Born In Spanish Harlem, Joe Budden lived in Queens till he was 11 and from there moved to Jersey City, which he still calls home. . The middle child of 3 boys, Joe heard music in his home, (his dad is a multi instrumentalist), and on the streets. He absorbed the songs of old school legends like Rakim, Kool G Rap. Krs-One, and Queen?s natives Run DMC and LL Cool J and by the time he turned 16 Joe had decided to take his love of hip hop and his burgeoning skills to another level. ?I went on a total rampage in my area. If there was a cipher on the corner, or a show I was there. After a while it became common knowledge in my neighborhood that I was aiight and my confidence grew?. So much so that Joe started hitting local studios and getting on mixtapes, doing it for the love and as means of expression.

Soon low-level industry types started buzzing around, filling his head with American Idol worthy dreams. The prospects of fame excited the 17-year-old but nothing came of any of the promises and so Joe just persevered and honed his craft. In 2001 everything changed as one of Joe?s self produced CDs made its way to Cutmaster Cee, who passed it along to Webb of Desert Storm. Impressed with what he?d heard Webb offered Joe and On Top the financial freedom to stay in the studio and concentrate on making mixtapes. It was only a matter of time before the really big guns caught wind of what Joe was spitting and offered him the chance to shine on his own album.

Ask Joe what he wants people to walk away with after checking out--- and he replies, ?A better feel of me. Not to feel me like I?m an artist but that I?m a regular person. On mixed tapes my moniker was ?Regular Joe? and I want people to know that I?m regular and down to earth and also very serious about what I do. This is the music I?ve been wanting to make all my life.?

--The Official Site