Mood Muzik 4 (Deluxe Edition)

Editors’ Notes Repping for Jersey City, Joe Budden has had an unusual career, marked by giant hit singles (specifically his breakout hit "Pump It Up"), major-label deals achieved and lost (he was originally on Def Jam before going indie), well-publicized mental illness/drug addiction issues, and an unlikely super-group with other once-signed, on-the-cusp-of-superstardom rappers Crooked I, Royce Da 5'9”, and Joell Ortiz. Through it all, he has maintained a fiercely loyal, extremely dedicated cult following who hang on his every verse and continue to buy and/or download anything he releases. Though he's only put out two actual studio solo albums, he's dropped three digital full-lengths, one group project with Slaughterhouse, and now this, the highly anticipated fourth installment in his ongoing Mood Muzik series. The crossover-ready single "Follow My Lead" fuses a melodic sung hook with contemplative rhymes about being over the money/fame/cars/groupies that come with being a celebrity, "Remember the Titans" teams him up with Lloyd Banks, Fabolous, and Royce, while "Sober Up" finds him going off alongside Crooked I over a super slick J. Cardim synth beat.