JOE BUDDEN SOPHOMORE LP, PADDED ROOM, PUSHED BACK UNTIL 2-24-09, AMALGAM DIGITAL AND JOE BUDDEN TO RELEASE ALL NEW DIGITAL ONLY ALBUM, THE HALFWAY HOUSE IN ITS PLACE

Due to complications with the physical product, “Padded Room,” Joe Budden’s highly anticipated sophomore album through industry innovators Amalgam Digital, has been pushed back from October 28^th 2008 to February 24^th 2009.

Always loyal to fans, Joe Budden and Amalgam Digital have decided to release “The Halfway House,” a digital-only album featuring 14 brand new songs on October 28^th as an intermediary album in place of “Padded Room”. Amalgam and Budden are setting a new precedent with this album, as it will be the first digital-only hip-hop release employing both traditional marketing methods (commercial radio, video, advertising campaigns, etc.) and new media viral marketing initiatives. The album will be released exclusively in digital format on AmalgamDigital.com, iTunes, and other key digital retailers.

“Though I’m not happy about it being pushed so far back, I do understand the method behind the madness. We’ve got an album I’m extremely proud of and a lead single that Amalgam Digital and I are both very happy with, but for those of you who are just as anxious as I am, I apologize,” said Joe Budden.

Amalgam Digital released the following statement: “There is a popular misconception that Amalgam Digital is strictly an internet label. Although the label places a strong focus on new media marketing initiatives, promotions, and distributing digital releases, the company is actually still releasing physical CD’s as well. While Amalgam has a unique and progressive strategy, the company still faces the same issues and delays every major label encounters when dealing with physical product. Despite the climate at retail and 4th quarter delays that prevent “Padded Room” from being released in October 2008, we stand behind Joe Budden and believe he should have the opportunity to release music to his fans. Together our proactive strategy will include releasing a digital only album from Joe Budden entitled “The Halfway House” that will be available exclusively in the digital format on October 28^th, 2008 followed by Joe Budden’s “Padded Room” which will be available in both digital and CD format in stores worldwide February 24^th, 2009. The artist’s profit margin will be substantially higher on the digital release and so we urge Joe Budden fans to show support by purchasing the digital album, “The Halfway House,” direct from the website.”

Joe Budden “Blood On the Wall (Prodigy Diss)”

New Jersey rapper Joe Budden goes at Prodigy (of Mobb Deep) pretty hard on this one. Luckily, there’s no way this beef is gonna sill into the streets since Prodigy is locked up. Joe Budden’s album, Padded Room, is scheduled to drop this fall on Amalgam Entertainment.

Peace