This year, Busta Rhymes announced his new album, Blockbusta, in a dramatic Zoom call with executive producers Timbaland, Pharrell, and Swizz Beatz in attendance. The promise that these three production giants, who have all helped craft some of his most iconic songs, gave some hope that even in his 50s, Busta could deliver an album that respected his legacy and let his eccentric nature pour out, but didn’t sound dated or behind the times.
However, it was not to be. While all three legends have production credits, their influence is hardly felt on the album. Instead, the bloated 19-track affair features a smattering of contemporary sounds and styles that swallow Busta’s larger-than-life personality, never quite geling into a cohesive whole.
For an artist whose legacy is firmly established, Busta seems unusually preoccupied with his place in Hip Hop on his 10th studio album. The Brooklyn-bred emcee sets the tone on the opening track, “THE STATEMENT,” delivering a breathless two-minute-long verse over a murky beat produced by Angel López & Timbaland. Busta is on a mission to cement and advance his imprint on the game: “There’s no one that’s greater than me/Thirty years later fuck shit up like we still in basements/We want all you haters to see.”
Blockbusta doesn’t offer much more in the way of examining or furthering that legacy. Rather, Busta seems content to stuff the album with features from younger stars and relative unknowns across genres as proof of his continued relevance. The sheer number of featured artists and their hefty workload simply overshadow Busta’s impressive energy and presence.
Quavo, Young Thug, Blxst, Giggs, and Morray all handle hook duty and contribute opening verses to their featuring tracks – “COULD IT BE YOU” and “LEGEND” especially render Busta to supporting cast status rather than leading man. The Kodak Black-featuring “HOMAGE” is especially egregious, as Busta lavishes praise on the controversial Floridian: “I done seen you go to jail, come home, get shot, calm down and now I like the way you’re movin.”
Assembling this much talent on a project is sure to result in some success, and sure enough, a few features shine. Ghanaian singer Blackway compliments Busta’s famed Jamaican patois on the Swizz Beatz-produced “THE RETURN OF MANSA MUSA,” a mid-album highlight that expands the familiar “Ma-ma se, ma-ma sa, ma-ma coo-sa” sample from Manu Dibango’s 1972 track “Soul Makossa” into a high-octane tribal groove. And Coi Leray injects a bubbly energy into the otherwise limp “Ain’t No N*gga” rip-off and second single, “LUXURY LIFE.”
The album is littered with familiar sounds, as Busta employs the increasingly derided production practice of repurposing well-known hits. OzMoses Arketex samples Miguel’s smoky “All I Want Is You” on the Blxst-dominated “COULD IT BE YOU,” while Schife borrows Bun B’s southern classic “Get Throwed” on the dated-sounding “BIG EVERYTHING.” Even more shameless rips can be found on the aforementioned “LUXURY LIFE” (Jay-Z’s “Ain’t No N*gga”) and “STAND UP” (Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”).
The choice to flood Blockbusta with chart-chasing features and half-baked beats is an odd one, considering that Busta has typically forged his own path throughout his 30-year career. From off-beat guest appearances as part of Leaders of the New School to his early run of albums that blended classic Hip Hop sounds with an apocalyptic doom, Busta’s style is all his own. At times he’s shamelessly dabbled in contemporary sounds, but his best work always did so in service of his unmistakable eccentricity, not as a way to chase relevance. Blockbusta takes the opposite tact.
Although rare, there are moments that harken back to Busta’s inimitable energy and elastic flow. The solo tracks “HOLD UP” and “SLIDE” are among the album’s best, demonstrating the 51-year-old’s enduring ability to electrify unorthodox production. “SLIDE” is a particularly illustrative example – Busta rides DJ Tedsmooth’s unexpected jazz piano riff with addictive ease.
Busta has little to prove in 2023. As he reminds us on the closing track, “IF YOU DON’T KNOW NOW YOU KNOW PT. 2,” he recently performed at Carnegie Hall and toured alongside fellow New York legends, Wu-Tang Clan and Nas. He’s a 12-time Grammy nominee, has a clutch of hit singles and albums under his belt, and his music videos continue to inspire.
Still, Busta feels he has to keep up with the trends. Aside from a few moments where his trademark live-wire energy shines through, Blockbusta tries too hard to capture the charts and new fans alike, relegating its headliner’s usually dominant personality to second fiddle.
Nah, not feeling this one.
I saw the tracklist with the features and already knew It wasn’t going to be good. Looks like the features you’d see on a DaBaby album 😂 Busta with all these young rappers is just a weird look. There isn’t a single feature with rappers he grew in the game killing it with. Just a weak cash grab. Would’ve been better off not releasing this one.
This review is spot on but the 3 rating doesn’t make sense. This project is a 1 out of 5. Feel like that 3 was forced by upper management 🤣.
I agree with the review but I swear this site has no consistent standard. I’ve seen them call other albums dated and bash them for NOT keeping up with modern trends.
Yes, but there’s a happy medium. Busta leaned so far over on this one that he fell off his thrown. Gonna have to do some more recalibration with his next one like he did for ELE2
No Larry June album review?
Next week, We had to prioritize Busta and Andre 3000
Just like pinkpanteress was prioritized over a Jeezy album? 😂 That explanation makes no sense. I’m surprised you guys didn’t rate this album a 4.2.
Well the Jeezy album review was delayed because of personal matters from the editorial team, but go off king
Larry June tomorrow
Wack.
Why is it that I can’t wait for a Busta album then I play it once and never again🤔. Carry on!!!
Well written review. This was garbage and a huge let down after ELE2 delivered on all levels. So many familiar samples and forced collabs. Busta looks crazy rocking with these young cats. Some of the worst Pharrell beats I heard in a long time too.
I respect an artist being true to their art. This album ain’t for me but I respect it. He went too contemporary for this one. I think he was trying to create something different that may appeal to a younger audience. His collection of executive producers lean more into pop culture with their sound than the classic boom bap Busta that we love most.
Tings, Hold Up, Slide are easily in my top songs of 2023. These cuts the proof that Busta Rhymes holds the power to make bangers of gargantuan proportions. That is why I hate this album with a passion, not because of what it is, but because of what it could be. But it is what it is. Still a dope ep. Beach Ball and that Get Throwed remake I kind of like too. Dope beats
Man you gotta be trolling. You know a 20 song album isn’t an EP right?
Tru. I meant I did delete all the other tracks except those I mentioned and the statement intro. So that left me with 6 songs.
I don’t know man, I’ve heard alot of shit in my life for sure, and was a heavy heavy cross for me. Sometimes you know it takes a few listens.
Add this to the LIST of wack Busta albums right next to Year of the Dragon and Back on my BS. Only one song I like and its not even that good, TINGS.
His worst album…
This is busta wackest album of all time
Please leave the game on a good note. Not on this ra ra shit you have been putting out. 1 out of 5 maximum.
I’m not even gonna check that crap out for free on YT…..
ELE2 he dropped the ball..you wouldn’t even be able to tell ..3 top tier producers even help create this album..those first 3 single he put out were duds an when I seen the tracklist I knew it was gonna be wack..this is vistas worst album of all time next to year of the dragon an back on my B.S…should’ve just left the game on I high not from his last album..that’s was a great way too go..now he’s left having to surpass this garabage..he’s been the only hype on his insta page for this album..between promo,singles just the rollout period is very abysmal.
Trash
I was disappointed with this album. Especially coming off his last album which was a masterpiece. You can tell he didnt spend as much time on this one as he did the last. I love Busta Rhymes but this one didnt hit for me.
Haven’t been this mad listening to an album since Eminem’s Revival. To follow up ELE2 with this is just mind-blowing. It’s one thing to try and stay relevant; It’s another to kick your core audience in the nuts.
Underwhelming album by Busta, this may be his worst album yet…