Busta Rhymes is back, and people seem to have forgotten how great this artist is. The rapid rhyme reverend has created some of the greatest collabs of hip-hop through the 90s and 00s, while still maintaining hid towering persona of new hip-hop. Since Extinction Event Level 2: The Wrath of God, fans have been waiting for his collaboration peppered album. Blockbusta is the answer, and it’s not taking no from you.
His history aligns with the history of new hip-hop. With Eric B and Rakim+Public Enemy, he was a part of Leaders of the New School, and signed one of the biggest deals in hip-hop ever known at the time. You forget he holds the throne, and his straight edged sword will do the talking.
Collab slab-following a legend
There is a good chance no rapper has been called upon more to sprinkle fairy dust on tracks like Busta Rhymes has. With the opening single The Statement, he reverberates with that same energy and ferocity the new school of thought had. Just a minimal synth washes in the background, while Busta goes ballistic. He says a lot of the hip-hop of today is trash, and people don’t know themselves well enough to tell others what they think. Quavo is featured in the next song, and Busta Rhymes ensures his style is gauged equally with the rapper of the times. I was wondering why the sound was so ridiculously good. Apart from Busta himself, the record is produced by Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz. Royalty rolls with royalty.
You’ll hear him spit the same quality of rhymes for no matter what style is thrown at him. Look at Beach Ball for example, with BIA. This would be totally down BIA’s runway, this is her style. Yet, when Busta Rhymes arrives, his flow takes off. It is no surprise we should expect this from a veteran. After a point, you feel like you’re shuffling through hip-hop hits, and they just seem to have Busta Rhymes present.
Busta Rhymes creates tidal flow
You’re looking at songs like Luxury Life that will take you back to the 90s. This is A Tribe Called Quest 90s, with the beats and production being tailored to the legends roots. Ridiculous bass line, popping bass and nothing comes out muddy from this water. It is a reminder of what Kanye had said about Timbaland’s production. The moment he touches the beats of a record, it is instantly gold. With Young Thug, you hear a Jack Harlow kind of production, but Cool & Dre pepper and spice it up. Busta Rhymes even busts out his best with the autotune Young Thug is comfortable with. The world is his playing field, and we’re all just observers.
I feel Busta Rhymes is one of those hip-hop artists that was part chameleon. He is part and influential in a movement that is even before Jay-Z, 2pac, B.I.G, Dre or anyone else for that matter. However, his zeal for the genre adapts to all forms, not just feeling like he belongs to the “generation”. This is an admirable trait for a musician, who would typically fall to a style or form. His single with T-Pain & DaBaby especially exemplified this, an honourable musician who just wants to spit rhymes with friends he has made.
Honouring a past to remember
Let’s relook at his rhymes in Genesis, his 2001 album. Though Break Ya Neck is the most famous one, there are gems scattered all over this golden floor. The groove of We Got What You Want, Bounce, Make It Hurt. I mean, it doesn’t stop anywhere, and the way he is playing the game, it doesn’t seem like its stopping any time soon.
His solo single Tings is one of the best on the album, and he holds his own with ease. Starting on the 3 beat like Childish Gambino on This is America, his flow is an idiosyncratic pool of his own thoughts and ideas. There are several reasons people will find to hate this album, the biggest being his contribution and how he is riding on the back of newer artists. Look at it this way, the newer artists get to work with a pioneer of the game. Clout doesn’t get bigger than this.
Homage with Kodak Black might sum up this stellar album best. Echoing the voice of many artists who got to be featured on this album, this stays:
“I don’t owe a bitch shit, went from a YG to an OG,
I gotta pay homage”
Kodak Black
What we have here is to be celebrated. It’s in with the old, and in with the new too. Busta Rhymes has showcased why he will be one of the greatest hip-hop collaborators and a shining beam of the East Coast movement. Status makes things relevant again. He’s always had status. Listen to his album here and let us know what you think!:
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Self professed metalhead, moderately well read. If the music has soul, it's whole to me. The fact that my bio could have ended on a rhyme and doesn't should tell you a lot about my personality.
