mind skin color, I see beyond the white
My whole life I fought trauma like you
Had ups and downs with my baby mama like you
I had my fair share of transgressions like you
Had a bad temper once and fought aggression like you
Did drugs, popped pills, fought depression like you
These are things you'd never pick up from our sessions in the stu'
I beefed with Hov, 50, Game and Wu
Got in my own way a lot, I'm sure the same as you
The whole label think I'm crazy, I been peeped it
I'm only mad I couldn't keep a better secret
Still when I hear your voice, my head goes wrong
Takes me back to that little boy with my headphones on
And the way you saved my life back then is how I'm savin' them
Plaques and charted tracks won't take me away from them
So I hope you understand
Fuck this record deal, you inspired me as a man
I'll cut it short, before I start feelin' like a Stan
Housegang for life, word to the pig on Royce's hand, uh
Success'll never disable me
No record label will ever label me
My morals ain't for sale, can't under-the-table me
I'll ride it out, even when everything ain't savory
My brothers love me, they won't enable me
And they won't kill me, they won't Cain and Abel me, uh
It's how I feel at the moment
In Joe Budden's song Slaughtermouse, the rapper addresses Eminem, whom he regards as a mentor and someone he looks up to in the music industry. Joe begins by reminiscing about the time he was at rock bottom and how listening to Eminem, a rapper who spoke about their struggles and depressed feelings, made him feel connected to the artist. Joe expresses how he admires Eminem for his ability to put his deep and introspective thoughts into lyrics, something he struggled with.
He then goes on to ask for advice from Eminem on how to navigate the music industry today, which Joe believes is about fashion and appearances, instead of good lyrics. Joe is honest about his doubts and insecurities, wondering if he should be more involved in social media, thinking about leaving the group, and dressing better. Joe talks about his struggles with addiction, depression, and his tumultuous relationships, which he believes are similar to what Eminem has experienced.
Joe acknowledges that he may never become a millionaire or achieve the same level of fame as Eminem, but that he's grateful for the profound impact that Eminem has had on his life. Joe notes that his time with Eminem is like that of a friendship, and their bond is more important than selling records. He ends the song by acknowledging that he will always stay true to himself, even if it means going against the record label, and that he will always appreciate the way Eminem has inspired him as an artist and as a man.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah
Expression of acknowledgement and agreement
Look, it was around '99
Referring to a particular time period
Baby comin' while I was at rock bottom
Unexpected event happening during a difficult time
Ironic shit, I was listenin' to 'Rock Bottom'
Coincidental situation of relating to a song
Pockets rabbit ears, no paper, lot of cotton
Experiencing financial struggle and scarcity
Had some charges stemmin' from me and my squad robbin'
Facing legal consequences for criminal activities
Had to leave the hood, shit stayin', not an option
Necessity to move away from the neighborhood to avoid trouble
I bumped your shit forever, felt we had a lot in common
Long-time admiration and connection with an artist
A rapper expressin' wit who spoke in depressive stints
Recognition of a rapper's style and lyrical themes
All that introspectiveness, I couldn't measure what it did
Unable to fully comprehend the impact of introspective music
Listen, I'm writin' to you now 'cause we don't get to talk much
Taking the opportunity to communicate through writing
'Cept for in the stu' when we be passin' through the halls and such
Interactions primarily occurring in the studio
I wonder if you catch me stare at you in awe much
Curiosity about being admired by the artist
And we be busy workin' so I never share my thoughts much
Lack of opportunity to express thoughts due to busy schedules
Remember signin' four niggas with an attitude?
Recalling the signing of a rap group
Well maybe we'll get your star power and his magnitude
Expectation of success and influence from the group members
All I thought was it was 'bout to be on
Anticipation of upcoming success and breakthrough
But I never guessed that I was 'bout to be wrong
Realization of being mistaken in one's expectations
We encountered some things, maybe we should've figured out all along
Difficulties faced that could have been anticipated
Who the fuck was I to be too vocal in my doubt for some songs?
Questioning one's authority to express doubt about certain songs
Even I can't be that dumb to step over the threshold
Acknowledgement of not making foolish decisions
And be the guy who says no to so many records sold
Avoiding being the person who rejects potential success
Whole career, I never bit my tongue, I let it go
Maintaining honesty and not holding back opinions throughout one's career
Too many times bein' the rebel, ain't end in what's best for Joe
Realization that rebelliousness may not always lead to positive outcomes
That second album came and added truth to the slander
Acknowledging the negative reception and criticism of a second album
But we learned what's good for the goose ain't good for the gander
Realization that what works for one person may not work for another
Guess I'm askin' for advice right now
Seeking guidance and suggestions
Experience and leadership to help suffice right now
Seeking the wisdom and guidance of experienced individuals
I guess I'm askin', 'How would you do it?'
Requesting insight on how to handle a situation
Before I do somethin' too stupid
Preventing oneself from making foolish decisions
Before my group lose it just to get our views lucid
Avoiding conflicts and maintaining clarity of perspective
Every other day these niggas want a new exclusive
Being constantly under pressure to provide new content
Should I be in the mix more? Maybe I'm too secluded
Considering whether to be more involved or remain isolated
Do you think you'd be as famous now
Questioning the artist's current level of fame
If you had to put out 'My Name Is' now?
Reflecting on the impact of a popular song in today's music industry
The way the game is now, awful lyrics, shit is shameless now
Criticism of the current state of the music industry
Just tell me how you'd maneuver if you came in now
Seeking advice on navigating the industry in its current state
It's just thoughts, everything is criss-crossed
Acknowledgement that these are just personal thoughts and reflections
Gotta be cool with Complex and Pitchfork if I wanna get my shit off
Understanding the importance of building relationships with influential media platforms
These simpleminded niggas won't think you fuck with us
Perception that certain individuals underestimate the artist's connections
If they don't see you poppin' bottles in the club with us
Assumption that popularity is only validated by certain actions
It's about fashion now, which I hate
Disapproval of the emphasis on fashion in the industry
Because I dress like shit, I'm just the best when I spit
Emphasis on skill and talent rather than appearance
But different times, I was feelin' like the odd man out
Feeling out of place and different from others
Like I should leave, they'd be better with the odd man out
Considering whether leaving the group would benefit the others
Like when I wasn't on that intro, I felt a little weird
Feeling a sense of uneasiness when excluded from an introduction
But that was for the team, so I didn't really care, for real
Choosing to prioritize the team's interests over personal feelings
For the team, how I happen to be
Emphasizing loyalty and dedication to the team
When Bad met Evil, nigga who was happier than me?
Recalling a joyful collaboration with another artist
Think back, the way that I was on that shit
Reflecting on one's behavior and attitude during that time
You woulda thought it was my album and I was on that shit
Exhibiting great enthusiasm and involvement in a project
Like fuck rap, happy to see a friendship get mended
Being more focused on repairing a friendship than pursuing rap success
Cemented and any frivolous tension get ended
Ensuring that any unnecessary conflicts are resolved
Joell you my G, Weapon Waist you my OG 'cause
Expressing appreciation and respect for fellow artists
Nickel you know I look at you like it's blood
Considering someone as close as family
Here's the flowers, before this end is covered with mud
Showing respect and appreciation before it's too late
We can disband right now and it's gonna always be love
Assurance that even if the group separates, there will still be love and support
For a brief period I tried to rhyme like y'all
Experimenting with a different style of rapping
I was high, maybe tryin' to prove that I'm like y'all
Possibly attempting to gain acceptance and validation
But I'm not, I suck at all that syllable shit
Acknowledging one's limitations and lack of skill in a certain style
I'd rather make the pen bleed to see the feelin' you get
Preferring to focus on emotional and impactful lyrics
I'm bein' honest, we might never sell a million and shit
Admitting the possibility of not achieving mainstream commercial success
To me it's more value in keepin' it trill with my nigs
Placing importance on authenticity and loyalty with friends
And to Em, one of the illest ever on the mic
Recognizing Eminem as one of the greatest rappers
We're less different than we are alike
Highlighting the similarities between themselves and Eminem
This ain't about star power, I ain't on the hype
Rejecting the obsession with fame and popularity
Never mind skin color, I see beyond the white
Looking beyond race and focusing on deeper connections
My whole life I fought trauma like you
Struggling with similar experiences of trauma as Eminem
Had ups and downs with my baby mama like you
Experiencing similar challenges in relationships and parenting
I had my fair share of transgressions like you
Acknowledging personal mistakes and wrongdoings
Had a bad temper once and fought aggression like you
Dealing with anger and aggression issues
Did drugs, popped pills, fought depression like you
Struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues
These are things you'd never pick up from our sessions in the stu'
Revealing personal experiences that may not be apparent from their collaborations
I beefed with Hov, 50, Game and Wu
Having conflicts and disagreements with other notable artists
Got in my own way a lot, I'm sure the same as you
Being one's own obstacle and hindrance to success
The whole label think I'm crazy, I been peeped it
Recognition that the record label considers the artist to be eccentric
I'm only mad I couldn't keep a better secret
Expressing regret for not being more discreet
Still when I hear your voice, my head goes wrong
Feeling a strong emotional response when hearing Eminem's voice
Takes me back to that little boy with my headphones on
Eliciting nostalgia and reminding of a younger self
And the way you saved my life back then is how I'm savin' them
Recognizing Eminem's influence and impact on his own life and music
Plaques and charted tracks won't take me away from them
Prioritizing personal connections and experiences over commercial success
So I hope you understand
Expressing the desire for understanding
Fuck this record deal, you inspired me as a man
Viewing Eminem's inspiration as more important than a record deal
I'll cut it short, before I start feelin' like a Stan
Ending the message before becoming too obsessive or idolizing
Housegang for life, word to the pig on Royce's hand, uh
Declaring loyalty and lifelong connection with his group
Success'll never disable me
Resolve to remain unaffected by success and maintain personal values
No record label will ever label me
Rejecting the influence and control of record labels
My morals ain't for sale, can't under-the-table me
Refusing to compromise personal values for financial gain
I'll ride it out, even when everything ain't savory
Commitment to persevere even in challenging situations
My brothers love me, they won't enable me
Having supportive brothers who won't encourage negative behavior
And they won't kill me, they won't Cain and Abel me, uh
Trusting his brothers won't betray or harm him
It's how I feel at the moment
Expression of present emotions and thoughts
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dominick Wickliffe, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Marc Shemer, Ryan Montgomery
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind