Album Review: Joe Budden, No Love Lost

Joe Budden

No Love Lost (to be released February 5, 2013)

When you hear the name Joe Budden, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? His 2003 smash “Pump It Up?” His Mood Muzik mixtape series? His Slaughterhouse brethren?

Or do you immediately think of baby mama issues, reality show drama and half naked chicks on Instagram?

It’s pretty tough to separate the man from the madness, and Budden probably likes it that way. No Love Lost is the finale in a series of four concept albums, his redemption following years of confusion and confinement  The major theme is love – love of his craft, his family, and yeah, those Instagram chicks, and the ups and downs of those relationships.

Even Joey’s biggest critics can’t knock the man’s lyricism. He’s easily one of the most underrated spitters in the game today. Listen to him runs laps around your favorite rappers on “Castles,” warning us about the dangers of leeches in the process  – “We were supposed to eat together but I became the main course.” There’s no hook, just Joey baring his soul over soft piano keys.

Budden switches his flow to give a glimpse of the hood on “Ghetto Burbs” and envisions escaping it all on “Runaway”: “Being alone is the only way I know to never be near it all,” he solemnly spits. Joey’s at his best when he gets all moody and introspective on us.

But we all know emo hip-hop doesn’t move units, stripper anthems and guest spots do that. Unfortunately, and probably not surprisingly, No Love Lost is filled with tons of both, which hurts the experience. First single “She Don’t Put It Down” sounds WAY too similar to DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One,” and it even features Lil Wayne and Tank stepping in for the Drake hook. It’ll likely be Joey’s biggest radio hit since “Pump It Up,” but his flow is dumbed way down. Thankfully the remix, featuring Twista and Fabolous instead of Wayne, steps things up.

Most of the many (many) other features tend to hinder instead of enhance. Kirko Bangz does his lame Drake impression (as usual) on “Top of the World”; Wiz Khalifa mumbles about weed (as usual) while French Montana mumbles about nothing (as usual) on N.B.A. Meanwhile Omarion’s lightweight vocals add nothing to “Switch Positions” and Joey’s verse on “Last Day” gets lost among Lloyd Banks’ solid contribution and Juicy J’s typical one. Joe sounds much more comfortable when joined by Slaughterhouse cohorts Royce da 5’9 (along with Kobe) on “All In My Head” and Joell Ortiz and Crooked I on “Skeletons.”

At 17 tracks, No Love Lost really could use some trimming. But even thought there’s lots of fat, Joey still pulls you back with punchlines that cut to the marrow, like this one from “My Time”: “Higher than Whitney, headed to the top again/everything I write crack like it’s with a Bobby pin.”

The song that best encapsulates No Love Lost, and Joe Budden as well, is “You And I,” where he tries to shake off his rocky past relationships for a chance at redemption with a new love: “She been through so much so she carry on/so if she comes with baggage it’s a carry-on.”

Like that lovely woman with baggage, No Love Lost is everything that’s good and bad about Joey. The flaws cast a pretty big shadow but the potential for greatness shines a bit brighter.

Best tracks: “Castles,” “You and I,” “She Don’t Put It Down (Remix)”

3.5 stars out of 5