When Joe Budden makes it back to his East Coast abode he will do it with great satisfaction of a successful tour for his latest effort, Rage & the Machine. Pulling into Chicago for the last show, the New Jersey native was set to play at The Promontory, an intimate venue prime for Joe to have a connection with his fans.

“The music is so direct and intimate it often times feel like a one on one conversation. Those intimate shows are real special,” Budden shared prior to his performance. “My show in St. Louis last night wasn’t so packed. St. Louis is not an A-market for me but it was one of the better shows of the tour and they got one of the better shows of the tour because it was so intimate and so small. We just did everything. I did shit the other shows would have loved for me to but the intimate shows have a special feel to them.”

For Joe his stops across the country aren’t just a stage encounter, a meet and greet with his faithful fans before the venue opens runs long, but making sure he connects with each on matters.  Press requests, like this one, also occur, but cool, calm and attentive he works through each question sharing his true thoughts and light hearted moments of banter like properly wearing a White Sox hat on Chicago’s Southside. Appearing comfortable as “Uncle Joe,” he maneuvers through the evening with his team and his companion for the evening, a tall Red Bull.

“I’m enjoying it from a very ‘Uncle Joe’ type of perspective. I’m talking to my kid about hip-hop. I’m watching hip-hop; watching the young kids doing it. I’m just having fun,” he stated. “It’s a very different space than where I was last year when I was really uninspired. It’s so much to say and do and take advantage of so I’m going to do that.”

The sharpest craft for Joe Budden will always be his effort on the mic. Taking the stage for the evening you can see the increased energy level from Meet and Great Joe Budden to his stage persona, which at one point was supposed to be in artist all together, Rage.

Whether a day one or make this your first show with Budden, the connection was present as he progressed through his set.

Fans of Rage & the Machine received live versions of many of the tracks: “By Law,” “Flex,” “I Wanna Know” and “Wrong One.” But Joe made sure to please the diversity in years invested in his career dipping into his stash of tracks from previous efforts like No Love Lost.

What’s received from Joe on this tour is unique. With Chicago being his last show, you don’t receive a “finally” feeling, instead it’s the complete opposite. From initial arrival to the conclusion of the night and tour, the energy offered resembled that of someone who just hit the road for show one. An energy that was returned to him as well.

“I remember last year doing a run similar to this during All Love Lost but I wasn’t really feeling the way that the music screamed. So when it was time to perform those songs I didn’t really enjoy that set because that wasn’t my mood or my vibe. It didn’t currently depict me properly. It’s very different with this album. It’s a very good time up there. Even my friends who have seen me perform for the however last many years see me this time and tell me that I am up there and really looking like I have fun. It is fun. I’m blessed.”

What’s next for Joe Budden? A lot, but for the next couple days enjoying his home and the holidays.

Joe Budden on the Rage & the Machine Tour in Chicago, IL
Photo Via @tha_reagan_era