DISSNATION
Verified archive entry

Talk 2 ’Em

By Joe Budden · Targeting Jay-Z

Talk 2 ’Em is a diss track by Joe Budden targeting Jay-Z. Joe Budden's criticism of Jay-Z combines their earlier competitive ‘Pump It Up’ history with anger about Jay-Z's tenure as Def Jam president while Budden's album remained shelved. The attack therefore moves between rap skill, executive responsibility and generational relevance.

Released2007
Annotated2
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

  1. 01

    (Yo, Yo)

    02

    How many Mc's must get dissed?

    03

    How niggas still think they can still fuck with the kid? (OOO)

    04

    I guess I moved up in the world, dudes was not happy

  2. 05

    Take it as my success throwing shots at me (Talk 2 Em!)

    06

    Gotta calm the lions, tame shooters

    07

    Gotta catch a new body with the same ruger

    08

    We don't spit the same mucus (Naw!)

  3. 09

    I'm a boss and you not, shit they even tried to kill Frank Lucas (Talk 2 Em!)

    Multi-line diss block
    10

    So nigga if I die tomorrow, you ain't gotta ask why tomorrow

    11

    Dog I done con the likes of niggas

    12

    You should neva' con with

    Block notePortrays the target as controlled by others

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “I'm a boss and you not, shit they even tried to kill Frank Lucas (Talk 2 Em!),” Joe Budden depicts Jay-Z as dependent on a label, executive, crew leader, or gatekeeper rather than acting independently. Why it was said: Joe Budden's criticism of Jay-Z combines their earlier competitive ‘Pump It Up’ history with anger about Jay-Z's tenure as Def Jam president while Budden's album remained shelved. The attack therefore moves between rap skill, executive responsibility and generational relevance. The accusation attacks autonomy by suggesting that Jay-Z's career choices and even the feud itself are being directed by somebody with greater power.

    ContextJoe Budden's criticism of Jay-Z combines their earlier competitive ‘Pump It Up’ history with anger about Jay-Z's tenure as Def Jam president while Budden's album remained shelved. The attack therefore moves between rap skill, executive responsibility and generational relevance.

  4. 13

    Made bonds with niggas you shouldn't bond with (Talk 2 Em!)

    14

    Im sick, world in my palm shit re-peated convict

    15

    While the dogs trying to con Vick, shit

    16

    I guess what im tryin say, is niggas die running like Ryan Shay (Talk 2 Em!)

  5. 17

    All the Lean Me niggas, got high hopes call them Dream Team niggas

    18

    Shit is in my blood its a keen gene nigga

    19

    I make you appear to be whatever I feel like Green Screen niggas (Talk 2 Em!)

    20

    So go and get suped off words, maybe do it for Jerz

  6. 21

    Maybe dudes disturbed (Talk 2 Em!), maybe dudes loco, maybe dudes bezerked

    22

    So when I pull up in a tank, maybe you deserve (Me!) (Talk 2 Em!)

    23

    I get into dudes character defects, before your deal you was a character reject

    24

    Humble pie when you see a character regress

  7. 25

    Fuck ya tape homie, I pass it up, eject (Talk 2 Em!)

    26

    Time to separate the real from the lies

    27

    The hills have eyes, but when the hill of ya demise

    28

    I reveal at the skies in a hot Ferrari

  8. 29

    Its a new Joe in town and its not Girardi (Talk 2 Em!)

    30

    Look, turn pink her face getting her Cam on

    31

    In the club man on, freak gettin her jam on

    32

    Plans on trying to put her hands on the ice

  9. 33

    Cause its Saw part 4 dog, big enough to stand on (Talk 2 Em!)

    34

    When did rappers start acting this fly?

    35

    Say you top 5, they'll grab it and ride, but I'm humble

    36

    So even though I Am Legend, I can say Will Smith's the best rapper alive (Talk 2 Em!)

  10. 37

    When they tell you, your doing ya thing

    Multi-line diss block
    38

    They taking your tampon out and pulling the string

    39

    How the fuck you a thug when you stay shook nigga?

    40

    More like a school boy, a Facebook nigga (Talk 2 Em!)

    Block noteMakes the rejection unmistakably direct

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “How the fuck you a thug when you stay shook nigga?,” Joe Budden drops any pretense of a subliminal and rejects Jay-Z in blunt, unqualified language. Why it was said: Joe Budden's criticism of Jay-Z combines their earlier competitive ‘Pump It Up’ history with anger about Jay-Z's tenure as Def Jam president while Budden's album remained shelved. The attack therefore moves between rap skill, executive responsibility and generational relevance. The direct wording removes plausible deniability: listeners are not left guessing whether Jay-Z is part of the dispute or whether a response is being invited.

    ContextJoe Budden's criticism of Jay-Z combines their earlier competitive ‘Pump It Up’ history with anger about Jay-Z's tenure as Def Jam president while Budden's album remained shelved. The attack therefore moves between rap skill, executive responsibility and generational relevance.

  11. 41

    I'm just starving this can't be greed

    42

    I'm not a drug lord, don't nobody hand me keys

    43

    Gotta drop a few branches off my family tree

    44

    Raised my sons all wrong, yes I'm Andy Reid it's me (Talk 2 Em!)

  12. 45

    I can't put the jewels on without no chrome

    46

    I can't rock these Ice Cream's without the Cold Stone's

    47

    I'm so focused, get on some long nose shit

    48

    And I'll have the goons surround you on some Bose shit (Talk 2 Em!)

  13. 49

    The more I get into, streets or instrumentals

    50

    Bum ass niggas remind me of Mr. Wendal

    51

    Me, on the horizon, I've been trying to bring pies in

    52

    More dudes then Verizon behind them (Talk 2 Em!)

  14. 53

    Bunch of generals behind me, I'm the crew chief

    54

    Busting off my Ricky Davis, that's the new Heat

    55

    I've come clean about me and its a damn shame

    56

    Only Religions I'm into is a brand name (Talk 2 Em!)

  15. 57

    Campaign going full throttle like a race

    58

    Feeling Funkdafied get a bottle to the face

    59

    Face, for you times is rough too (WHY?)

    60

    Cause ain't nobody buying ya albums but you (Talk 2 Em!)

  16. 61

    From the sounds of everything I hear you lost it

    62

    Still rap aight, but ya ears exhausted

    63

    Fuck ya bunch of money, put ya ego to the side

    64

    And maybe its time to study ya understudy (Talk 2 Em!)

  17. 65

    I mean, are we hustling or are we grown up?

    66

    Everytime I hear you, you changing ya tone up

    67

    When the new generation think about Jordan

    68

    All they remember is when Iverson crossed him (Talk 2 Em!)

  18. 69

    Take off the blazer, loosen up the tie

    70

    Nigga fell in love and Superman died

    71

    Better learn to cover ya ears when the toys pop

    72

    I hate your last single (pause) Boys Roc

  19. 73

    Can we hear some new niggas with promise?

    74

    The new generation won't forget you we promise

    75

    We'll always pay homage

    76

    But let's get one thing understood son

  20. 77

    Every Encore ain't a good one! (Talk 2 Em!)