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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Mixtape...Great Album, May 26, 2008
The best mixtape of 2008 gets the album treatment. I may not be the most qualified person to speak about the best mixtape of 2008 given the fact I haven't been listening to too many mixtapes this year. But its hard to imagine any mixtape that could match the quality of material that is found in Mood Muzik III.
A warning to the unfamiliar though, this is not what you are used to hearing. MM3 is 78 minutes of lyrical molestation. Joe is an absolute beast on the mic and he is not concerned with song structures, choruses or catering to the clubs, radio or critics, Joe's sole motivation appears to be MC murder. On `All Of Me' Joe goes on a marathon tirade, the track eventually fades out in the middle of his verse at the 8 minute mark (hardly no chorus!).
However Joe is not just a punchline artist, although he shows he is no slouch either as he trades metaphors with Joell Ortiz on `Warfare'. The best material on the this disc though is when he displays his storytelling abilities and there is no better example of this than `Secrets'. On `Secrets' Joe weaves an intricate tale, over the 6 minute, chorus free track, with an amazing attention to detail and off course a twist at the end. Long time fans will know that his repertoire is packed with such songs (there's an idea for a mixtape - Joe Budden's bed time stories...lol).
What sets Joe apart is that he is 100% real and by this I mean he is not concerned with proving how fly, gutter, bossy or hot he is. He is eager to prove his skills on the mic and that's it! He has no insecurities so he doesn't mind letting the world know that he has weaknesses & vulnerabilities. MM3 is full of honest outtakes regarding his baby mama drama, beef within his camp, major label disappointments and the state of hip-hop. And all that is just in the 1st track `Dear Diary'.
Mood Muzik is not just a cool title, it describes the dark, moody content of the album. Although there are a few uplifting moments scattered throughout (e.g. `Star Inside Of Me') the theme is definitely a downer ("life is like a beach chair when you can afford it"- `Long Way To Go').
Musically, Joe takes full advantage of his independent status as the album features numerous, obviously uncleared, samples that ensure a certain overall quality. The group of lesser known producers do a brilliant job given the tools at hand. I shudder to think what might have happened if they were let loose in a major studio.
Finally, Joe pays a heavy price for not conforming to the hip-hop norms, there will be no platinum plaques or endorsement deals following this release but he gets respect for taking a stand for the dying art-form. Call it adult contemporary hip-hop which translates to respect without success (finance if you prefer).
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Mood Muzik 3, April 9, 2009
by Sidik Fofana
In 2003, rap was just hooks and good times to Joe Budden. You could hear it in the Jersey boy's first hit single "Pump It Up." The dance club verve, the blood pressure, the enthusiasm. Half a decade and a major deal later, little Joey has grown wiser. Nowadays for him, rap is not just suttin' to bounce to, it's a serious audio diary.
That's the backdrop to Mood Muzik 3, Joe Budden's introspective third effort. Hooks are no prerequisite. Radio ready cuts ditto. Budden is just concerned with letting his pen talk, stuffing his
bars with searing punchlines and rigid street commentary. Budden is as sharp as ever with tracks like the blaxploitative "Get No Younger" featuring Ezo and "All of Me" which show a maturity that the former Def Jam signee has reached after flushing all that partygoing music out of his system. "All of Me" is a 100 plus bars of uninterrupted soul purging in which Budden elaborates on his unhealthy relationships, the death of his closest cohort, and his former angel dust habit. It's heavy subject matter but holds its listeners all eight minutes of the track.
The album falters, however, from excessive sports references. During the course of the album, Budden alludes to Joe Torre, Bill Belichick, Greg Oden, Robert Horry, Sam Bowie, Michael Vick, and Allen Iverson. The lines are clever but their effect is ephemeral at best. See: "How am I gonna lose with Tom Brady in the pocket," a line whose punch became defunct just this past Superbowl.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Want Some REAL music? Here it is, November 8, 2008
Listen to Hiatus and tell me this guy don't have the skills rappers these days wish they had. Seriously with all this wack stuff from crappy pop rap songs and lil wayne annoying voice on everyone's track it's nice to here some real stuff.
This is what rap was, real music. This man doesn't need millions to keep spitting real stuff. From Party songs to true music, he does it all. Don't sleep on Joe cause he's seriously one of the only ones i can even listen to these days.
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