Joe Budden-No Love Lost

Joe Budden-No Love Lost-E1/Mood Muzik-(2013)

Artist: Joe Budden

Album: No Love Lost

Label: E1/Mood Muzik Entertainment

Producers: T-Minus, Boi-1da, Cardiak, A6, Frequency, others

The name Joe Budden rings a bell; he’s no new jack to the game. He has been in the game for the longest and his name is more relevant since he stepped up his game time after time as an artist. From the two previous albums to the Mood Muzik mixtapes including the recent A Loose Quarter mixtape, Joe Budden comes with vengeance as he puts out the anticipated album No Love Lost.

            Joe Budden picked the right guest appearances and producers that fits his style which was somewhat absent on his past albums. No Love Lost is like a story with one banging fire track after another. The album starts off with “Top of the World” with a catchy hook as Budden starts off very strong with The first single “She Don’t Put It Down” featuring Lil Wayne and Tank fits well under Toronto’s sharpshooter T-Minus production while the remix featuring Fabolous, Twista and Tank adds the additional flavor. Last Day” featuring Lloyd Banks and Juicy J is a bouncy crossover dark southern beat as Joe, Juicy and Banks come correct. “You and I” featuring Emanny and “Tell him Something” featuring SLV are relationship tracks that males can relate to.

            As stated the guest appearances are on point. “All In My Head” featuring Royce da 5’9 is one of the strongest tracks with the eerie piano beat as both Budden and Royce owned this one without fail. Budden exposed himself with maturity by giving the audience his real identity as he started: Maybe it started with Slaughterhouse, or was it tour life? Maybe it wouldn’t had started at all if I had your life/Maybe it was needed or was I thinking immorally? If I wasn’t myself could I say I gave the fans all of me?

            His solo joints are definitely on point as well. Tracks like “Castles”, “Runaway” and “My Time” expresses his come up and exposes the revelations that he went through. The only slight disappointed songs are “Switch Positions” featuring Omarion which is a lukewarm track that doesn’t get off the audience seats and “NBA(Never Broke Again)” featuring Wiz Khalifa and French Montana feels forced and quickly put together; another album filler with a monotonous beat.

            No Love Lost is a well-rounded packaged album in succinctly describes Joe Budden’s maturity balancing with well-versed different subject matter which is missing in most hip hop albums. The strong points are the maturity based relatable tracks with a few pop mainstream catering tracks. The slight problems of the album are way too many guest appearances and a few forgettable beat wise tracks but it’s not too much of a hindrance. Budden has talent and literally graduated and showed how to become from a rapper to an artist and ultimately a songwriter. This album is definitely a listenable album.

            Strong Tracks: “She Don’t Put It Down”, “Last Day”, “NBA”, “You and I”, “All In My Head”

            Weak Tracks:  “Switch Positions”, “N.B.A.(Never Broke Again)

            Rating:out of