Joe Budden : Padded Room review

hi haters.
i know what your thinking as soon as you read the blog title.
that "pump it up" guy? does he still rap?
do yourself a favor. drop what your doing and spare 5 minutes to read this entry.
hopefully, if your a fan of music and you really can't "live without it" then you'll have a new found respect for Joe Budden.


Joe Budden released his self titled album (Joe Budden) in 2003 with the hit single "Pump it Up" that was short-lived and vanished from the scenes of mainstream hip-hop and radio waves.
Shortly after the announcement of Jay-Z's retirement, his hiatus from the rap game was voided with his new debut of mixtapes titled, "Mood Muzik".
Teaming up with DJ On Point, he released a slew of emotional records touching base from poverty,depression, drugs, suicidial tendencies, and problems that most rappers are scared to touch base with.
With his mixtapes in circuit, he developed a following much bigger than his "Pump it UP" fan base.
After numerous attempts to release his sophmore album through Def Jam, he was shelved. Frustration and anticipating fans for new materials forced him to release a 2nd addition to his "Mood Muzik" mixtape series. But still, no album.
After continuous drama with the label, struggles, and delayed release dates, Joe Budden dropped himself from Def Jam the label leading to a 3rd addition to his "Mood Muzik" mixtape.
A year and some change later, finally.....his 2nd Album in 6 years...."Padded Room"

He's currently engaged with a group of super-rappers (Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Royce da 5'9,) called Slaughter House and I came across a flyer informing me of their performance at Paid Dues concert on March 28th in CA.
Me and Michael drove over to Fatbeast to purchase the tickets as well as my copy of "Padded Room".
This is where my honest opinion starts.

Honestly, this album didn't really showcase Joe Budden's full potential as a rapper. He fumbled through song concepts, and failed to grasp the whole conceptual outlook to intertwine with the title, "Padded Room". Track after track, I was looking for the familiar Joe Budden, and that's exactly what I found towards the end of the album.

"Do Tell"

Tell my mother I'm sorry I never meant to hurt her
And even when I did I never meant to take it further
Tell my father I love him Dot dot etcetera
He use to give me advice like a plethora
I tried to find myself but I'se your replica
I mean I only tried to be what you never was
Tell my older brother I'm bad at being a brother
I know I never told you just how highly I think of ya
Tell my grandmother man she's always been a friend of me
I would've visited more if I wasn't in to me...

Faithfully tell everybody who hated me
Basically all it ever did was motivated me
They say I'm difficult so to put it simply
Tell the world I never cared it was against me

If niggas want to kill me tell em I already died
Tell anybody that will listen i tried
Till the water ran dry tell the water get the fuck out my eyes

I tell em that I'm grown really I ain't finish growing
Look tell failure I ain't want to get to know em

Tell the stereotypes I tried them shits on they didn't fit me
Tell who ever I wronged I apologize
They tell me though there bumps in the road
But still I gotta ride they tell me I got a lotta pride
I tell them how the fuck you gone tell me what I got inside
Then they wanna lecture a nigga tell me life is what you make it
That's when I tell them I beg to differ

after I heard this song...I want bananas in the car.
I was krumping. I couldn't put into words how much he connects with the listener.
How can anyone deny his talent?

this next song is a concept of him talking to God when he died.
"Murder Was The Case - Snoop Dogg" type of record.

God:
Your real close to heaven, few get to step in
now tell me what you've done to deserve to be let in?

Joe:
Look I'm far from a christian Not big on religion
But aint done too much wrong my entire time living
Never killed never tried too tho I been lied to
Was once suicidal never read the bible
I always been a care taker tried to nurse people
At times it back fired hurt people hurt people
Plus I never use your name in vain
But you should know everything I'm being asked to explain

Look I'm only human I aint perfect.

God:
That I understand. When I take you out a jam
you don't even think to worship, and when you do...
you never talk about what you can do for me its what I can do for you?
I blessed you with health, family and wealth
with all the blessings you received you still always want help

Joe:
Yeah theres been times in my life I needed help to make money
But why everything I love you manage to take from me?
Yet you stand there an question a nigga that tries hard
and finds a way when you keep dealing them FUCKED up cards!
You make mistakes like ME far as I can see
I think its a mockery whenever rich niggas win the lottery
Gave us Bush twice God I hate to be rude
But you let skinny niggas starve give obese niggas food
THE NERVE of you telling me I don't deserve to stay here
When you gave us drugs and GUNS you put AIDS here!
Take a look at you, your actions are cold hearted
The harsh shit is you bring babies in the world retarded
I know most my actions put me in a cell
But how you mad at me when you put me in the hell

God:
See my child you need gratitude, maybe just a sample
I never give a person anything they cant handle
Don't tell me about everything you had to go through
there's reasons for my actions even if I never showed you
Kept trying with you all you did was hurt me
still gave you chances to prove that you was worthy
and so I sat with you on a train I asked you for change
you kept calling me names. Prolly didnt notice
I was the store clerk, you put the gun to me get money for more work
my child I know you have it in you to indeed stop
this is not your final calling just a brief stop
Hope you heed my words and understand
so when I see you back you should be a better man
look at life different the next time we see each other
there be no need for talk whenever we meet each other


Padded Room. In stores now.

I don't need to explain shit.

Here's one of the first lines I fell in love with.

"Ain't shit like seeing your moms cryin on the floor,
knowing you the reason why she ain't aight no more"