Joe Budden’s highly anticipated sophomore album the ‘Padded Room’ has been pushed back until Feb 24th 2009.

However while the album will be released next year, Joe Budden and his label Amalgam Digital   have decided to release “The Halfway House,” a digital-only album featuring 14 brand new songs on October 28th.

Joe Budden said,

“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.”

Budden’s label (Amalgam) said,

“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 28th, 2008 followed by Joe Budden’s “Padded Room”  which will be available in both digital and CD format in stores worldwide February 24th, 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.”