Spotty Production
Perhaps it's the mere causality of high expectations that is to blame for the fact that Padded Room, an album, often sounds as if it might as well be a mixtape - another in his series; but that's only because he has set such a high bar thus far. For starters, the album's production, though noteworthy in spurts, is for the most part handled by a who's who of unknowns. Surely Joe Budden wasn't expected to recruit the same high-earners from his major label debut (Just Blaze, White Boy); but even Mood Muzik Volume 2 scored some help from the likes of Scott Storch, Scram Jones and Ron Browz, to name a few.
On Padded Room, producer Blastah Beatz offers a fair share of hit-or-miss selections -- the latter, mostly whilst Fyu-Chur's attempt at a club banger ("The Future") comes across as an irritating attempt to emulate Polow da Don's "Hero" (by Nas). On the upside, MoSS' ghoulish contribution on the threatening "Blood On the Wall", along with "Exxxes" by The Klasix -- another hit-or-miss beatsmith -- provide appropriate backdrops for Budden's lyrical and emotional presence.
Track Selection
Hyped as a so-called concept album, Budden's long-awaited LP only sounds like the psychoanalytical journey it claims to be for a little over half of its duration. Padded Room's perceived objective - unlocking the mind of hip hop's troubled genius - is often halted by too many rhythmic inconsistencies and filler tracks. Just as the album feels as if it's hitting its stride, along come tracks like the aforementioned "The Future", the '80's rock-influenced "Don't Make Me", unexpected metal foray in "Adrenaline", and the notably out-of-place "Happy Holidays", to shake up Budden's introspective vibe. It's no question that Budden excels in the lyrical department, but a sense of thematic cohesion would have served him much better.No Room for Gimmicks
Overall, Padded Room's best moments take flight when Budden is at his most cerebral. His self-inspection is brutally honest, but most importantly, it's made public, allowing us to pick his brain alongside with him. Though he's known for his clever punch lines, only a handful of Budden's individual bars are particularly quotable. Instead, his lyricism and anxious cadence flow smoothly into tales of their own. On "In My Sleep", for instance, Budden plunges into a realm of recurring nightmares and psychological agony, before attempting to seek his own solace: "Had a convo with a man with no ears/ And all of a sudden, everything became so clear/".
Divulging his suicidal tendencies ("Angel In My Life"), explicit accounts of traumatic relationships ("I Couldn't Help It"; "Exxxes"), and hypothetical disputes with God ("Pray for Me"), all help to unbottle and, alternatively, encapsulate his thoughts in the mental trap(s) he can't escape, best described in "Angel In My Life": "They say the room's padded for my own safety/ But the cushion don't soften s**t/ They lock the door but still, they let my thoughts in it." Throughout this process, Budden proudly wears his tormented heart on the sleeve of his straitjacket.
The Bottom Line
Though Padded Room suffers from structural pitfalls of its own, Budden's openness to describe his personal flaws is a noteworthy rarity in contemporary hip hop; the result is a thought-provoking work of musical expression. For so long, Joe Budden has been deemed the ultimate mixtape rapper, but with Padded Room, perhaps he can begin to commence the discography and career he and his fans have sought after for so long. Independent hip-hop and it's a thing to celebrate. And support.
Street Date: February 24, 2009
