★★★★★
PICK OF THE WEEK Busta Rhymes Feat Kanye West, Q-Tip & Lil Wayne Thank You (Cash Money) Reading this on mobile? Click here to view Technically, this track came out a few months ago in the US, but its UK "radio impact" date is this week. Anyway, who cares: it's so many stratospheres better than anything coming out this week that the constructs of chronology disintegrate the second you press play...
- www.theguardian.com
2014-01-13
★★★★★
The form and function of the hip-hop mixtape have shifted remarkably over the last decade, so that a medium that used to showcase DJs' cutting and blending abilities in the genre's early days is now a umbrella format describing the constant flood of releases meted out in the absence of record company tinkering. You never know what you're getting until you see a tracklist...
- pitchfork.com
2014-01-09
★★★★★
So three years go by between "Back On My B.S." and "Year of the Dragon." I can only assume in the interim that Bussa Bus is doing well enough between singles, acting shit and paid cameo appearances on other people's hits that a new album isn't a big hurry for him. Then WHAM, Trevor Smith sneaks up and smacks me in the face with a Google Play release, which I must admit that I didn't see coming. That's aight though...
- rapreviews.com
2012-09-13
★★★★★
Busta is one of the most colourful characters hip-hop has or will ever see. That said, I've always thought that a full album of Busta was too much - his cameos have always come off, but for me this album just backs up my theory. There are very few guest spots (Mariah Carey and Carl Thomas among them) and it gets thin real fast. He seems a little more laid back here, demonstrated on the single Make It Clap, which has the "done in the studio" chorus and (whoda thunk it) handclap drums...
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-09
★★★★★
While Busta Rhymes can claim membership in the legendary Leaders of the New School, and has appeared on more famous tracks than I can remember, his twice-the-speed-half-the-content flow is only acceptable in small doses. On this DVD we are treated to Busta spitting everywhere and hitting on 14-year-old girls, a DJ who can barely scratch and an amateurish hype-man...
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-09
★★★★★
I'm fine with Busta's new album only having a couple of real bangers on it. Current single, Respect My Conglomerate, has a nicely weird thuggy beat and he, Jadakiss and Lil' Weez work well together trading verses. Don't Believe 'Em, the obligatory Akon-hooked track (he's got the T-Pain one on here too), with T.I. is one of the better versions of that particular template. And slow-serious Decision, with a whole awards show worth of guests, has Busta at pretty close to his storytelling best...
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-02
★★★★★
Busta Rhymes, one of hip-hop's most idiosyncratic personalities returns with his infamous delivery on new track 'Touch It'. It's a crazy, party track using a monotone, simple chorus reminiscent of the 80s hit 'Money (That's What I Want)' by avant-garde group The Flying Lizards counterbalancing pumping bass and Busta's mad flow. Watch out for the awesome remix featuring Mary J Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliot, Lloyd Banks and DMX.
- www.music-news.com
2010-11-02
★★★★★
I first felt like this was a somewhat ho-hum hip-hop release from over the hill in a season when grand-daddy macks like Ice Cube and LL all had new ish out. Then Fatlip from Pharcyde said he thought this album was saving hip-hop, so I thought I'd look into it again. When you're Busta, it means that Dr. Dre exec-produces your album, and Timbaland, Erick Sermon and J. Dilla (or his ghost) contribute beats. If you want a hook, then you get Stevie Wonder to sing on Been Through the Storm...
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-02
★★★★★
Onhiatus from the Leaders of the New School, Busta Rhymes brings asurfeit of energy and precise, witty language to the freneticsingle "Woo-hah!! Got You All in Check". Minimalist musical backing ? a few fat bass notes and adissonant piano that sounds like a cat walking on thekeyboard ? showcases his hyperactive style. B+
- ew.com
2010-08-27