Joseph Anthony Budden II (born August 31, 1980) is a member of the American hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, alongside fellow rappers Royce da 5’9″, Joell Ortiz, and Crooked I, solo recording artist and broadcaster.

His most commercially successful solo single is the 2003 hit song “Pump It Up”, from his self-titled album, which contains production from Just Blaze. He was formerly signed to major record label Def Jam, but left for his personal reasons and for them pushing back his album releases.

After separating from Def Jam, he began recording and releasing solo mixtapes and albums on independent labels. In 2013, he released No Love Lost; his follow-up EP, “Some Love Lost” was released November 4, 2014. He released “All Love Lost” on October 16, 2015. Most recently, he released “Rage & The Machine” on October 21, 2016.

Life and career

Early life

Budden was born in Harlem, New York and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. Uninterested in school, he began abusing drugs. After an emotional confrontation with his mother, Budden willingly went into rehab on July 3, 1997. Budden began freestyling, first at his high school with acquaintances against whom he claims that he always won battles. He eventually made appearances on several New York mixtapes with the likes of DJ Clue, DJ Kayslay, and Cutmaster C.

2003–2007: Debut album, Mood Muzik, release from Def Jam

In 2003, Budden released his debut solo studio album, Joe Budden. It included Budden’s 2003 Grammy-nominated summer hit “Pump It Up”, and was also featured in the soundtrack for the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious and the video games Def Jam Vendetta, Def Jam Fight for NY, and Madden NFL 2004.

The song “Focus” was also featured in the game and Budden was also a character. Its second single was “Fire” featuring Busta Rhymes, which was in the movie Mean Girls. The song “Drop Drop” was featured on the soundtrack for the movie Cradle 2 the Grave, and the video game NBA Live 2003. Budden has hinted in many songs that he was a recovering drug addict and has reaffirmed his position several times through multiple outlets. Budden featured on the R Kelly produced song, “Clubbin” by Marques Houston, peaking at 39 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and at 15 on the UK BPI charts.

Budden’s sophomore release titled The Growth was hampered due to the label’s problems with Budden, which included his Def Jam seniors not agreeing with the direction of his music. The album was not released, and continued disagreements between Budden and Def Jam forced the two sides to part ways. He managed to release the first and second installments of his Mood Muzik mixtape series while on Def Jam, and the series has been met with critical acclaim.

In December 2007, Budden signed a multi-album deal with Amalgam Digital and released his independent debut Padded Room as well as Mood Muzik 3: The Album, Halfway House, and Escape Route.

2008–present: Slaughterhouse, controversies, Everyday Struggle and Rage & The Machine

Budden reached out to Crooked I, Royce da 5’9″, Joell Ortiz and Nino Bless for a track titled “Slaughterhouse” on one of his Amalgam Digital releases, Halfway House. Based on the reception of the track, they decided to form a group, minus Nino Bless, and named it after the first song they made together.

Budden released his second album titled “Padded Room” on February 24, 2009, and debuted at number 42 on the Billboard 200. The group released numerous songs throughout early 2009, leading up to their self-titled album Slaughterhouse, which was released through E1 on August 11, 2009. The album features production from, among other bands, The Alchemist, DJ Khalil, and Mr. Porter, plus guest appearances from Pharoahe Monch, among others. The group signed with Shady Records on January 12, 2011.

In early 2012, Budden and Emanny teamed up with a few producers to form the group SLV (Summer Leather Vest). Budden and Emanny are the only two vocalists. On August 24, 2012, Budden announced he would release a mixtape, “A Loose Quarter”, via Twitter.

Slaughterhouse released a mixtape titled On The House in promotion for their second album. The group released their second studio album under Shady Records which was titled welcome to: Our House on August 28, 2012, the album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No.2 and No.1 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums selling 52,000 copies its first week. The album features many guest appearances from Eminem, Skylar Grey, Busta Rhymes, Cee Lo Green, Swizz Beats, and B.o.B, and production by Alex da Kid, No I.D., AraabMuzik, Mr. Porter, and others.

On November 9, 2012, DatPiff.com announced that A Loose Quarter would be released at midnight on November 23, 2012, but the album was released three days early.

The first official single from No Love Lost was “She Don’t Put It Down” which features fellow rapper Lil Wayne and singer Tank. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 96 returning to the charts since his hit single “Pump It Up” back in 2003. Budden released a remix for “She Don’t Put It Down” which features Tank, Fabolous, and Twista. The second single from the album was “N.B.A. (Never Broke Again)” featuring Wiz Khalifa and French Montana.

Budden released music videos for “She Don’t Put It Down”, “Castles”, and “N.B.A. (Never Broke Again)”. The album No Love Lost would debut at number 15 on the Billboard 200 selling 30,000 copies its first week. By March 20, 2013, the album had sold 60,000 copies. Budden co-starred on Seasons 3-4 of the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop: New York in 2013-2014.

Budden released an EP titled Some Love Lost on November 4, 2014, which received generally positive reviews from critics. The EP contained songs from a larger project to be called All Love Lost. On July 1, 2015, Budden released a new song on SoundCloud titled “F’em All”.

On July 12, 2014, he participated in a Total Slaughter rap battle event against Hollow Da Don. The judges gave the victory to Hollow in a unanimous decision.

Budden hosts his own podcast. He co-hosts a show on Complex called Everyday Struggle with DJ Akademiks and broadcaster Nadeska Alexis. On July 2, 2016, Budden aimed a diss track at Canadian rapper Drake entitled “Making A Murderer Part I” as well as taking a swipe at Meek Mill. He then went on to explain in his podcast that the diss was not personal, done for the competition and sport, and that he has no gripe with either artist.

Budden has been accused by Uproxx’s Aaron Williams and Billboard’s Michael Arceneaux of homophobia by criticizing Lil Yachty’s album cover, “which features a number of colorfully attired young people, many of whom do not look stereo-typically “hip-hop”, especially a pair of young men in the upper-left corner kissing” and by satirizing ILoveMakonnen’s decision to publicly come out as gay on Twitter.

On June 25, 2017, during the BET Awards pre-show, Budden walked off set of an interview conducted with his Everyday Struggle colleagues DJ Akademiks and Nadeska Alexis for the hip hop trio Migos, causing a conflict that was momentarily caught on tape.

Budden announced his last solo tour dates on May 16, 2016. He released his sixth solo album, produced entirely by AraabMUZIK entitled Rage & The Machine on October 21, 2016. The second studio album with Slaughterhouse is pending.

Personal life

Budden has a son from a previous relationship.

In 2010, a warrant for Budden was issued by the Hudson County, New Jersey, Sheriff’s Office for unpaid child support.

On March 30, 2012, Budden spent a night in jail and missed a Slaughterhouse concert in his home town over a $75 parking ticket.

In 2014, Budden was briefly wanted by the New York Police Department after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and stealing her cell phone. He later turned himself in and appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of assault, grand larceny and robbery.

Budden has used MDMA or “Molly,” but has been off the drug and has publicly spoken out against its use.

Discography

Studio albums

• 2003: Joe Budden
• 2007: The Growth (unreleased)
• 2008: Mood Muzik 3: The Album
• 2009: Padded Room
• 2013: No Love Lost
• 2015: All Love Lost
• 2016: Rage & The Machine

Collaboration albums

• 2009: Slaughterhouse (with Slaughterhouse)
• 2012: Welcome To: Our House (with Slaughterhouse)

Filmography

Awards and nominations

• Grammy Awards
  • 2004, Best Male Rap Solo Performance: “Pump It Up” (nominated)
• Other awards
  • 2003 Vibe Next Award (winner)
  • United Kingdom, MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award for “Clubbin” with Marques Houston (nominated)
  • United Kingdom, MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award for Best Rap Performance (nominated)
  • 2004 Black Reel Award for Best Song from a Movie for “Pump It Up” in 2 Fast 2 Furious (nominated)