Verified archive entry

Def Jam Diss

By Joe Budden · Targeting Def Jam Recordings

Def Jam Diss is a diss track by Joe Budden targeting Def Jam Recordings. Joe Budden recorded these complaints while his second album remained delayed at Def Jam. He presents the label and its leadership as profiting from his debut while refusing to release or properly support the follow-up, turning business frustration into a public accusation.

Released2003

Annotated2

ExplicitYes

Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

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[Intro]
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Woah
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Uh, uh, uh
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You're now listening to "The Growth
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Woah
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Uh, uh, uh
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([?])
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Uh, uh, uh
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You're now listening to "The Growth
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Oh
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[Verse]
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"Pump It Up" came out, was a hit all over the country
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And so I figured all over they'd want me, yeah
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The buzz was there, and the feelin' was timely
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And Kev said that he would put the whole building behind me, yeah
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The whole office daps me freely
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And Mr. Cohen always seems so happy to see me
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I'm treated like a new man, I musta got a facelift
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This is what I dreamed of; welcome to the matrix
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BET rated me "Next" we coming up Jersey
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Air time, MTV Buzzworthy
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If that ain't make things final
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The song played all throughout the World Series and the NBA Finals
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Wrap up ya album Joey; it's goin' out now
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Only problem is, my voice is goin' out now
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Doc said I need a surgery to fix it
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And if something goes wrong it could be permanently TWIST-TED!
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Now thats something I can't afford
Multi-line diss block
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So steroid shots in my ass just so I could record
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The more I talk, its ruining my cords, and on top of it all
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Now Def Jam wants ya boy on tour
Block noteContests who deserves the top position
TargetDef Jam Recordings
MeaningWhat it means: In “The more I talk, its ruining my cords, and on top of it all,” Joe Budden turns rank, legacy, or leadership into the issue and argues that Def Jam Recordings' claim to the position is undeserved. Why it was said: Joe Budden recorded these complaints while his second album remained delayed at Def Jam. He presents the label and its leadership as profiting from his debut while refusing to release or properly support the follow-up, turning business frustration into a public accusation. The line identifies the prize behind the feud—control of reputation—and asks whose record supports the title rather than whose claim went unchallenged.
ContextJoe Budden recorded these complaints while his second album remained delayed at Def Jam. He presents the label and its leadership as profiting from his debut while refusing to release or properly support the follow-up, turning business frustration into a public accusation.
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"This is important; you can't back out
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It's good exposure, and 112's coming back out"
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I'm on their second single, and they're on mine
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I'm 'bout to shine June 10th yup it's time BUT WAIT!
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Something must be wrong with the SoundScan
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That's when it all started to go down, man
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Am I wrong, or what here?
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2 Fast Soundtrack did great, and my song was on there
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And things the way it seems
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The Wow Vol. 7 commercial
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Pumping It Up with my face on screen
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Had to change my second single 'cause there's two 112's/Joe Budden's
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But theirs turned into 112/Luda
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Lil Jon called me for the "Get Low" Remix
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But Lyor was goin' through some TVT shit (Get low)
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Then they went and kept Joe off of the "Roc The Mic" tour
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Somebody probably thought Joey would rock the mic more
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Left the country, did a single with J-Lo
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But with my luck, I knew Columbia would say, "No"
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Radio hates "Fire," nah, they won't try it
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But they love that Rah Digga song that sounds just like it
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Wanna keep me under, dawg, I'm the underdog
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And they don't want y'all to see up under the fog, so y'all
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Tell every man in the hood
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Gold album one single, I'd say I'm doin' hella damn good
Multi-line diss block
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Listen here, Def Jam, are you deaf, man?
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Politics aside, please don't interject, fam (No)
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Listen to my shit now; listen to the rest damn
Block noteUses career results as evidence
TargetDef Jam Recordings
MeaningWhat it means: In “Gold album one single, I'd say I'm doin' hella damn good,” Joe Budden turns releases, sales, label standing, or career momentum into a public measurement of Def Jam Recordings' position. Why it was said: Joe Budden recorded these complaints while his second album remained delayed at Def Jam. He presents the label and its leadership as profiting from his debut while refusing to release or properly support the follow-up, turning business frustration into a public accusation. The artist invokes an external scoreboard so listeners can compare Def Jam Recordings' claims with visible results, making status something that can be disproved rather than merely debated.
ContextJoe Budden recorded these complaints while his second album remained delayed at Def Jam. He presents the label and its leadership as profiting from his debut while refusing to release or properly support the follow-up, turning business frustration into a public accusation.
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I'm Taye Diggs, The Best Man, that's without a "Yes Man"
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Three hundred thou' budget, I object, fam
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Did that the last time, and I still repped damn
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M.H. - thank you; Pharrell - thank you
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Jim Jones - thank you; Lil Mo' - thank you
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Sad part now is when I walk by
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And I see Mr. Cohen he can't even say "Hi"
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But I'm a new man, I feel like I got a facelift
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This is what I dreamed of time to tackle the matrix