Joe Budden

Joseph Anthony Budden II was born on August 31, 1980, in East Harlem, New York City. At the age of thirteen, he moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, and attended Lincoln High School. During his youth, Budden faced challenges, including a period of drug use. He attended Laurinburg Institute, a boarding school in North Carolina, where he began to develop his rapping abilities. By age 20, he had fathered a child and subsequently focused more seriously on his music career.

Budden gained early career traction in 2001 by releasing mixtapes and demos. One of these reached DJ Clue, leading to a major deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2002. His 2003 single “Pump It Up” became a commercial success, charting on the Billboard Hot 100, and was featured in popular films and video games. His eponymous debut album, “Joe Budden” (2003), achieved critical and commercial success, peaking in the top ten of the Billboard 200. Following his departure from Def Jam, he released several independent albums, including the critically acclaimed “Mood Muzik” series. From 2008 to 2012, he was also a member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, releasing two studio albums with them after signing with Eminem’s Shady Records.

In 2015, Budden began his broadcasting career with “The Joe Budden Podcast,” which he transitioned to full-time after retiring from recording in 2018. He co-hosted “Everyday Struggle” for Complex from 2017 to 2017 and “State of the Culture” for Revolt from 2018 to 2020. His outspoken commentary has earned him recognition as a significant voice in hip-hop media. In 2021, he partnered with Patreon as a Creator Equity Advisor, further expanding his influence in the digital content space.