Sources at Def Jam have confirmed to various hip hop news outlets that rapper Joe Budden has been released from the label. Budden, whose 2003 debut sold over 500,000 copies, has gone four years without a major label release, and has seen his slated sophomore project The Growth experience countless setbacks and delays. Obviously, nobody likes being released from a record label, but you have to imagine that given Budden'''s work ethic during his major label silence (countless mixtape appearances and a critically acclaimed Mood Musik mixtape series have garnered him significant underground buzz), the freedom to look elsewhere for greener, more appreciative pastures is welcome. Truthfully, given their utter neglect of his career, we'''re pretty sure Def Jam only just now released him because they'''d forgotten he was still signed.