In 2003, Joe Budden arrived on the scene as Def Jam's possible next up; unfortunately, and through no fault of his own, Budden's musical career found itself waning from the mainstream eye. Though he became an underground icon in his own right, it seems fitting that he ultimately flirted with a media career at the onset of his musical one. Now, married, successful, and undeniably in a good place, Budden took a moment to reflect on his journey."
"Trust the process," writes Budden, via his Instagram story. "His plan is greater than yours." The caption arrives alongside a recapped story from 2004, as published by "AllHipHop," which details Joe's decision to leave a media position at Hot 97. Around the time he dropped his eponymous debut in 2003, Budden found himself cultivating the formative stages of "media Joe," spending a few months as the co-host of Hot 97's morning show. In 2004, however, Budden decided to call it quits in order to work on his sophomore album, leaving behind what looked to be a promising start in radio.
Now, look at how the story played out. Budden currently stands alongside the most prominent voices in hip-hop media, hosting The Joe Budden Podcast on Spotify and State Of The Culture on Revolt. His stint on Everyday Struggle helped put the show on the map, and once again, a generation of fans have come to appreciate the presence of Joe Budden. Despite the fact that some bust his balls over "Pump It Up," the fact that Joe has continued to remain in the spotlight is an impressive feature, and speaks volumes about his adaptability.
