BUSTA RHYMES and J DILLA'S due 'DILLAGENCE II'

Do The Bus A Beat

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

If you've been reading the run of reviews (not really so much anymore, we're just talking about music we love) over this New Music weekend, don't take us the wrong way. We love to hear new music from Prince, and in that regard, are thankful to his estate. However, with that being said, we just want it to be all fair and done right by the man who once wrote "slave" across his face whilst performing and having more problems with Warner Bros. than Michael Jordan when Bugs Bunny and co sucked him down a golf hole for 'Space Jam'.

In a great weekend for hip-hop collaborations (as we have Erykah Badu and The Alchemist's Abi and Alan for 'Before The World Blows') and concepts (the 'Q Theory' of Wyclef Jean's jazz album), Busta Rhymes knows how to do it the right way with the late, great J Dilla. Paying homage just like when he was on his 'New York S###' in his Dr. Dre epic era. The legendary energy M.C., with the best hype man in the biz in Spliff Star, has flipped the Flipmode Squad script recently. Coming back in a big way, when everyone else was staying home, in 2020 with his superior sequel 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God'. But now, with government name Trevor Smith's first album since his 2023 'Blockbusta', he releases the sequel to his 2007 Mick Boogie mixtape 'Dillagence', with the official album 'Dillagence II'. Blessed with exclusive access to over 300 unreleased beats from J Dilla this sounds even bigger than the time he went sonic with Clinton Sparks for 'New Crack City'.

Busta Rhymes first collaborative LP since the Leader of the New School and the Flipmode Squad posse cut 'The Imperial', also gives us Dilla's first record since 'The Diary' entry of 2016 for the late, great, prolific producer who passed an unbelievable twenty years ago now, one year before the original 'Dillagence'. Not to mention, the 'Spazzz' single and the latest 'Talk Ya S###' with the one and only output of Lil' Wayne. That alien looking blue man group avatar in these twin videos has his mouth permanently dragging carpet in reaction to the rhymes that remain as raw and ready as ever. And just wait until you see 'This Woman', featuring another late, great in neo-soul pioneer D'Angelo, for the latest. With a vibe of the 'I Know What You Like' collaboration with Mariah Carey, music videos have never been this naturally beautiful. 

There are classic collaborations across the board for these tracks bordered by conversations with Ma Dukes. This album is so good even friend Tyrese Gibson is basically telling Busta to go f### himself on I.G. (now, that's one reel you don't want to have slid into your D.M's). La Reezy makes his 'Entry', whilst CIE and Trillian become 'Royalty'. C.S. Armstrong ('Drugs'), Watch The Duck ('Run Em Down') and T3 ('Lay Down') also make their mark alongside a legend who has always let others rock the mic, from the streets to the 'Great Day In Hip-Hop' icons, so long as they rock it right. The bigger names come later. Big Sean says he will 'Wait 4 U' with Bxby. And Talib Kweli, and Armstrong again, gets back with Busta for 'Love & War'. Yet it's the Oscar and Grammy collaboration of 'What We Got In Common' that sees that last word, and the great Grammy family of Jon Batiste lift the Rhymes name into bright lights that don't shine as bright as Busta's own style that steals that show. All before this 'Kingpin' knocks ya head off in a white suit for the daredevil. Alongside Anderson .Paak, and the only man who could ever match his grandiose guest feature, sick sixteens...Ludacris.

The green graffiti of this classic from The Conglomerate really rides the train of thought that's off the rails and right onto the charts here. Approved by the estate of J Dilla, and his mother, Maureen Yancey, these are the first Dilla beats to see the light of day since Raekwon was 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx' in his 2009 sequel. The long-standing professional relationship between Bus a Bus and Jay Dee goes all the way back to the original 'Extinction Level Event' of 2009, and this final world front still turns them up some. Being "extremely selective" with these three centuries of tracks, 'How The Boss Will Deliver' is different to his usual fast flow, giving you 'Back Pain, Chest Pain, Head Pain'. Until 'The Story Of The Old Man' is one you can't wait to hear by the hip-hop rocking throne.

'How You Want It', when it comes to this iconic wordsmith and one of his top-three producers, alongside Dre and A Tribe Called Quest icon Q-Tip who gave even more abstractions and light to 'The Big Bang Theory' of Smith's last second-wind. "Let me get them", he simply says. The real Rhymes come on the first single, 'Spazzz' when he spits, "Blunderin' fools that's wonderin' (Who's that?)/Bust Rhymes, reincarnatin' the boom-bap (B####)/Powerful blow, y'all should probably move back/Take notes, study my shit, school a new jack/Look, this what you do while I give you the new crack (Peep)/How I bang 'em and throw another loose stack/Bomb hard, you know it's the God when I spit, though." And that's not it. Your own diligence is due. Join and respect the conglomerate and throw a half-eaten donut up for James Dewitt Yancey. There's still nobody that could beat all Jay Dee, Dilla has left sprinkling across your speakers.

Playlist Picks: 'This Woman (Feat. D'Angelo)', 'Shoo', 'What We Got In Common (Feat. Common & Jon Batiste)'.

Spin This: Busta Rhymes - 'Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God'.

J Dilla - 'Donuts'.