Joe Budden ‘Padded Room’ Album Playback

Wednesday 11th February 2009

On Wednesday February 11th hip-hop lyricist Joe Budden’s album playback was held for his second-coming official record, entitled ‘Padded Room’. With already much anticipation for the delayed album, which was originally due to be released last October but was held back by Amalgam Digital due to “complications with the physical product”, industry-heads seemed eager to hear how Jersey Joe’s next instalment would compare to his critically acclaimed line-up to date.

Held in the basement of trendy bar Market Place in Central London the event, which was organised by RGS Entertainment and sponsored by Hip Hop Connection, drew a surprisingly mere handful of industry specialists, with Jump Off TV’s Ara, MTV Japan’s ex-VJ Ia, and Face4Music’s Charmaine Hayden present among the very few guests.

In a more networking-soiree fashion than an album-listening event, the afternoon progressed with guests milling about the room, sporadically perching at each table to chat and exchange business cards with fellow hip-hop experts, all the while with Budden’s vocals playing in the background.

However, amongst the schmoozing and chitchat, what could be heard of ‘Padded Room’ seems like a natural progression for the Harlem wordsmith, who used various unknown up-and-coming producers to make the record. The sophomore’s debut single ‘The Future’ featuring The Game, and ‘Now I Lay’ are two of the few up-tempo beats that grace the 13-track record. Powerful lyricism can be heard in songs such as ‘Exxxes’ and ‘In My Sleep’, two of Budden’s personal favourites, and are heavily contrasted by grittier beats like ‘Blood On The Wall’. All in all, amid his increased street notoriety over the past 5 years with underground releases due to continuing setbacks, this latest album has enough commercialism and edge to welcome him back into the world of the mainstream.

‘Padded Room’ is set to be released in stores on February 23rd.

PUBLISHED IN ORIGINS MEDIA