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.
Stand Up Nucca Version )
Joe Budden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh-huh...
I just want everybody to kinda be clear..
Of what's takin place right now...
It's not an introduction, it's more like a beginning...
It's like the calm before the storm...
I guess you can sorta call it, the rebirth...
Or the birth period... it's the growth...
It's never one-dimensional, it goes out to everybody...
If you can though... just kinda take some time out...
Relate to it
For all my mans that died, with grams at they side
Plans just to ride, gun jammed when he tried
Ballers who never made it out the hood
Cats who owed, but never made it out the hood
If they offered you pleas and you went to court with it
My dawgs doin time cause you got caught with it
Or if you need cheddar, blast heat whenever
And run from the cops cause you know the streets better
Dope niggaz who rich cause they know connects
Or dope niggaz who spit but got no connects
If you pitch to pay rent, but get no business
Life in the state pen but get no visits
Fend for yourself cause you ain't got no boys
Ride or die, really you ain't got no choice
If your alibi's straight when you're wanted on the stand
Soldiers that take they football numbers like a man
Hustle O-Z cause your product rich there
Hood know you snitch but you gotta live there
You held your man shot, you don't know where it hit him
And you tryin to buy guns, you don't know where to get 'em
If you strapped in the streets with your palms all black
Young G's that gotta see they moms on crack
Pop can't be found, hand me down
When you the oldest out of five, hold the family down
If you caught a body and your wiz hid you out
If you slept in the park when moms kicked you out
Or if you gonna die, you gon' leave with a slug
Idolized your big bro, but he was a thug
If you squeeze your leather first 'cause it never hurt
Street cats that never work cause it never worked
Or if you got your shit snatched, gripped, clipped the mack
Too small for the kickback, but gotta get your shit back
Killed niggaz playin, but you was only boxin
Accept twenty flat as your only option
Calm in the jungle in between the system
If you high on parole and gotta clean your system
If you told 'em to stop, cause soon you'll lose it
Pull up your pants leg, bullet wounds to prove it
Or if you grabbed the liquor, swallow it hard
If they drive-by on you but you follow the car
Full clip cause your foes is lurkin; or the D's at your door
with a picture, "Do you know this person?"
If you dead broke, but forced into extortin
Cause your girl pregnant and she don't want a abortion
Got charged before, strap a gun anyway
Took the state's lawyer, but you won anyway
Stand up cats beat the odds by far
Real recognize real, R.R.R.
Don't mistake a amped up nucca.. for what?
For a stand up nucca.. I won't
If you a stand up nucca.. then what?
Then stand up nucca.. R.. R.. R..
Basically, that's about it...
Hope you people get a better understanding...
And roll with me... geah!
Let's get into it...
The lyrics to Joe Budden's song Stand Up Nucca convey a sense of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. The song is a call to all the "real niggaz" or real people in general to stand up and overcome their struggles, no matter what they may be. The lyrics speak to those who have lost loved ones, been in trouble with the law, or struggled with poverty, drug addiction, or violence. The song acknowledges the harsh realities of life in the streets, but also encourages listeners to rise above them and be proud of their strength and resilience.
The lyrics are delivered with a sense of urgency and passion, emphasizing the importance of standing up and fighting for what is right. The refrain of "Stand Up Nucca" is repeated throughout the song as a rallying cry, urging listeners to take action and not give up in the face of adversity. The song also touches on themes of loyalty, brotherhood, and self-reliance, recognizing the importance of a strong support system in times of hardship.
Joe Budden's Stand Up Nucca is a powerful and unapologetic call to action, encouraging listeners to embrace their inner strength and rise above the challenges they face. It is a testament to the human spirit, and a reminder that we are all capable of overcoming adversity if we are willing to stand up and fight for what we believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
For all my mans that died, with grams at they side
To those who have lost friends to drug overdoses
Plans just to ride, gun jammed when he tried
Referencing the gun violence epidemic in low-income areas
Ballers who never made it out the hood
Acknowledging the lack of opportunities for young athletes in impoverished neighborhoods
Cats who owed, but never made it out the hood
Detailing the desperation and struggle of those who are trapped in cycles of poverty and debt
If they offered you pleas and you went to court with it
Discussing the unfairness of the plea bargain system in the criminal justice system
My dawgs doin time cause you got caught with it
Taking accountability for one's own actions and the consequences that come with them
Or if you need cheddar, blast heat whenever
Not condoning violence as a means to an end, but acknowledging the desperation that leads people to make these choices
And run from the cops cause you know the streets better
Understanding that the criminal justice system is often not equipped to handle the complexities of inner city life
Dope niggaz who rich cause they know connects
Exploring the successes of those who have built their wealth through the drug trade
Or dope niggaz who spit but got no connects
Emphasizing the importance of networking in the music industry
If you pitch to pay rent, but get no business
The struggles of trying to make a living through drug dealing while dealing with the constant threat of violence and police brutality
Life in the state pen but get no visits
Highlighting the loneliness and isolation of being incarcerated
Fend for yourself cause you ain't got no boys
The difficulty of surviving on one's own in a world where it feels like there is no support system
Ride or die, really you ain't got no choice
Describing the circumstances that can lead to a person feeling like they have no other options
If your alibi's straight when you're wanted on the stand
Putting the spotlight on the pressure of the criminal justice system and how it can force people to lie
Soldiers that take they football numbers like a man
Giving props to those who choose to just accept their sentence and serve their time without complaining
Hustle O-Z cause your product rich there
Highlighting the economic incentives that can lead people to engage in illegal activities
Hood know you snitch but you gotta live there
The social stigma and isolation that comes with being labeled a snitch in an inner city environment
You held your man shot, you don't know where it hit him
Describing the trauma and aftermath of experiencing gun violence
And you tryin to buy guns, you don't know where to get 'em
The ease with which people can access firearms in certain communities
If you strapped in the streets with your palms all black
The fear and anxiety that comes with living in a dangerous neighborhood
Young G's that gotta see they moms on crack
Addressing the intergenerational effects of drug addiction and poverty
Pop can't be found, hand me down
Exploring the experience of growing up without a father and the impact that can have
When you the oldest out of five, hold the family down
The pressure to provide and support one's family despite the odds
If you caught a body and your wiz hid you out
The complexity of romantic relationships when one partner is involved in criminal activity
If you slept in the park when moms kicked you out
The harsh realities of homelessness and the lack of resources available for those without a stable home environment
Or if you gonna die, you gon' leave with a slug
Describing the high stakes and danger of inner city life
Idolized your big bro, but he was a thug
Acknowledging the influence that older siblings and role models can have on shaping one's world view and values
If you squeeze your leather first 'cause it never hurt
The paranoia and self-defense mechanisms that come with living in a dangerous community
Street cats that never work cause it never worked
The cycles of poverty and unemployment that can trap people in inner city areas
Or if you got your shit snatched, gripped, clipped the mack
The potential for violence and retaliation in situations where one's belongings are stolen
Too small for the kickback, but gotta get your shit back
The need to assert one's pride and reputation even when it may not be the wisest decision
Killed niggaz playin, but you was only boxin
Reflecting on the senselessness of gang violence and how it can escalate quickly
Accept twenty flat as your only option
Desperation and the feeling of having no other choices
Calm in the jungle in between the system
Navigating the difficulty of life in an inner city environment while interacting with law enforcement and other systems of power
If you high on parole and gotta clean your system
The added pressure and stress of being on parole and having to follow strict rules while still trying to make a living
If you told 'em to stop, cause soon you'll lose it
The anger and primal instincts that can arise in high-stress situations
Pull up your pants leg, bullet wounds to prove it
Showing the physical scars and trauma of surviving gun violence
If you grabbed the liquor, swallow it hard
Using alcohol as a coping mechanism for the pain and trauma of inner city life
If they drive-by on you but you follow the car
The desire for revenge and justice in situations of violence
Full clip cause your foes is lurkin
The constant threat of violence and need to protect oneself in certain communities
Or the D's at your door with a picture, "Do you know this person?"
The intimidating tactics used by law enforcement in inner city environments to coerce people into giving up information on others
If you dead broke, but forced into extortin
Exploring the desperation and moral compromise that comes with trying to make a living by any means necessary
Cause your girl pregnant and she don't want a abortion
The added pressure and responsibility of starting a family in a difficult environment
Got charged before, strap a gun anyway
The feeling of being marked by the criminal justice system and the need to protect oneself in the aftermath
Took the state's lawyer, but you won anyway
The power of the individual to overcome obstacles and succeed despite the odds
Stand up cats beat the odds by far
Commemorating the strength and resilience of those who have made it out of difficult circumstances
Real recognize real, R.R.R.
Affirming the importance of authenticity and realness in inner city communities
Don't mistake a amped up nucca.. for what?
Warning against judging people based solely on appearances or behavior
For a stand up nucca.. I won't
Acknowledging and appreciating those who live with integrity and values
If you a stand up nucca.. then what?
Encouraging people to live with honor and respect
Then stand up nucca.. R.. R.. R..
Emphasizing the importance of resilience and personal strength
Hope you people get a better understanding...
Expressing a desire to raise awareness and promote mutual understanding
And roll with me... geah!
Encouraging people to join together and support each other in the face of difficult circumstances
Let's get into it...
Motivating listeners to take action and make a difference in their own communities
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH ANTHONY BUDDEN, JOSEPH E. KULESZYNSKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@p849
one of the most underrated albums ever. Classic joints like 10 mins, real life rap, pusha man, stand up nucca, focus, aint gotta go home, walk with me, etc. Lol I'd prolly mention every track on the album if I could.
@ptrekboxbreaks5198
This was the first rap album I ever had as a 10 or 11 year old...still love those songs...this song is always one of my favorites. So glad to follow his career from his mixtapes and albums
@soulhunteralchemist
" fend for yourself cause aint got no boys
ride or die..really you aint got no choice"
this line is pure fire
@williammorann9625
Wow
@Dillinger910
And, "Street cats that never worked, cause it never worked."
@jnj83
Probably the most underrated, overlooked album in hip-hop history!
@jeavision
Not probably. It is
@giantsfan8872
By far the best song on the album
@Colicchie
He's the reason I still make music, Biggest influence!!!
@ptrekboxbreaks5198
One of the best tracks he ever did....had this album as a young buck maybe 12...was hooked on budden music since ITS THAT ON TOP MUSIC
If you high on parole and gotta clean your system