Joseph Anthony Budden II, professionally known as Joe Budden, is an American rapper, podcaster, media personality and actor. He came to the limelight when his 2003 hit single, Pump It Up, gained massive success as a rap record and a film soundtrack. The New York native has had a bubbly rap career as a solo artist and a band member of the Slaughterhouse rap group. His estimated net worth in 2022 stands at $8 million, mainly from album sales, tours, acting gigs and broadcasting.
Short Bio of Joe Budden
| Name | Joe Budden |
| Real Name | Joseph Anthony Budden II |
| Date of Birth | 31 August 1980 |
| Age | 42 |
| Birthplace | Harlem, New York, |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Profession | Rapper, Actor, Podcaster, Media Personality |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Spouse | Cyn Santana( 2016-2018) |
| Children | 2- Trey Budden and Lexington Budden |
| Height | 78kgs(172 pounds) |
| Weight | 1.83 m( 6 feet) |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Years active | 2001-present |
| Net worth | $8 million |
Early Life
Joe Budden was born in Harlem, New York on August 31, 1980. He is the second child of Joseph Budden and Fay Southerland. His parents had a rocky marriage and when he was thirteen, his mother took him and his older brother and moved to Jersey City, New Jersey.
Though Budden didn’t have an interest in studies, his mother enrolled him in Lincoln High School in New Jersey. His unsettled school habits and indulgence in drug abuse in his youth prompted his mother to send him to a private boarding school, Laurinburg Institute. It is in the institute that he discovered his rapping skills and started making records.
His struggle with drugs continued, and this hindered him from completing his diploma. The drug abuse got out of hand and his mother sent him to rehab, something the rapper addresses later in his songs and interviews.
He also got involved with an older woman and together they sired the rapper’s firstborn son, Trey Budden. Having a child on the way motivated the then 20-year-old to take music seriously. He dropped his first mixtape in 2001, and the same year got discovered by Hot 97’s host, DJ Clue.
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Joe Budden Career
Music career
After dipping his feet in the rap industry in 2001, Budden’s rap career took off at a great start. He soon secured a recording deal with Def Jam Records in 2002 and released his first promotion single, Focus. The success of the single was followed by the release of one of his chart-topping singles, Pump It Up, which officially put him in the limelight.
In 2003, Budden released his debut studio album, Joe Budden, which was a success, topping at number 8 on US Billboard 200. The album sold over 400,000 copies in the United States alone and featured artists such as Fabulous, Busta Rhymes, and Paul Cain. Later that year, Budden remixed this album and featured artists like R. Kelly, and released a mixtape dubbed More Street Dreams Part 2: The Mixtape
Between 2003 and 2008, he released two mixtapes Mood Muzik: The Worst of Joe Budden and Mood Muzik: Can it get any worse? He worked on an Album but Def Jam executives couldn’t agree with him on its release hence facing some delays. He dumped Def Jam for Amalgam Digital in 2007 and released Mood Muzik 3: The Album in February 2008.
Between 2008 and 2012, Budden released his third and fourth albums, Halfway House and Padded Room respectively. The two received positive reception, charting in the Billboard 200 and Top Independent Album charts.
In 2009, Budden teamed up with Royce da 5’9, Crooked I and Joell Ortiz to release a joint hip-hop album, Slaughterhouse. In the same year, he released his solo album, Escape Route.
Slaughterhouse, as the rap group was called, released another album, Welcome to Our House, and a mixtape, On the House, in 2012.
He released No Love Lost in 2013, which debuted at number 13 on Billboard 200 and featured artists like Wiz Khalifa and French Montana.
In 2015, he released the seventh album, All Love Lost amid his venture into podcasting.
Budden wrapped up his rap career in 2018 with his eighth album, Rage & The Machine, which debuted at position 42 in the Billboard 200.
Filmography
Budden has positioned himself as an actor, debuting his acting career in VHI’s reality show Love and Hip Hop, Ney York chapter. He has also appeared in other television shows such as Couples Therapy and State of the Culture. The New York native has also done films and documentaries, including Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap, Hip-hop Babylon, and Can’t Forget New Jersey.
Broadcasting
Budden joined broadcasting, making his debut in the Everyday Struggle show on Complex. In December 2017, Complex announced that Budden would not be returning to the show as a host.
Fast forward to 2018, the Love and Hip Hop New York actor partnered with Sean “Diddy” Combs on his Revolt network to create and produce a talk show, State of the Culture.
Budden now hosts a podcast, The Joe Buden Podcast, alongside Rory Farrell and Jamil ‘Mal’ Clay. The podcast started on Spotify and YouTube on a bi-weekly basis. However, in 2020, Budden terminated the contract with Spotify over financial issues. The podcast now runs on YouTube, Apple, and SoundCloud.
Joe Budden Lifestyle
Joe Budden lives large. He is known to hold lavish pool parties and drive luxurious cars. Some of his expensive rides include a $300,000 Maybach, $200,000 Rolls Royce and a $106,950 Mercedes Benz.
The artist is also a proud owner of a $4.15 million mansion in New Jersey.
Budden is also popular for organising pool parties and inviting celebrity friends such as Shawn Marion and Victor Cruz. The rapper was known for his vest signature style and sleeveless jackets but has since upgraded his style to suits and occasional casual wear.
Joe Budden personal life and relationship status
Joe Budden is a father to two boys, Trey Budden and Lexington Budden. The rapper is currently single but has had a string of lovers, the most notable one being model and video vixen Cyn Santana. The two dated from 2016 to 2018 and got engaged briefly in 2018 before calling it quits later.
Budden has had quite a scandalous life, mostly revolving around assault, sexual harassment and dissing fellow rappers. His former podcast co-host DJ Olivia Dope accused him of sexual harassment, and he offered a public apology. His ex-fiance, Santana, also accused him of beating and choking her once after an argument.
Joe Budden height, weight and eye color
Joe Budden has a masculine physique and stands to a height of 1.83 metres( 6 ft). The African American rapper weighs around 78 kgs(172 pounds). Budden has deep-set dark brown eyes that complement his brown skin.
Joe Budden net worth and earnings
According to Forbes, Joe Budden is worth approximately $8 million in 2022. His net worth includes assets like luxurious vehicles, a house and businesses. He accumulated much of his wealth through album sales and tours. The Love and Hip Hop New York reality star also earns through his acting gigs.
The broadcaster’s other source of income is the Joe Budden Podcast that runs bi-weekly episodes on YouTube and other podcast platforms. His YouTube Channel, Joe Budden TV, has 917,000 subscribers and over 360 million cumulative views. The channel earns him between $14,000 and $326,000 yearly.