Q&A: Joe Budden

By Toshitaka Kondo

Beef and mixtapes. If you’re a rapper having label problems, keep those two close by and the people will remember your name.

Jersey City emcee Joe Budden has been armed with both since releasing a self-titled debut in 2003. His sophomore album, The Growth, has supposedly been ready to drop for over four years, but creative differences with Def Jam has kept it on the shelf. During his, the Internet-savvy Budden has gained legions of die-hard fans with his critically acclaimed Mood Muzik mixtape series, and has kept the streets talking by feuding with Saigon and former friends like Ransom. His patience and grind paid off. Budden was finally released from his Def Jam contract this past October – and he’s wasting no time. The recently released Mood Muzik 3: For Better or for Worse has already sparked speculation that some bars are aimed at his former label boss, Jay-Z. Rhapsody spoke with Budden about his harsh words for the God MC, where he might be signing next, and whether 2007 was a good year for hip-hop.

Rhapsody: “Talk 2 Em’” seems to be getting the most attention from people that have heard Mood Muzik 3. Why did you decide to go at Jay-Z?
Joe Budden: [It was] exactly how I felt. On Mood Muzik, the stage is all Joe Budden so I get to do exactly what I want. It was disrespectful, but it was a diss with a point: Stop rapping. Hang it up. You’re getting paid to be a president. Be a president. We loved you as a rapper. One of the best to ever do it. Now it’s time to do some other things.

Do you really hate “Roc Boys”?
The video is amazing. I’m just not feeling the song at all.

Do you really think the new generation is gonna remember Jay as Michael Jordan getting crossed by Allen Iverson?
If you look at it today, a lot of these younger people didn’t experience Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, and the things that people my age have come to love Jay for. The younger generation is like, eh, f*ck it, whatever. They don’t really respect it. I don’t think he puts that fear in any artists like he once did. It’s like Shaquille O’Neal now. Shaq was one of the most dominant people to ever play. Nowadays, he’s still worth something, but it’s just not the same. Everybody is calling American Gangster a concept album. It’s a Jay-Z album. He’s talking about the same exact sh*t he’s talking about on Reasonable Doubt. Where’s the concepts? He just needed something to attach it to, which he did. He needs to be a president and start putting out some f*ck*ng artists. When I start getting into saying things about Jay-Z or Def Jam, I’m not speaking to try and get anyone to feel the way I’m feeling. Which is why I say it’s not a diss. ‘Cause I’m not trying to sway anyone’s opinion.

A lot of people look at American Gangster as validation that he should still be rapping.
But that’s not my issue. If the title president wasn’t on him, then it wouldn’t be anything for me to say. I heard the complaints from Beans, LL Cool J, Freeway, DMX and Ludacris. If a million people are calling you a duck, then you probably need to look in the mirror.

Maybe those artists’ albums didn’t catch on because the public wasn’t feeling them?
Is it the rapper’s job to pick the single? It’s a decision to be made by both parties [the artist and the label heads]. There’s not one rapper on Def Jam that has been broken since Jay and L.A. Reid have gone to Def Jam. Kanye, Jeezy and Ludacris sold records prior to them getting there. They really don’t know what they’re doing as far as hip-hop goes. And I don’t think Jay is too concerned with trying to rectify that.

Why can’t younger rappers and older rappers co-exist?
Some of these older artists, their name garners all the attention in the universe. And that attention is being taken away from somewhere else, even if the product they put out is b*llsh*t of late. They’re no longer producing, moving physical copies, big in new media or moving ringtones. "Shut the f*ck up and move on to something else." Or I think all the young rappers should just start calling these n*gg*s out.

Kanye and Jeezy came in without someone having to step aside.
You’re naming people that the older people use [so they can] jump on their back.

Okay, Soulja Boy ...
Don’t talk to me about Soulja Boy. He’s doing well. And I’m very happy for him. But he didn’t come in. He’s not solidified here. He put an album out. A million people put an album out.

In previous interviews, you said you supported yourself with real estate and publishing checks while waiting to get off Def Jam.
I was never hard-up for money. I don’t live outside of my means. So the fight with Def Jam wasn’t, "Yo, I’m broke as f*ck. Let me put something out." Fight was, "I’m dope. Why am I not putting music out?"

Are you still able to get shows?
Maybe three shows a month. Which to me, coming off “Pump It Up” and “Fire” is not a lot. I don’t even like performing those records. Them sh*ts still gets the crowd to go crazy. I’m blessed.

Do you do shows overseas a lot?
Yeah, that’s where a majority of my shows are. London, Canada, Germany [and Japan].

Have their been any new developments in terms of your future?
I’ve narrowed where I’d like to be to three places. I’m going to end up at a major. I’m going to put out an album in the spring called Padded Room independently. And then, in the summer time, this process will be done.

Who have you been working with on Padded Room?
My own producers, The Classics, who did a majority of Mood Muzik 3. Everything is in-house. It’ll be an off-branch of Mood Muzik 3. Same feel, same vibe. It’ll just be an album, instead of a mixtape. But Padded will probably be a digital album.

What’s up with your producer White Boy?
White Boy’s got a few artists that he’s been working on. That’s why me and him haven’t been able to record as much as we would have liked to. He’s trying to do his independent thing getting his artists off the ground. So I respect it. Me and him speak quite often. He’s still in the mix. You’ll probably hear from him when it’s time to record my second major label release.

Saigon got upset about your line, "I'm about to hit and run like I'm Saigon" on "Rap City." 
Yeah, he did. I could care less. He said something so now he’ll have to hold up his end of the bargain when he sees me. I would have liked him not to take the line disrespectfully, but he did. He’s got an album coming out.

You talked about boxing when you responded to Saigon.  You used to fight?
Yeah, definitely. I was an amateur for like 15 fights. I did the lightweight and welterweight thing. I lost four of them. I never been knocked out. Knocked down, yes. I was 149 when I was younger. I was trying to stay out of trouble. I wasn’t violent, but I did enjoy fighting. I’m not trying to say I was destined to be a great boxer.

Saigon was saying you used to be an R&B singer?
I sung before I rapped. Again, trying to stay out of trouble. Moms puts you in the choir, you gotta sing. I had a voice. I was offered scholarships to colleges like UNC, North Carolina A&T, for singing. You get to smoking and drinking and [you start] not giving a f*ck about certain things like boxing and singing that you may have loved to do. Rap just happened to be something you could do while you smoke and drink.

Your brother getting shot prevented you from participating in the AllHipHop rap battle with Mistah F.A.B. and Royce Da 5’9". How’s he doing now?
Great. He’s walking about, acting like it never happened. He thinks he’s 50 Cent or something. He’s 20. My little brother is a big boy. He’s 6’1", weights 215. He walked to the hospital damn near.

Ransom said you can’t go back to Jersey City.  Do you currently reside there?
No. I go back when it’s time for me to go back. I don’t hang out there. No one should. It is really not a game over there. Everything he says comes from trying to discredit someone. I wasn’t mad at it. It was pretty weak.

He was complaining about not being on your first album. Is that fair?
Why would I put him on my first album? I just met him. I was trying to brand Joe Budden. Fabolous just put them on - what? - his fourth album? Who sits around and complains about that?

From Wendy Williams to Ransom to AHH Ill Community, it seems like a lot of people try and imply that you’re gay. Why do you think that happens so often?
Because there’s nothing else to say. Wendy Williams says that about everybody. Probably the primary reason her show is doing so horribly. Far as Ransom, he says it because there’s nothing else to say. Everything that goes on in my life, I talk about. So there won’t be any “Prodigy on the Summer Jam Screen” moments with Joe Budden.

During your “Barber Shop” video blog series, you talk a lot about subliminal messages. How closely are you listening to see if others throw them at you?
I’m not listening to n*gg*s, but if they say something, I’m gonna catch it. I listen to everything at least one time just to be aware. Like Lil Wayne said, “I got them 24 inches sittin’ on Joe Buddens.” I really didn’t understand it. My people tried to put the battery in my back, but it didn’t work.

I thought this year was kind of weak for good albums. What did you think?
I don’t know about that. You got a Ghostface and Wu-Tang album this year.

Did you like the Wu album?
No. But it’s an album we got. Styles. I’m a big fan of Lupe. I don’t know how me and him would sound together. It might be apples and oranges, but I really like him. Once you give me a Kanye album, I’m pretty much aright. Kanye sets the tone. He meshes everything that I need in an album. Jay came out. Freeway. I don’t think it was a weak year. Oh, and Mood Muzik 3!

Does it bother you how big ringtone rap has gotten?
No, because I’m not a hater. It’s great, but I think there should be a balance. And the balance hasn’t been there. With Kanye, 50, Fab, Beans and Cassidy, there is a lot of music coming out that’s not ringtone music, so maybe the balance is coming back. You know what I miss? I miss the days of Ja Rule ruling the radio. I really do. And I’m not just saying I miss Ja Rule on the radio. Murder Inc. just takes me back to a time in music where everything was great. You had your crunk music. Down South was putting music out. New York was putting music out. Ice Cube put albums out. The mixtapes were great. Underground rap was great. It just seemed like rap was great.

Comments

[get em]

buttons = another name for car wheels/rims

get ya money up joey

[ReyTheHussein]

Joey is the future and the truth.

I agree and disagree with the point about old artists stealing the spotlight from new ones. The new ones just need to come up with something substantial, not just a dance or a ringtone.

Budden just needs a chance.

www.alumnah.com

[AD]

Real talk from Joey... he actually thinks unlike most of these rappers that do interviews. Good look on MM3... ish was crazy!

Speaking of shows... when you comin back up to Montreal Joey?

[old school mama]

Joe Buddens, I believe I saw a show where it was like make it or break it. I believe that was before Jay Z became president of Def Jam and you sucked then and you suck now. Maybe underground you are "da man" but to my teenage children who happen to live nad die hip hop you are a nobody and they know Jay Z. It is a shame that all of these rappers are so upset with Jay Z as if he is the only one making decisions or even doing the promoting. I feel bad because a lot of the people who are complaining are talented(except Joe Buddensof course), but he makes his money so to all the other cry baby artist, GO MAKE YA MONEY MAN. Another thing I 'd like to add is that it seems that most of the artist complaining are people who have longevity in the business, maybe yall's time is up. Teens these days are not into real hip hop and I know for afact LL may still love the ladies but most of the ladies who loved him back are older more mature and does not find his music appealing anymore. DMX comes and goes out of sobriety and then goes AWL and when he needs money he expects his old fans to come through, stop diappointing us and we will. Beanie, gotta love him but dude you just got out and the game has changed whether we like it or not. this generation is into feel good music, music that makes no sense, so unless you wanna jump around the stage and perform the superman, batman and etc. Try acting!

[BKboy!]

"Some of these older artists, their name garners all the attention in the universe. And that attention is being taken away from somewhere else, even if the product they put out is b*llsh*t of late. They’re no longer producing, moving physical copies, big in new media or moving ringtones. "Shut the f*ck up and move on to something else." Or I think all the young rappers should just start calling these n*gg*s out."

"Males shouldn't be jealous/thats a females trait
What u mad cause you sell dimes/and he push weight"- Jay-Z

Joey is one of my favorite artist but n*gg* you've been in the industry for a minute. Take control of your career and stop waiting for someone to hand it to you. I know Jay dont do everything right but all the dope artist out today took there spots get yours.

[Guerrilla Journalism]

Joe was right. There were some good releases this year, Scarface, Styles P, Jay Z, and Wu Tang. That Ghostface album is a good album.
Peep this Ghostface interview.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FEdD6bOJ_wU

[yaboy]

mm3 is heat rocks

[yaboy]

old school mama - im ashamed to hear that you are a "parent."

your rambling comment added absolutely nothing to the topic at hand... i feel sorry for your kids that they will get their guidance from someone as negative as yourself.

[Imperious]

You should of asked him this question:
Was part of the problem at Def Jam YOU not making a hit to follow up "pump it up"? Where was the second hit Joey? You have to make hits nowadays. I would like Joey to answer that question. Props on Mood Muzik 2 and 3! Peace.
-www.ImperiousEnt.com

[AnotherOne]

@ yaboy...

i believe he had many songs that coulda been hits on the radio... such as 'Fuel'. he didn't even have an album out and that was getting steady airplay in my town's local station.

[ekb]

i agree jay is not the best excecutive, im not disputing that but what dudes forget about when the knock him is that nobody gave jay a record deal ....he made his own lane (w/ help from dame and biggs ) , thats probably why he looks at the n*gg*s wit complaints like clowns ...roc a fella didnt even have the luxury of having a record label ...so they made thier own ..remember?

[Jae $wag]

A yo dat n*gg* Joe Budden doesn't get the credit he deserves ya dig! Honestly he will destroy ur Favorite Rapper, he's punchlines are so serious and another thing Get that Mood Muzik 3 aka MM3 it's the Hottest Mixtape 2 come out this Year 2007 real talk n*gg*!

[Anthony to the S.]

once he gets the album out things will get even more interesting.

http://paidandpopular.blogspot.com

[Swagger]

I STILL LIKE JAY-Z HIS MUSIC IS TIMELESS HES ONE OF MY FAV RAPPERS....BUT JOEY IS MY FAV RAPPER AND A LOT OF WHAT HE SAID IS REAL TALK.....U CANT ALWAYS DETERMINE WHATS A HIT AND WHATS NOT....THE ARTIST MAY THINK ITS A HIT AND THE LABEL PEOPLE MAY NOT....THATS WHY THIS INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT IS SO BIG NOW CAUSE U CANT DEPEND ON MAJORS ANYMORE, BUT AT THAT TIME U KINDA HAD TO IF U DID GOOD YOUR FIRST ALBUM THEN U SHOULD HAVE MORE FREEDOM FOR YOUR 2ND CAUSE YOUR PROVED YOUR HERE AND READY......DEF JAM IS BECOMING THE NEXT BAD BOY RECORDS(THEY WERE THE SH*T IN THE MID TO LATE 90'S)...DEF JAM SOON WILL BE A POP BASED LABEL

[Mic Lowrey]

Hay there AMERRICA

Good Morning NY, Hello JC

Mic Lowrey, here, joey is on point and the only person who actually say things that makes sense in an interview, think about it, besides Jay he is the only person who speaks clear and you can understand what he says, he should of put Mood Muzik on Koch and made money that way, but a Digital Album from him is perfect, and stay doing them shows overseas, he should release his music over there, it is easier and it doesnt have to be released here and half the time people dont even know you released an album The Model Naomi released in Japan in went Platinum and Alyssa MILANO released in went Platinum so he can do it.

The powers that be at Def Jam is not the problem, when Murder Inc, Rocafella, Ruff Ryders where the reason DEF JAM got to where they are, it was because Irv Gotti, Dame Dash and the Dean Family, LL had E Nicks working with him handeling business, everybody who ever popped over there had that A personality, that is what Joe Needs, he needs a Dame Dean Gotti or something, and those that have that, have success

[Mex]

Jump off get his mind right in his music. 10 mins., and calm down are the truth. Real recognize real. Big ups my dude. Easy.

[TOPFIVE]

JOE BUDDEN IS THE TRUTH..music has been terrible this year and most folk think cause they can "superman" it's hot. Yeah American Gangster was hot but most youth can not relate to it, most youth would rather hear "wipe me down" than "dumb it down" by lupe. society is not about what you say, but the size of your rims and the diamonds you wear!!! "on your rise to the top, many flop but dont forget in order to survive, you gotta learn to live with regrets" Jay-Z, Reasonable Doubts, REGRETS!!!

[kayos]

JOE BUDDEN NOT BEING ABLE 2 GO BACK 2 JERSEY CITY IS SILLY, I HAVE SEEN HIM 2 TIMES IN A MALL OUT THERE...

[loco]

First of all...Ph*ck Joe Buddens...why he dissin Hov after callin him Superman...that's why he can't go back 2 Jersey I guess... he jst mad cause Jay dropped him...negro plz...eat a stick... I'm mad @ all this rappers acting like Jay is the reason why the don't sell... it's plain n simple...ur voice n ur lyrics suck...period....1

[DEREK]

JOES COOL BUT A LOT YOUNG CATS ANIT BRING
IT.IAM ONLY 26 AND I FEEL MY MUSIC IS UP.
BUT IF YOU LOVE HIP HOP AND YOUR A YOUNG YOU STILL CAN BRING IT AND BEING YOUNG GIVE YOU NO RIGHT TO BE A BRAIN DEAD MONKEY WHO THANKS WE SHOULD GIVE UP A 10 SPOT TO HERE SOME DUM SUPER MAN SH*T.
REDMAN DONE ROCK SOME SUPA MAN SH*T
AND IF DUMS AS BOY NEEDS A GOOD *SS WHOPING WHEN HE TRUNS 18 HOLLA

[worldfriendswin]

like the other guy said you have to take control of your own career all to top guy took control when they first came out jay 50 em he has to do it but i think its too late for him