Joseph Anthony Budden II (born August 31, 1980) is a former rapper and media personality from the United States. He rose to prominence as a rapper with his top 40 single “Pump It Up” in 2003, and as a member of the hip-hop ensemble Slaughterhouse. In 2018, he resigned from rap and achieved success as a broadcaster, including a well-publicized stint as a co-host on Complex’s Daily Struggle. He presently broadcasts The Joe Budden Podcast on Patreon and YouTube twice a week, as well as State of the Culture on Revolt. He has been hailed as “the Howard Stern of hip-hop”.
Budden released “Pump It Up” as the lead single from his upcoming album on May 8, 2003. The song was a commercial success, peaking at No. 16 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list and No. 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. The song peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 10 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, and No. 39 on the Radio Songs list in the United States. The song was also included on the soundtracks of successful movies such as 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and You Got Served (2004), as well as video games such as Madden NFL 2004, Def Jam Vendetta, and Def Jam Fight for NY, in which Budden appeared as a playable character. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards.
Joe Budden, his self-titled debut studio album, was released on June 10, 2003. It debuted at No. 8 on the US Billboard 200, selling 95,000 units in its first week and eventually selling over 420,000 copies in the US. Its second song, “Fire (Yes, Yes Y’all),” with guest vocals by American rapper Busta Rhymes, reached No. 18 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and No. 48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list. Budden collaborated with Paul Cain and Fabolous on a remix that appeared on the latter’s mixtape, More Street Dreams, Pt. The Mixtape is number two.