Album Review: Busta Rhymes, Back on My B.S.

05.16.09

Coming off of the most complete album of his career in 2006, Busta Rhymes has experienced plenty of label fuckery: Back on My B.S. has gone through 2 years worth of pushbacks, 2 different label deals, 3 different “lead” singles, and several name changes. Regardless of all of this, Busta has remained optimistic, and has consistantly been releasing new music to the internet as possible tastes of the new album. Unfortunately, the best of those tastes are nowhere near the finished product.

Music Video: Busta Rhymes, Respect My Conglomerate [ft. Jadakiss & Lil' Wayne]

05.03.09

Song: Respect My Conglomerate [ft. Jadakiss & Lil' Wayne]
Artist: Busta Rhymes
Album: Back on My B.S.
Label: Universal
Producer: Focus
Notes: 3rd single from LP
Analysis: When this song first leaked in the beginning of the year, it featured Young Jeezy rather than Lil’ Wayne, and I pointed out how it was actually one of the few times that I’ve enjoyed one of his verses. Of course, there have been so many changes to Back on My B.S. that I don’t know where the real material starts and the throwaways end. I can’t see this album having any sort of cohesiveness to it, as it’s been fucked with from every possible direction since it’s inception. But at least it will be a good collection of songs, and ‘Respect My Conglomerate’ is one of them. Weezy’s added verse is pretty nice, too (‘hip hop is a bitch and I’m proud of this girl‘). For the video, Busta calls in some favors and gets a few familiar faces in his conglomerate – I see Xzibit, Raekwon, Tyrese, and Idris Elba (The Wire’s Stringer Bell) all chilling at the table. One of these days, the album will actually come out.

Music Video: Busta Rhymes, Hustler’s Anthem [ft. T-Pain]

04.07.09

Song: Hustler’s Anthem [ft. T-Pain]
Artist: Busta Rhymes
Album: Back on My Bullshit
Label: Universal Motown
Producer: Ty Fyffe
Notes: 2nd single from LP
Analysis: Vintage fish-eyed Busta Rhymes video featuring T-Pain and his yellow teeth, and lots of colorful outfits. It’s cool to see Busta return to his cartoonish roots, and it’s a fun song, but this is your basic rap-into-the-camera video with nothing memorable about it. Check my initial review of the song from back in January here.

New Music: Busta Rhymes, Cut From a Different Cloth

03.15.09

Song: Cut From a Different Cloth
Artist: Busta Rhymes
Album: Back on My B.S.
Label: Universal
Producer: unknown
Notes: none
Analysis: I don’t see this one listed anywhere on the tracklist for Back on My B.S., but that thing has been pushed back, delayed and fucked with so much since it was supposed to drop 2 years ago that nothing is for certain. On my iTunes at this moment, i have 12 songs that were supposedly “off Back on My B.S.“, and that’s what I have them labeled as. 12 songs is an entire album for some people, and that isn’t even counting the songs that I deleted. So with each leak I get less and less excited for Busta’s album, because I know now that most of it will not be new material to me anymore. It might be a solid album, but hearing all the new songs at once for the first time is half the fun of getting a new record.

The New Classics Mixtape [January 2009]: Download

It’s been a good month. Tracklisting here, download after the jump.

New Music: Q-Tip, Renaissance Rap (Remix) [ft. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon & Lil Wayne]

01.29.09

Song: Renaissance Rap (Remix) [ft. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon & Lil Wayne]
Artist: Q-Tip
Album: The Renaissance*
Label: Universal Motown
Producer: Q-Tip
Notes: *not actually on album
Analysis: I’ve already talked about my undisputed love for The Renaissance, so it should come as no surprise that I am declaring ‘Renaissance Rap (Remix)’ as the best hip hop song of the month. You should already know what the beat sounds like, but if you’re still sleeping on that album, I will fill you in.

Best Music for the week of 01.09.09 – 01.15.09

01.15.09

So indie rock & pop have begun rising to the surface, and in a big way. Animal Collective, Bon Iver, and Handsome Furs are all ranking high this week. Busta Rhymes dropped a couple of new tracks in the mainstream department, as well as Lil Wayne & Pharrell, and Mos Def. There were also some really good showings from a handful of left-of-center artists, and a Jim Jones song that I actually liked. Coming up this week are reviews for Bon Iver’s new EP, Franz Ferdinand’s Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, and a mixtape by Blu, along with of course, the day-to-day leaks and releases from all over. It’s tough keeping up with everything and working a fulltime job, but I’m enjoying the challenge, and of course the music. After the jump is the top album, top 5 songs, worst song of the week.

New Music: Busta Rhymes, Hustler Anthem 2009 [ft. T-Pain]

01.14.09

Song: Hustler Anthem 2009 [ft. T-Pain]
Artist: Busta Rhymes
Album: Back on My B.S.
Label: Universal Motown
Producer: Ty Fyffe
Notes: none
Analysis: Back on My B.S. is really shaping up to be a big party record. From ‘Don’t Touch Me’ to ‘Arab Money’, to ‘Conglomerate’, among other leaked tracks, are all tracks designed to move a crowd in one way or another, and Hustler Anthem follows the same path.

New Music: Busta Rhymes, Conglomerate [ft. Young Jeezy & Jadakiss]

01.10.09

Song: Conglomerate [ft. Young Jeezy & Jadakiss]
Artist: Busta Rhymes
Album: Back on My B.S.
Label: Universal Motown
Producer: Focus
Notes: none
Analysis: Back on My B.S. has been one of my most anticipated albums since last summer, when music started dripping out, and it will finally be released this March. Busta has had a lot of time to put together some quality material, and ‘Conglomerate’ is most definitely quality material. If there’s one thing Busta knows how to do better than anyone else, it’s that head-nodding, trunk thumping sound.

Best Music for the week of 01.01.09-01.08.09

01.08.09

Sort of a disappointing first week of music for the new year, but there are a few standouts. Eminem & 50 Cent were the biggest but not necessarily the best releases, having both returned to the front and center with new singles. Lil Wayne only put out three songs in the last seven days, and there are a few new artists who are starting to impress. On the rock side of things, there’s only been 2 songs unfortunately, but quality rock music comes out at a slower pace than hip hop anyway. I have a review for Animal Collective coming this weekend, and hopefully that will bring up the rock quota of these lists a bit. Week 1 is complete, and after the jump is the best album, top 5 songs, and worst song for the week of January 1st – January 8th, 2009.