Spring Break
Budden's long awaited 'Padded Room' delivers
4 and a half out of 5 stars
Kevin Duffy
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Focus
Anyone who doesn't like - or at least respect - Joe Budden's latest album, "Padded Room," should be placed in one.
The CD, which consists of 14 tracks, doesn't contain any radio hits. The beats are all relatively simple. There is no "Ballin" or "Lollipop," or any other song that will be bumped at college parties across America.
Lyrically, however, Budden is on his own level. Anyone who's listened to his two recent mixtapes - "Mood Muzik 2" and "Mood Muzik 3" - knows that Budden's flow and clever pop-culture references set him apart from most commerical rappers. Case in point: "I flow sickly / Ridin', bumpin' old Biggie / Roll with me or lose weight Nicole Richie" or "Gotta drop a few branches off my family tree / I raised my sons all wrong, yes I'm Andy Reid" are just two of many memorable lines off his mixtapes.
"Padded Room" features a variety of styles. Most of the songs have a serious undertone and are very personal (unlike parts of the Mood Muzik mixtapes), and then there are a few light-hearted tracks mixed in with one "diss" track. Here are the top five songs and top five individual lines off "Padded Room":
Best Songs
5. The Future (Track 2)
"The Future" contains the album's only true guest appearance, albeit a short one from superstar rapper The Game. Budden's verses - the first and third of the song - are better than Game's, but the collaboration works well. Both rappers have a similar delivery and voice.
4. Don't Make Me (Track 3)
This kind of has a funky, '80s feel to it. The beat is extremely catchy, and as always, Budden is full of creative lyrics and New Jersey swag. One of the best lines in the song: "See my intent is to be content/But that's contingent/On fly hoes, jewels and engines."
3. Happy Holidays (Track 10)
Interesting concept here. The song focuses on how Budden doesn't acknowledge Holidays and how, to him, every day is the same. The beat has bells in the background, which makes for a Christmas-feel. Budden starts out the song by claiming "If they told me tomorrow was my birthday, I would never know / Understand I'm kinda bad with dates/I don't need a party but a n---- need cake/I got too much on my plate to celebrate."
The CD, which consists of 14 tracks, doesn't contain any radio hits. The beats are all relatively simple. There is no "Ballin" or "Lollipop," or any other song that will be bumped at college parties across America.
Lyrically, however, Budden is on his own level. Anyone who's listened to his two recent mixtapes - "Mood Muzik 2" and "Mood Muzik 3" - knows that Budden's flow and clever pop-culture references set him apart from most commerical rappers. Case in point: "I flow sickly / Ridin', bumpin' old Biggie / Roll with me or lose weight Nicole Richie" or "Gotta drop a few branches off my family tree / I raised my sons all wrong, yes I'm Andy Reid" are just two of many memorable lines off his mixtapes.
"Padded Room" features a variety of styles. Most of the songs have a serious undertone and are very personal (unlike parts of the Mood Muzik mixtapes), and then there are a few light-hearted tracks mixed in with one "diss" track. Here are the top five songs and top five individual lines off "Padded Room":
Best Songs
5. The Future (Track 2)
"The Future" contains the album's only true guest appearance, albeit a short one from superstar rapper The Game. Budden's verses - the first and third of the song - are better than Game's, but the collaboration works well. Both rappers have a similar delivery and voice.
4. Don't Make Me (Track 3)
This kind of has a funky, '80s feel to it. The beat is extremely catchy, and as always, Budden is full of creative lyrics and New Jersey swag. One of the best lines in the song: "See my intent is to be content/But that's contingent/On fly hoes, jewels and engines."
3. Happy Holidays (Track 10)
Interesting concept here. The song focuses on how Budden doesn't acknowledge Holidays and how, to him, every day is the same. The beat has bells in the background, which makes for a Christmas-feel. Budden starts out the song by claiming "If they told me tomorrow was my birthday, I would never know / Understand I'm kinda bad with dates/I don't need a party but a n---- need cake/I got too much on my plate to celebrate."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Thomas
posted 2/26/09 @ 4:48 PM EST
i like this review a lot. I just think there are much better songs on Padded Room that u didnt list.. like.. "Angel in My Life" and "Do Tell"
David Berov
posted 2/26/09 @ 5:09 PM EST
First of all good job on the review but I totally disagree with you as far are best songs. Exxxes is by far the best song on the album, you need to understand the real concept behind the song, he isn't talking about a girl. (Continued…)
Troublesome
posted 2/26/09 @ 6:42 PM EST
GO COP A CLASSIC ALBUM PEOPLE... SUPPORT REAL HIP HOP
INTERNET SOLDIERSSSSSSSSSSSSS
STAND UP!!!!!
Lo-Doe
posted 3/01/09 @ 2:27 PM EST
This album is niiice. I agree with Dave Berov on the best songs including "I Couldn't Help It", which production is a lot like like Prodigy's "Diamond" (H. (Continued…)
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