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Posted on Sun, Jul. 02, 2006

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Block-busta? Not exactly

Veteran sheds locks, get a lot of help on CD

Malcolm X Abram

Beacon Journal

THE BIG BANG
Busta Rhymes
Aftermath

Busta Rhymes is a rarity in hip hop.

It's a genre that constantly inhales the latest one-hit wonder, chews him up and spits him out in the streets like so many funky sunflower seeds (Chingy, J-Kwon anyone?).

Busta Rhymes began his career in 1988 as part of the crew of upbeat high-energy teenagers called Leaders of the New School, in which he was the obvious breakout star. Rhymes' nonstop, easily recognizable rat-a-tat flow, influenced by his Jamaican heritage and wild spirit, made him the king of the B-sides and remixes through the first half of the '90s.

Rhymes' solo recording career started a decade ago and each of his previous six albums has been good for at least a single or two. Today, after two lackluster albums on J Records, Rhymes is working on a career rejuvenation by cutting his signature dreadlocks (his first haircut in 15 years) and signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label.

His new release, The Big Bang, is his first in four years, and dedicated fans of Bussa-bus will be glad to hear his return. He already has one repetitive, annoyingly catchy, strip-club-ready single on radio with Touch It, which offers fans his two major rhyme styles: loud and fast, and soft and fast.

With help behind the boards from Dr. Dre, the late J-Dilla, Erick Sermon, Swizz Beatz, head Black-Eyed Pea will.i.am, Timbaland, DJ Scratch and D12's Mr. Porter, no expense was spared to provide Busta's comeback with a proper selection of beats, and they deliver.

The disc is also packed with guests on 12 of the 15 tracks (though none from his Flipmode Squad) including fellow Native Tonguer Q-Tip, Nas, Raekwon, Missy Elliot, Stevie Wonder, Marsha Ambrosius from Floetry, Kelis, former Snoop Dogg protege LaToiya Williams and even the ghostly aural presence of Rick James.

Considering the time and money spent on The Big Bang, thefinal product is just OK. There's not much wrong, but there also isn't much that stands out lyrically. Anyone who remembers the humorous loudmouth from L.O.N.S. likely still has a hard time believing Rhymes when he talks guns and drug peddling, as on Goldmine with Raekwon.

But the string-laden growing-up-in-the-ghetto Been Through the Storm with Stevie Wonder works, and though his cover of Rick James' In the Ghetto sounds more like an elaborate remix of the original song than an adaptation, it still manages to be a vivid travelogue and a nice shout-out to the punk funkster.

Rhymes scores when he teams up with Q-Tip, and the two vets successfully take the youngsters to task on the smooth You Can't Hold the Torch. But often the subject matter is just more of the same. Paranoia rules on They're Out to Get Me, while I'll Do It All and newest single I Love My B---- provide the requisite (and relative) sweet talk.

The album has already returned Rhymes to the top of the charts, and there are enough singles to keep it floating through the summer. But once the promotional cycle is done and listeners move on to the next hot single/rapper, The Big Bang will likely be remembered as more of a medium hubbub.