Busta Rhymes 'It Ain't Safe No More' album

The dictionary defines Genesis as the coming into being of something- the origin. With that in mind it makes absolute sense that the name of Busta Rhyme's explosive debut on J Records is "Genesis". Because it is not only a new record from one of hip-hop's premier artists, it is the coming into being of something. And that something is Busta Rhymes; as you have never experienced him. More intense. More rugged. More righteous. More risqu?. More potent and prophetic. Raw and focused on the streets and the soul. As Busta himself intones on the opening cut "I'm about to Picasso a new picture for you motherfuckers."

Genesis is not only the album was that he was destined to make, it is the album that Busta has been building towards his entire career. "I have always wanted my albums to have some kind of connection," Busta offers. "So first there was the Coming, which was the warning, then I had When Disaster Strikes and then when the aftermath comes there's Extinction Level Event and that leads to Anarchy. But now it's time for me and everyone to have a new beginning. We're all having to start over in so many different ways and for me, that can only mean one thing...And so it's Genesis."

Helping Busta forge his brave and banging new beginning is an all-star crew of chart topping hit makers. On the production side are hot hands like the Neptunes, Pete Rock, Diamond D, Dr Dre, and Battlecat while giving Busta some love on the vocals are Kelis, Kokane, Mary J Blige, Jaheim, Rah Digga, Flip Mode Squad and P. Diddy. Offers Busta; "I've always had amazing guests on my joints but this time the line up of talent is incredible. I really think that musically as well as lyrically Genesis is my strongest record and honestly it came to fruition when folks need it the most."

The first taste of the new is the blazing lead off single "Break Ya Neck". Produced by Grammy winner Dr Dre, (one of three cuts that he produced) "Break Ya Neck" is a funked up call to arms and some serious head nodding, fueled by Busta's rapid-fire flow and aggressive wisdom. "The shit I did with Dre is tight. It was a perfect combination in the studio, his way of working and the rhymes I had, we made some magic together".
Also making magic and bringing their greasy grooves are the Neptunes who contributed two smoking tracks, "As I Come Back" and "What It Is", which features Kelis. "As I Come Back" takes you back to Busta's rip roaring, dungeon dragon days and has a hip shaking bounce that takes no prisoners."Neptunes always have some crazy beats!" Busta laughs," getting to work with them was cool." Equally cool and hot are "There's Only One", a bounce, skate, roll jam which has a sexy vocal turn from Mary J Blige, and the grimy club anthem "Pass The Courvosier", which brings P.Diddy into the mix. "Ya know me and Diddy always make the hot tracks, and this time we hit the studio, cracked open the bottle and rocked it."

That ability to rock it; to satisfy both the heads and the critics has made Busta Rhymes not only a platinum performer and hip-hop force but also a multi faceted career artist. In an industry that tastes more new flavas than a kid does in an ice cream store, Busta's musical vision and incomparable flair has weathered every conceivable trend and spanned a generation.

Let others bite. Busta originates and that creativity was evident in the late ?80s when the Brooklyn native formed the groundbreaking hip-hop act Leaders of the New School. The groups' 1990 debut Future Without A Past earned Busta critical and fan buzz but it was when the then teenaged mic bandit let loose on A Tribe Called Quest's 1991 classic "Scenario" and Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear" remix that the skills Busta had became loud and clear.

It was only a matter of time before Busta's idiosyncratic, ragga-fied ricochet flow and larger than life persona were rewarded and in 1996 his solo debut The Coming took the world by storm. The single "Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check" hit the top ten, the album went platinum plus and Busta's innovative videos made him a staple on MTV. In 1997 "When Disaster Strikes" debuted at #3, sold over 1.5 million copies, and the single "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" (and the colorful video) solidified Busta's place in the hip hop hierarchy.

Busta took his fame to new heights and mediums with roles in such films as Who's the Man, Strapped and Higher Learning, engineered the launch of his record company Flipmode Entertainment and spearheaded Flipmode Squad to the top of the charts with their gold CD "The Imperial". 1998 saw the release of the platinum plus "Extinction Level Event", which contained the smash singles "Gimme Some More", and "What's It Gonna Be". Busta also continued his thriving acting career by appearing in Shaft and a series of Mountain Dew commercials. As the century came to a close Busta unleashed Anarchy and the following year made the leap to J Records where he is now poised to bring his explosive energy and prophetic poetry to an even wider audience.

The dictionary defines Genesis as the coming into being of something- the origin. One listen to Busta Rhyme's Genesis and you will define it as... the shit.

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Tags

Details

Tracklisting

Busta Rhymes - It Ain't Safe No More