Joe Budden: “I’m Not Concerned About The Love & Hip Hop Joe Budden Fan”

Before Joe Budden became famous for his social media antics and reality TV foolishness, the New Jersey native gained notoriety for fusing emotional depth and razor sharp lyricism. The many layers of relation produced from Budden’s pain and suffering on wax is what core fans have come to appreciate most about the rapper.

Budden’s greatest music is often his darkest and most introspective ballads, be it on his intense bouts of drug abuse or many failed relationships. And while reality television may have skewed the public’s perception of his relationship with model Tahiri Jose, the truth remains that his 10-year history with her is of monumental significance and beyond the public’s understanding.

Post breakup (a very public one at that) and following allegations of the physical assault of one lady friend, Joey returns with Some Love Lost, which debuted today. The writing on the wall in his emotionally-charged, seven-track EP—inevitably pulling from true-to-life experiences—is bound to give fans raw insight into Budden’s current world.

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Hip-Hop Wired: People like to forget that you are this bonafide MC before anything else. Before Twitter, before Love & Hip Hop, before reality TV. Do you care at all about social media and the way it might have skewed people’s perceptions of what you’re really about?

Joe Budden: No. I was taught long ago that those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. My peers know of my talent and level of ability. My label knows, my consumers know. I’m not too concerned about the casual listener or the Love & Hip Hop Joe Budden fan, or the fan of Joe Budden’s Twitter account. Those people don’t really matter, they’re not very high on the scale.

HHW: I actually appreciated your response about getting booed during Total Slaughter, mostly because it piqued my curiosity. You said rappers shouldn’t try to rap over a crowd of booing. What do you have to say to people who feel that was a copout?

Joe Budden: A copout? Sh*t, I out-barred him [laughs]. With two rounds, when there was no booing. I don’t think logic would say that that’s a copout. I am aware that that’s the way I was brought up and taught—you just should never rap over booing. You’ve been paid to do a service; you do the service and get out of there. But in battle rap, apparently, it’s different and you’re just supposed to continue to rap over booing, no matter if the people are listening, whether they hear you and what you’re saying or not. No matter what—you’re just supposed to always keep rapping. So, I mean I understand both sides of the coin, but I’ve been trained a certain way now for 15 plus years [laughs].

HHW: Are you looking forward to the next Total Slaughter? And do you plan on partaking in it again?

Joe Budden: I’m always looking forward to Total Slaughter. I have part ownership in it, so I should be looking forward to it [laughs]. You can never say never, but I honestly don’t see myself being afforded the luxury of time and preparation that you have to endure to be able to do that, anytime soon. I have a lot of projects that I’m working on. This will be a very busy year for me, in studio. And when you’re focusing on battle rap, you’re out of studio. So, I don’t want to be out of studio.

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Photo: Chad Griffith

HHW: Speaking about new projects, let’s get into Some Love Lost. You’ve been releasing music that will not appear on the EP. Are these songs slated to appear on a future album?

Joe Budden: No. These are free giveaways, for the fans. I wanted to leak music, but I didn’t want to give them anything from the project. So, I had some songs that were just around, that I had recorded, that I felt good about. I felt the fans should hear them, so we decided upon releasing those.

HHW: As a rapper, you’ve always been so transparent in your music, that’s what your core fans love most about you. “Ordinary Love Sh*t Part 4” is such great story and feels so true to life. Listeners can’t help but think of Tahiry. Are you two in good standings, today?

Joe Budden: I would hope so [laughs]. Our standing changes by the day. As of today, I would like to think that her and I are just fine, that we’re great.

HHW: In what ways, for better or worse, did that relationship affect your views on future ones?

Joe Budden: That would be hard to quantify. Tahiri and I, we have over 10 years of history. We kind of helped each other grow, we taught each other a lot, we were major parts of each other’s lives. So, forget about my views on future relationships, she has helped me just become a better person in general, and vice a versa.

HHW: That’s rare, man. How will Some Love Lost help lead up to All Love Lost?

Joe Budden: Both projects will be extremely dark, extremely introspective, as you previously noted. Typical Joe Budden—very transparent. It’s very graphic, very detailed. It’s also very lyrical and I’m really anxious for the fans to hear Some Love Lost, actually. I’m very proud of this project.

HHW: We’re certainly looking forward to it […] When you’re not in the studio or on Twitter, what are you up to?

Joe Budden: I’m so washed up man, [laughs]. I don’t do very many things that would interest the younger generation. I cook, I play spades, I clean, I bowl. And all these things are very fun and therapeutic for me. Like, every time I tell somebody I clean, they’re like “damn, don’t you have a maid?” Listen, yes, I have a maid, but I clean any way. Like, I hired my chef so I can learn how to cook, instead of paying someone to cook for me all time. You know what I mean?

HHW: So let’s try something new. When I say a word, you respond with the first thing that comes to mind. Cool?

Joe Budden: Cool.

HHW:Eminem

Joe Budden: Amazing… as hell

HHW:Mood Muzik

Joe Budden: A classic

HHW: Monogamy

Joe Budden: It’s doable

HHW: Slaughterhouse

Joe Budden: Haha… F*ckin’ monsters

HHW: Washed

Joe Budden: Joe

HHW:Sobriety

Joe Budden: A good thing

HHW: Halloween

Joe Budden: Annoying

HHW: Ebola

Joe Budden: Annoying [laughs]

HHW: Jersey

Joe Budden: Home!