Joe Budden
Joseph Russell
Published Apr 08, 2026
Budden in 2008, photo by Prphotos
Birth name: Joseph Anthony Budden II
Place of Birth: West Side Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: August 31, 1980
Ethnicity: African-American
Joe Budden is an American broadcaster, cultural critic, media personality, and rapper. He is the host of The Joe Budden Podcast and late night talk show State of the Culture, and has hosted Everyday Struggle on Complex.
His family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, when he was thirteen. He has two children, including a son with model and video vixen Cyn Santana.
Joe’s paternal grandparents likely were named Willie Budden, Jr. and Jimmie Mae Johnson. Willie was born in South Carolina.
