THE BIG BANG - BUSTA RHYMES
Busta Rhymes is a hip-hop veteran, but after a four-year hiatus, he’s not only resurrecting his own career, but New York hip-hop entirely. His move from Sony BMG’s J to Dr. Dre’s Interscope-based Aftermath has yielded more creative freedom on an album that features contributions from Stevie Wonder, Nas, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, will.i.am and even the late Rick James. “Goldmine” finds Busta trading ‘hood rhymes with Raekwon, while “You Can’t Hold the Torch” with Q-Tip urges MCs to raise their game. “New York Shit” is already a Big Apple classic, and “I Do It All” courts the ladies with a guest turn from LaToiya Williams. “The Big Bang” successfully treads the line of commercialism, with palatable mainstream singles and solid street tracks. New York might just have a shot against the Southern hip-hop takeover. Billboard
