Escape Route
| Escape Route | ||||
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| Studio album by Joe Budden | ||||
| Released | August 11, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 49:25 | |||
| Label | Amalgam Digital | |||
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| Joe Budden chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| HipHopDX | |
| The Koalition | |
| The Smoking Section | |
Escape Route is a digital album by American hip hop artist Joe Budden. It released in digital format exclusively on Amalgam Digital on August 11, 2009 and physical copies were released on October 6, 2009 through E1 Music. Two bonus tracks were given when the album was purchased online through Amalgam Digital. The record features guest appearances from Slaughterhouse, Young Chris and Wale.
Upon its release, Escape Route failed to make it onto the Billboard 200. With little promotion, it sold 1,700 copies in its first week. The album debuted at #80 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and peaked at #47 on its sixth week. It entered at #22 on the Top Rap Albums chart, as well as entering at #39 on the Top Independent Albums chart.
Escape Route received favorable reviews from music critics. AllMusic's David Jeffries gave the three and a half stars out of five, saying "Budden's years stuck in contract negotiation limbo gave him plenty of time to store up material, but his third release of the year is almost as strong as his first triumphs of 2009. Poll the hip-hop faithful for opinions on Escape Route, and Budden himself would be the only one underselling it as a minor release." Rakeem Johnson of The Koalition gave the album a four out of five, saying "Escape Route stands as yet another stellar release in Joe Budden's ever-growing catalogue of quality (his [fourth] release since 2007's Mood Muzik 3). As fluid as this project is, had the album ended with the intense thrill ride that is "Freight Train," it would easily be a five-star release. The addition of the Young Chris-assisted "Connect 4" as well as the Wale-featured bonus "Tito Santana" slows the album's momentum though [Royce da 5'9"] and Budden's chemistry on "For You" is undeniable. [Escape Route] features the misunderstood mind of Joe Budden at his best: personable and honest, defiant yet focused and hungry as he's ever been. Billed as a mere appetizer before The Great Escape, [Escape Route] has a Mood Muzik-feel, Budden's own "release therapy" session and an apt escape route as Joe Budden maps out his way to daylight and his own salvation."
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Wikipedia