Customer Reviews

Joe Budden

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this album off the back of all the hype it received, being appraised with the accolade of the second best rap debut after 50 Cent's 'Get Rich or Die Trying', which I think is a very good album. I'd seen the video for 'Pump it Up' on MTV Base a couple of months earlier but couldn't remember how it went at all; which is perhaps quite indictive of this album.

Bearing in mind the hype it received, upon first listening to this album I was stunned, the reason being that I couldn't find one reason to justify the praise it had received. The only track that instantly stood out was 'Ma Ma Ma', while the rest all merged into anonymity. I hoped that this was just a lack of concentration on my part and that it would grow on me after I listened to it a few times, the only problem was that with no real stand out tracks, I had no motivation to listen to it again.
However, as always happens, I grew to like it over time.

I feel the biggest problem with the album is not Joe Budden himself, as he is a vaery capable MC, but it's the fact that he chose to use only two different producers over the whole album: the first being the much over praised (in my oppinion) Just Blaze and the largely unknown White Boy (aka Dub B). This means that all the songs end up sounding largely the same, with White Boy's production sounding like a cross between the Neptunes and Swizz Beats. Furthermore, the often distorted 'sound' of the tracks does not really compliment Joe Buddens slightly muffled vocal tone.

But this is not to say it is a bad album. As I already said, Joe Budden is a good, solid MC, and whilst his flow may not match that of artists such as Raekwon or DMX, his lyrical content is deep and meaningful, especially his referances back to his days in rehab. This prowess is especially prevalent on '10 Minutes' a track towards the back end of the album in which he discusses his issues with the world at large, both intimate and on the larger scale; the gimmick being that the song actually lasts ten minutes and that he actually managed to find enough meaningful conversation to fill that time. That shows a special quality.

My favourite tracks are 'Stand up Nucca', 'Give Me a Reason', 'Ma Ma Ma', 'Walk With Me' and, at a pinch, 'Pump it Up'.

Overall, this is a solidly written hip hop debut that could have just done with a larger variety of producers to make it more accessible.

Usually I stay clear of the Def Jam artists because I'm generally a fan of 'The other side' of hip-hop (J5, Talib Kweli, Mos Def). However, when I heard Focus on 1Xtra a few months ago I was extremely interested in Joe Budden. His voice seemed a lot different to stuff I'd heard before, so I bought the album. Firstly, this is a good album. I usually dislike albums the first time I hear them, and as I've only had this for 2 days, I haven't been able to grow to like certain songs. A few songs grasped me when I first heard them. The single 'Pump it up' and the should be single 'Focus' are excellent club-bangers and are great feel good songs. Other gems on this album are 'Fire' (Feat. Busta), 'Porno Star' (Very original, and quite funny) and 'Give Me a Reason'. Not that the other songs are bad. This is one of those albums you can listen to from start to finish.

The reason why I haven't given it 5 stars is because he doesn't have the lyrical wizardary of artists like Kweli and all of Jurassic 5 for example. But if you like DMX and Method Man, then this album is the sort of thing you'd like. Hopefully Joe Budden will finally bring some decent Hip-Hop to the masses!

Just about everyone has heard the track "Pump it up" by now and it's a pretty catchy tune, sadly the rest of the album is not quite up to par. I thought (and hoped) that it would be the kind of album that would grow on me the more I listened to it but it never, the good tracks remain good and the rest of the album is just nothing special. If you are buying because you like pump it up, then think twice, yes there are a couple of other good tracks but what would the album do for you that the single wouldn't?

MY sort of Music _ real hip/ hop from the streets- a must buy for all street hip hop fan -amazing cd get it now

Listening to this album it's almost like you are having a deep felt conversation with Joe Budden himself. You can really feel his pain and relate to all of him problems. Budden might not be the greatest MC of all time but as a lyricist he shines as puts himself M-I-L-E-S above competitors. His lyrics are deep and really good. He's probably one of the most underrated.

I've give a 5 star rating. That's what he deserves for this amazing album.

People who are really into g-unit, crunk or southern stuff might not like it. But people who appreciate real talent and good lyrics, this album is a must have

there are a few songs with the more usual bouncin music n beats which r all gd but its the slower simpler songs that stand out on this album. i hav a lot of hip hop albums n quite a lot of the usual bouncin stuff that gets a little repetitive. this album has a lot more feelin in the lyrics which are easy to relate to, and the feelin in the lyrics stands out. best songs demostrating this are, "walk with me", "focus","calm down" , "stand up nucca", "10 mins". joe budden isnt copyin every1 else around these songs stand out and are different , a little depressing but they make a refreshing change from the repetidness off hip hop today. this album is a great album for ne1 who wants deeper lyrics and a change from the usual hip hop tracks lackin creativity.

This is a good CD but dont expect a hip hop classic like 50 Cents debut album. This album has an interesting mixture of hip hop, RnB and a touch of dancehall, which I guess is quite refreshing. Some stand out track for me are 'Pump it up', 'Walk with me', 'Fire'(simply amazing),'ma ma ma' and 'stand up nucca'(best beat on the album). Although Joe B's lyrics are very deep and most importantly real he doesnt have,in my opinion, lyrical flow as good as some others in the rap game at the moment..and he seems to have an obsession with the words "jump off" which he keeps saying in every song, this becomes very annoying. I would give this CD 3 stars but the stand out tracks I listed alone boosts it up to 4 stars.

If Joe Budden is the saviour of Hip Hop, the streets No.1 draft (as the Def Jam hype would have us believe) then Hip Hop really is in trouble. In fact any real artists out there might as well pack up their two turntables and a microphone and go home as the future does not look too bright. Maybe the single 'Pump it up' should have been a warning (am I the only person who finds this a very weak release for a first single), maybe the fact that Busta Rhymes is a guest artist on one of the tracks should have rung alarm bells (why oh why did Leaders of the NewSchool ever split....Tribe called Quest Scenareo remix the only exception), maybe the fact that this is on Def Jam and their Hip Hop output of about the last 5 year sucks..if ever there was a label living on past reputation..... To sum up the production on this album is very basic/unimaginative with no catchy hooks or digging in the crates breaks. If you scan through the CD quickly there is not one song musically that grabs/holds your attention. Add to this Joe Budden himself who has a flow that is weak, monotonous & embarrassing to real Mc's such as Nas, Del, Mic Geronimo, Kool G Rap, Master Ace, OC..etc. He appears to be a one trick pony using a short line, double line length , off beat on beat stle reminiscent of when PMD went solo from EPMD and really fell off. If you really know your Hip Hop and like me find most output from the last 5-7years shameful compare this over hyped album to the new Gangstar joint....two guys who really know the art of Hip Hop and how to contruct breaks, beats and add the art of storytelling/Mc'ing, Do not waste your hard earned money on this album....instead if you want an album to sound track your summer try Electric Circus by Common or track down (if you can find it) Breaking Atoms by Main Source.

This is really the best album of the year. joe is the streets #1 draft pick and is already on the allstar starting line-up. this album is full of hot lyrics, tracks like gangsta lean, 10 minutes, angela, focus , pump it up, NBa and fire are just incredible. if you like hip hop you MUST buy this album because Joe is the future and quite blatantly the hottest artist on the Def Jam roster, his metaphors are incredible, beats are fire and hs flow is so hot. BUY THIS CD AND SAVE HIP HOP

When i first heard this on the no 1 rap show westwood, i could not wait as the song pump it up was a favourite of everyones.

Then when i saw the video on MTV BASE i just had to get the album imported.

This album is great, worth buying. Get it and see yourself the new man of hip-hop.