Joe Budden is a polarizing figure in hip-hop. He has a cult fanbase that adores him for putting his life on display as much as he does, but then he also has his detractors who would rather he simply rap instead or being so personal. A strange stint on Love and Hip-Hop New York exposed the New Jersey wordsmith to a broader audience, but before that, it was his 2003 hit “Pump It Up” that put him on the map. However, the song would prove to be a gift and a curse, given the fact that it launched Budden‘s career, but, as the years of label woes progressed, it would also prove to be his only impression on the mainstream audience for quite a while. Nevertheless, fans would be fed with a steady stream of introspective and, at times, frustrated music over the years. When he’s not Ustreaming or cuffing his latest chick, the Slaughterhouse founder is rapping his ass off. Therefore, as we did with Chamillionaire, we’re going to school you on ten Joe Budden songs of which you need to be aware.

“Whatever It Takes”

Joe Budden has never tried to hide the fact that he has suffered from depression in his life. His struggle with it has set the tone for a large part of his music in the past and it has also brought out classic material, including this fan favorite. Clinton Sparks adds a much more soulful backdrop to this record than the original did and it makes for a more memorable and evocative song. In much the same way Joe would do years later on “Follow My Lead,” he attempts to summon the courage to beat his demons.

“Calm Down”

On one of the standout cuts from his overlooked debut album, Budden describes, in vivid detail, the effects his drug use had on his relationships with his mother and his ex-girlfriend.

“Exxxes”

Aside from being able to turn his problems into great music, Joe has a knack for storytelling and metaphor records. Here, he personifies his depression as a troubled woman with whom he has a tumultuous relationship.

“Three Sides to a Story”

Perhaps Budden’s most popular story record among his fans, along with “Secrets,” “Three Sides to a Story” follows a family in turmoil. Each verse is from the perspective of a different person: Derrick, the older brother who was recently released from prison; Sally, the young sister who is being molested by her mother’s new boyfriend and Beau, the molester. The song is a masterful piece of storytelling with plenty of twists to keep the listener’s attention.

“Dumb Out”

Joe Budden went through more than his fair share of label purgatory following his debut album’s lackluster sales. He channeled his frustrations into his Mood Muzik series, which spawned one of his most venomous records in “Dumb Out,” which is over six minutes of lethal shots aimed at a whole bunch of people.

“10 Minutes”

One thing Budden can do perhaps better than anyone else, is keep the listener’s intrigued with records that last an eternity. Here, we get a, you guessed it, a 10 minute song that finds the rapper spitting about everything from his hometown, his father’s absence, and his guilty conscious over an affair with an unnamed woman (who would also be addressed on “I Couldn’t Help It” years later).

“Pray for Me”

Over a chillingly haunting beat, Joey has a confrontation with god where the two exchange their disappointment in one another. The song was undoubtedly the highlight of his Padded Room album and remains a classic in his catalog.

“Who Killed Hip-Hop?”

Back in 2006, Nas got everyone in a tizzy when he proclaimed hip-hop as dead. While some rapers took offense, Joe decided to let loose a by-the-book case fit for the courtroom. The song was released in three parts, but was eventually clipped together by fans as a 15-minute masterpiece.

“Downfall”

In 2009, Budden was hit with a ton of adversity. He had an all-too-public breakup with longtime girlfriend Tahiry and he was infamously punched by a member of Raekwon’s entourage while backstage at Rock the Bells (Mickey Factz was also there for some inexplicable reason). In classic Budden fashion, he channeled all this into a soul-bearing song. It wouldn’t make it on any album due to a sample clearance issue, but it made an impact regardless.

“All of Me”

Ask most fans what their favorite Joe Budden song is and “All of Me” will pop up more often than not. The undying classic from his Mood Muzik series finds the rapper reminiscing over his start in the industry, beef, addiction and death.

The post Deeper than Pump It Up: 10 Joe Budden Songs You Need to Know appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Kanye West’s cryptic tweet from earlier in the week is still being debated. The date could be the arrival of baby KimYe, his new single, or anything in between. Regardless, a new Yeezy album is definitely on the way, if not this summer then certainly by the end of the year. Therefore, it’s only fitting to take some time to put Kanye’s previous efforts in perspective. You’d be hard-pressed to find many rappers who have amassed a stronger five-album catalogue than Mr. West, but even in a sea of great music, there are varying degrees of GOOD.

5) 808s & Heartbreak

Kanye’s genre-bending fourth album is undoubtedly his most polarizing. The loss of his mother put him in a place where he could not simply go in the booth and rap. He had other emotions he needed to convey, be it through singing, tribal drums, or arctic-cold soundscapes. The album’s most telling point comes on “Coldest Winter.” In contrast to the heart-warming “Hey Mama,” this record finds Kanye distraught and angry over the loss of his rock. Though not the album’s highlight, the song encapsulates 808s & Heartbreak perfectly: Kanye was attempting to work through his grief, regardless if it resulted in successful records.

4) Graduation

Graduation was the turning point for Kanye. Following two skit-heavy albums, he delivered a succinct 13 tracks. His rhymes were more polished and he was clearly more focused as an MC. The album was also the start of the more experimental Kanye we know today. However, he had a few misses on this album, and on a smaller tracklist, those misses are more noticeable. “Barry Bonds” was nowhere near the lyrical monster one might have thought it would be, as we were clearly on the way out of the Mixtape Weezy era. “Drunk and Hot Girls” not only sounded like the 2am ride-along music for all date rapists, it also broke up the flow of an otherwise very coherent project.

3) College Dropout

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression and Kanye certainly didn’t need one. At the time of College Dropout, he was a producer trying to make a name for himself as a rapper, crafting hit after hit to back up his bravado. College Dropout boasts several iconic Yeezy records, including “Jesus Walks” and “Workout Plan.” The most special thing, however, is the brief glimpses of vulnerability exhibited, like on “Through the Wire.” Kanye proved that he not only had the hit-making ability to get in the door, but that he also had the substance to stay.

2) Late Registration

While most people were quick to predict a sophomore slump for Kanye following a classic debut, he was once again prepared to prove everyone wrong. He showed up as a hungrier, more polished MC and still delivered radio hits, perhaps none bigger than “Gold Digger.” In retrospect, the tracklist is still bloated, especially with 4 skits, an intro, and an interlude. Not to mention Kanye was still getting lapped by big brother’s on the “Diamonds” remix. Nevertheless, Late Registration would prove to be the statement that Kanye West wasn’t going anywhere.

1) My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

By 2010, if Kanye West wasn’t public enemy #1 he was living right next door. He had incurred the wrath of every late night talk show, skit show and internet show following Swift-Gate. He was still grieving over losing his mother and he had ended a long relationship with Amber Rose. But, as is true with most artists, his best work comes out of suffering and tribulations: Kanye flew to Hawaii and crafted a masterpiece. With the help of an ensemble cast, we were privy to a darker, hyper-experimental Kanye West. He came across at once lost and right where he wanted to be. MBDTF is far from Yeezy’s biggest success on radio or the charts, but it connected with fans and critics alike. While some supporters still clamored for the return of the sample-loving, backpack-wearing Ye, the realists knew that version was long gone. “Power” was years of packed aggression in 5 minutes of venting. “Runaway” and “Blame Game” showcased that the vulnerability still lived in the man, yet he was growing as a person. “Monster,” “So Appalled” and “Gorgeous” proved that Kanye could rap his ass off in case anyone had forgotten. While MBDTF certainly lacked the radio hits and soul everyone came to expect from a Kanye West album, it replaced those with pain and triumph balled up into a frantic, maniacal opus.

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