REVIEW: BUSTA RHYMES - BLOCKBUSTA

3.5/5

Check The Rhyme. 

Blockbuster was the king of home movie rental, like Busta Rhymes was the throne taker of rap music videos. So much hype like Williams back in the 90s of the MTV generation. This is a man who once asked in hilarious dubbed overtones, "you want to ram with me", before having a headbutting competition with an actual ram and throwing the towel on him. Steamrolling through with Dr. Dre as he broke your neck. Back when rap was rap and music videos were exactly that too. Giving us some more with his looney tunes and breaking budgets back then with Janet Jackson and Terminator 2 quicksilver, telling us, 'What's It Gonna Be'. Those two classics came off of his legendary album 'Extinction Level Event'. Busta's 'ELE2' sequel album 'The Wrath Of God' bought him back to rap's elite with Rhymes galore during the pandemic of 2020, when it really did feel like the end of the world for the rapper who always prophesied that in-between his party and bulls###. From passing the Courvoisier, to touching it, Trevor Smith has never fallen off. But the most recent run of the former dreadlocked beast who started his days on quests with Tribe (bringing it all back for their own big reunion) has been worthy of tearing up and tearing the roof off of his lifetime achievement award (BET). What better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, in its celebratory curtain calling months, than with the man that brought an amazing, animated energy like no other?

Blowing up again like an atomic bomb, Busta is back with another 'Blockbusta' like his 'New Jack City' mixt...excuse me, album with Clinton Sparks or those music videos that were as important an integral to his career catalogue like the perfect portrait album covers of Nas. Jay-Z. Prince. Springsteen. Haim. In this writer's life, I've had many dubbed "best artists" who remain at the untouchable forefront of my fondest favourites. Back in college, Busta Rhymes was that guy...and still is. First concert, he always knew how to rock it. My best friend sent me a video of his latest show in London. No words needed. We already know what it is. He's the best in the business when it comes to the stage with the G.O.A.T. of hype men, Spliff Starr, still front and centre in all the music videos as we miss the rest of the Flipmode Squad, from Rampage to the first lady, Rah Digga. Now as the smoke clears on the bolt of those big, bold blockbuster yellow and red, heavy metal letters, you have to respect the Conglomerate of the new label...in an English accent. 

This eleventh studio album remains raw, dialling it up with real raps. This Epic record on the heel of Andre 3000's flutes is forged by the executive producer big-three of Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, so you know the production is going to be prolific. BabeTruth, Focus and Cool & Dre also crash the boards like Barkley on an album that features classic collaborations with Quavo ('Remind Em'), Bia ('Beach Ball'), Young Thug ('OK'), Blxst and Young Bleu ('Could It Be You'), Coi Leray ('Luxury Life'), DeBaby and T-Pain ('Big Everything'), BurnaBoy ('Roboshotta'), Blackway ('The Return Of Mansa Musa'), Jnr Choi ('Stand Up'), Chris Brown and Shenseea ('Open Wide'), Giggs ('The Hive' for a rapper who once shouted out all his people in Preston), Kodak Black ('Homage'), Morray ('Legend'), Cie, Trillian and Rai ('Legacy'), and who else to close it, but Big Tigger? 

'If You Don't Know, Now You Know' like Biggie notoriously said. But if you have two black eyes, I guess you do have to be told twice. Part 2 in outro with the legendary radio host Tigger takes us back again in retrospect for this rap legend's life. In the creative collaborative form of an interview rap in line with how this Big DJ ended Ginuwine's graduation in 2003 as 'The Senior'. It's a hallmark highlight in this powerhouse of a big-name and produced album like the Voltron big-three singles of the bouncing 'Beach Ball' Summer smash, the Jay-Z 'Ain't No...' sampling 'Luxury Life' with Coi Leray playing Foxy Brown, and the latest, greatest, 'OK'. Not to mention the big DaBaby number bringing T-Pain back to the charts his autotune trademark dialled up, all before he proved to Shawn Carter and every other naysayer that he really could sing on his last soulful set. 

However, in 'The Statement' of this album, it seems like the 'Murda' with the great Bilal will remain on a milk carton, under further investigation on the cutting-room floor. Just another one for the crate digging as the soil spills like that still scary Dr. Dre bucket and spade coffin produced, 'Legends Of The Fall' from 'The Big Bang'. These 'Tings' are big and before Rhymes lets it 'Slide' like a smooth Missy Elliott for you gossip folks, he tells us to 'Hold Up' like one of his many legendary catchphrases. "N####, hold up/Every time my money fold up (Ayy)/When I show up/Every single block, I sew up (Oh)/Like a needle to the thread or a seamstress, so I tell her every time I go up (Boom)/Just in case you n####s thought it couldn't happen any more, b####, I'm forever gonna blow up." Here's your theory, like catching lightning in a bottle, you can have a big bang twice. Explosive like the good doctor that prescribed him, Busta is going nuclear. The block is hot. Bus it! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Luxury Life (Feat. Coi Leray)', 'Big Everything (Feat. DaBaby & T-Pain)', 'Hold Up'.