LL Cool J Presents Joe Budden With Gold Plaque For “Pump It Up”

Joe Budden has enjoyed great success as a podcaster over the last few years, but he recently secured a major achievement in music. LL Cool J presented the retired rapper with a Gold plaque for his hit “Pump It Up” this past weekend.

The Queens rapper was a guest on The Joe Budden Podcast and decided to make his visit memorable by delivering a gift to the polarizing media personality. Budden opened up a cardboard box while his co-hosts looked on, and discovered that it was a Gold plaque intended for him. His crew gave him a round of applause and took photos of the heartwarming moment.

Naturally, his co-hosts also made jokes and asked him to start dancing. “Y’all playin’, that took a long time,” Joe said. “That was great. That’s nice, I will take it. Humbling moment.” His co-hosts clapped and asked him where he planned to hang up the plaque. “I don’t know,” Budden said. “I got to figure it out.” He thanked LL Cool J for the gift and said he almost shed a “thug tear.”

Joe Budden released “Pump It Up” in 2003 as the lead single from his self-titled debut album. The record peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 US chart and No. 13 in the United Kingdom. It is widely recognized as Budden’s biggest song and breakthrough record. The track appeared in 2 Fast 2 Furious, You Got Served, and Madden NFL 2004.

“Pump It Up” was officially recognized as Gold by the RIAA last August, and the praise was paired with jokes. “Ain’t no way. That song should be diamond by now,” one fan wrote. “Gold in 20 yrs. Music ain’t ya forte big dawg, stick to podcasting,” another user wrote.