Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang

The New and Improved

Gone is the Busta Rhymes you knew. Gone is the WOOHA! Gone is the animated, bug-eyed, crazy color-wearing MC from the late ‘90s. Gone are the dreads. Gone. What stands in his place is a close cropped, introspective musician that has switched up his style. One step closer to bringing New York back (where many believe rap belongs). One step closer to bringing rap back. He’s with a new label and equipped with better production. An older, wiser Busta Rhymes strives for a new beginning with the aptly titled LP, The Big Bang.

The highly respected Dr. Dre starts off the album with a highly lackluster intro entitled Get You Some. Dre holds up his end of the bargain but Busta proves himself to be a slow starter. New York Shit shines as the brightest star on the first half of the album. Swizz and Busta try single handedly to resurrect New York with this single and it probably could work except for the fact that hip hop is anchored so deeply in the south right now. The smooth baseline and lethargic melody coupled with the inflection that is Busta Rhymes creates the perfect anthem. The Big Bang gets some help from the unexpected feature of Rick James on In the Ghetto. This track resembles the musical complexity of Andre 3000 matched with the simplicity of a trumpet laced beat provided by DJ Green Lantern. Not to mention this is one of Busta Rhymes strongest cuts lyrically. Armed with Q-Tip and J-Dilla, Busta Rhymes spits on a throwback to the early ‘90s and bashes the state of the game today in You Can’t Hold a Candle.

Busta Rhymes sounds determined not to turn into the “fall offs” that he discusses on the last track of the album. This is an extremely solid project laced with features but devoid of the feel of a compilation. This is purely Busta and we hear that from the first second of sound. He’s older, but not the Busta of old. The production has been thoroughly upgraded and he relies more on substance than shock value and crazy visuals. This album, not quite a masterpiece, is by far one of his best.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 matches

Hot Trax: Touch It, Cocaina, Goldmine, In the Ghetto