Busta Rhymes continues to tick with “Dragon Season…Equinox.”
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TOP 3
3. Riot 2 Mammoth
I just like it when Busta Rhymes goes full-blown animal mode in tracks.
In “Riot 2 Mammoth,” Busta Rhymes forces folks to give him his flowers and speaks on his ability to murder rappers and his willingness to steal chicks that aren’t his. Eventually, he goes into full-blown destructive mode, speaking on throwing more riots than disgruntled MAGA folks.
This track gives me old-school G-Unit vibes, mainly because of the glitchy, technology-focused production. As for Busta, he sounds robotic on the hook, like someone capable of dissecting any beat on this planet on his verses, and like someone who possibly has rabies every other time. As good as the body of the track is, I think the outro is even better.
2. Crazy (Ft. Akon & Vybz Kartel)
Only old people threaten others with crazy.
So, I probably like this track for nostalgic reasons. “Crazy” brings nostalgia with Akon’s vintage chorus, Jamaican Busta Rhymes, and a raw Vybz Kartel, alongside an island beat and lyrics about going ham on folks that add a humorous touch. I think the casuals will enjoy this track the most.
1. Brain Dead (Ft. Symba & Stacy Barthe)
Symba dropped one of the verses of the year on this track.
I absolutely love the dynamic between Busta Rhymes and Symba in “Brain Dead.” In the track, Busta delivers lessons on how cold the streets can be while warning youngins to keep their heads on a swivel. As for Symba, he speaks on shady record labels and the wisdom he’s gained from Busta.
Even though Busta sounds like his head is about to pop, his messages are delivered clearly, and his flow is sharp. As for Symba, he raps with a sly, confident sound that I absolutely love. Both complement the soulful production and Stacy Barthe’s vocals exceptionally well.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
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OVERALL RATING
(70%)
Busta Rhymes is 52 years old, and guess what? He sounds 52 years old. These days, his voice is a bit more congested and hoarse when he raps, but he still brings a ton of hunger to the mic, using his wisdom to connect with listeners. For those specific reasons, Dragon Season…Equinox isn’t completely a waste of time.
I thought it was interesting that Busta Rhymes collaborated with several artists on this project. It almost feels like he needed others to feed off of to really get himself energized. As for the beats he raps over, they gave off triumphant, old-school hip-hop and soulful vibes, which I really enjoyed.
My main gripe with the album is that it’s far from commercial. I think Busta shines brightest when he leans that way. I’m not sure I care to hear him delve into political topics, and honestly, the project sounds like something Busta had in the vault and decided to release. There just doesn’t feel like much tender love and care to it.
If you’re a fan of Busta Rhymes, you’ll want to support this project.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
