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.

Survivor
Joe Budden Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Intro: K.G. & Joe Budden sing together]
When your mind ain't right, and it's hard to sleep
And you try to hide the pain, but your scars are deep
Nigga look me in my eyes and tell me what you see, yeah..
When your mind ain't right, and it's hard to sleep
And you try to hide the pain, but your scars are deep
Nigga look me in my eyes and tell me what you see..

[Verse]
1 - And my heart is like
3 - There's one thing poppa told me
1 - If nothin else in this world, it's how to survive
2 - When I'm against all odds, and when the odds against me
3 - I travel wherever my path may lead
2 - Knowin nobody got my back like me
1 - I'm gonna survive
2 - And if you walk in my shoes
2 - Guarantee you'll be just like me
1 - And my heart is like
3 - And if you leave me alone in the V with the chrome
3 - I won't hurt nothin, but I need to be alone
1 - Nigga.. just me and my Sam Cooke tapes
1 - And my heart is like
3 - And baby if you don't understand
3 - Then I gotta let you go... go... go...
1 - Geah, I'm sorry baby
1 - And my heart is like
2 - I'm talkin all along the way
2 - With all I used to say, I almost couldn't take it
2 - Said I wouldn't make it, to be twenty-one
2 - I'ma stand up on my own two
1 - And my heart is like
3 - I've traveled high and low and
3 - If there's one thing I know I know I know
3 - I know how to survive

[Chorus: K.G. & Joe Budden] + (Joe Budden)
When your mind ain't right, and it's hard to sleep
And you try to hide the pain, but your scars are deep
Nigga look me in my eyes and tell me what you see, yeah..
(And my heart is like)
When your mind ain't right, and it's hard to sleep
And you try to hide the pain, but your scars are deep
Nigga look me in my eyes and tell me what you see..
(And my heart is like)

[Verse]
3 - Nigga I'm a soldier, ain't nobody gon' hold me down
1 - Hold me down, nah
3 - Now that I'm closer, all the snakes play me closely now
1 - And my soul is like
3 - Homey I'm a soldier, ain't nobody gon' hold me down
1 - And my mind is like
3 - Now that I'm closer, all the snakes play me closely now
1 - And my soul is like
2 - Just livin on the edge homey ain't no joke
2 - And nah baby bro I don't smoke, but go ahead
3 - Playa.. playahhh
1 - You can like that, I'm good
1 - And my soul is like
3 - And baby if you don't understand
3 - Then I gotta let you go... go... go...
1 - I'm sorry baby
2 - I remember when they hated on me but I made it homey yea
2 - I remember when they hated on me, YEAH
2 - Don't smile at me now, YEAHHHH
1 - And my soul is like
2 - If you wasn't there for the bad, nigga don't come when it's good
2 - Naw dawg, it ain't all good
2 - Wonder what made him think it was still all good, YEAHHHH
1 - And my soul is like

[Chorus - substitute "and my soul is like" for Joe's solo lines]
[Verse]
3 - Nigga I'm a soldier, ain't nobody gon' hold me down
3 - Now that I'm closer, all the snakes play me closely now
1 - And my heart is like
3 - Homey I'm a soldier, ain't nobody gon' hold me down
3 - Now that I'm closer, all the snakes play me closely now
1 - And my heart is like.. I can't think right now
1 - Can't cope, can't drink, can't smoke, uh-uh
1 - And my soul is like.. I can't eat right now

1 - I'm not healthy, I'm askin you God help me like - please
1 - Show me somethin

Overall Meaning

The song “Survivor” by Joe Budden is an inspirational and introspective song that speaks to the struggle of overcoming adversity and surviving against all odds. In the song, the artist shares personal experiences of pain and hurt, but ultimately triumphing through the resilience of the human spirit.

The song opens with the chorus sung by K.G. and Joe Budden that talks about hiding the pain of deep scars and the struggle of a troubled mind. The song then proceeds into the first verse where Joe Budden raps about his survival instincts that have been honed by his experiences. He mentions his father’s teachings on survival, his confidence in himself, and the fact that no one has his back but himself. He speaks about his Sam Cooke tapes being his solace and how he needs to be alone sometimes. He also apologizes to someone who does not understand him and declares that he knows how to survive.

In the second verse, Joe Budden speaks about his past struggles, how people have doubted him, and how he has overcome all odds. He also warns people not to come around only when things are good and reminds them that he doesn't forget who was not there during his hardships. The song finishes with Joe Budden repeating the chorus, adding a few new lines about his soul and asking for help from God.

Line by Line Meaning

When your mind ain't right, and it's hard to sleep
When you're dealing with mental health issues and insomnia

And you try to hide the pain, but your scars are deep
When you're trying to conceal your emotional wounds but they run deep

Nigga look me in my eyes and tell me what you see, yeah..
Asking someone to be honest and transparent with their emotions and intentions

And my heart is like
The artist's emotional state

There's one thing poppa told me
Advice and guidance from a father figure

If nothin else in this world, it's how to survive
The most important lesson is how to persevere and overcome obstacles

When I'm against all odds, and when the odds against me
Facing difficult circumstances and challenges

I travel wherever my path may lead
Following one's own journey and destiny

Knowin nobody got my back like me
Relying on oneself for support and strength

I'm gonna survive
I will persevere and overcome obstacles

And if you walk in my shoes
Asking someone to understand and empathize with their experiences

Guarantee you'll be just like me
Assurance that their experiences have shaped them into who they are

And if you leave me alone in the V with the chrome
Asking for solitude and introspection

I won't hurt nothin, but I need to be alone
Needing space and privacy without causing harm to anyone else

Nigga.. just me and my Sam Cooke tapes
Enjoying music as a form of solace and comfort

And baby if you don't understand
If someone can't empathize or relate to their experiences

Then I gotta let you go... go... go...
Choosing to distance oneself from those who cannot understand them

Geah, I'm sorry baby
Expressing regret for having to end a relationship

I'm talkin all along the way
Reflecting on one's journey and experiences

With all I used to say, I almost couldn't take it
Struggling to reconcile past experiences with one's current self

Said I wouldn't make it, to be twenty-one
Overcoming others' doubts and expectations

I'ma stand up on my own two
Being self-sufficient and standing up for oneself

I've traveled high and low and
Experiencing highs and lows in life

If there's one thing I know I know I know
Confidence in the wisdom gained from their experiences

I know how to survive
Having the resilience and strength to persevere and overcome challenges

Nigga I'm a soldier, ain't nobody gon' hold me down
Being strong and resilient in the face of adversity

Now that I'm closer, all the snakes play me closely now
Being more successful and attracting more negative attention

And my soul is like
The artist's spiritual state

Just livin on the edge homey ain't no joke
Living life dangerously requires discipline and caution

If you wasn't there for the bad, nigga don't come when it's good
Others cannot expect to reap the benefits of success without having supported them through hard times

I can't think right now
Mental exhaustion and stress

Can't cope, can't drink, can't smoke, uh-uh
Unable to handle difficult emotions and avoiding unhealthy coping mechanisms

And my soul is like.. I can't eat right now
Physical manifestations of emotional distress

I'm not healthy, I'm askin you God help me like - please
Seeking divine intervention and guidance in times of struggle

Show me somethin
Asking for a sign of hope and resilience

Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: CEZAR CUNNINGHAM, DELANO THOMAS, MICHAEL JARRETT, CRAIG SERANI MARSH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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