Busta Rhymes shines over J Dilla’s production on “DILLAGENCE II,” delivering soulful, dynamic, refreshing hip-hop packed with personality.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. SPAZZ

“SPAZZ” might feel strange if you listen to it by itself, but placed among a collection of ass-kicking tracks, it makes much more sense. The song moves through three beats, with each one feeling like a musical karate kick to the chest. Busta Rhymes responds accordingly, bringing out that competitive side of himself and repeatedly making it clear that he’s ready to bang on anybody, including someone built like 6’11” Cooper Flagg. S**t, this track might have the best rap performance of the year.

4. Wait 4 U (Ft. Big Sean & Honey Bxby)

Close your eyes while listening to this, and you might swear you’re hearing Mase (Big Sean), Brandy (Honey Bxby), and Busta Rhymes (Busta Rhymes). The track has those old-school R&B vibes mixed with a nice hip-hop knock, while Honey Bxby delivers a passionate chorus that feels straight out of another era. Busta brings the grungy, lovey-dovey raps that remind me of his classic s**t, and Big Sean keeps the punchlines, laid-back energy, and smooth flows coming. As an oldhead who grew up on music like this, this was right up my alley.

3. Kingpin [Knock Ya Head Off] (Ft. Ludacris & Anderson .Paak) 

This track gives you pretty much everything you’d want from everyone involved. Anderson .Paak delivers one of those smooth, passionate choruses where the finesse is impossible to miss, while Ludacris comes through with animated bars about some truly outlandish s**t.

Then there’s Busta Rhymes, who sounds like a competitive rapper crossed with a sick-ass scientist carefully dissecting his opponents. The production matches that energy perfectly, too. It’s straight-up diabolical, get all the kids out of the burning house s**t.

2. Talk Ya Shit (Ft. Lil Wayne)

The production on “Talk Ya Shit” is wonderfully eccentric, blending a soulful hip-hop foundation with a funky edge that would probably have James Brown breaking several sweats. Dilla keeps the instrumental loose enough for both Busta and Wayne to really have fun with it.

Busta takes a relaxed approach, but don’t let the delivery fool you because the bars show he’s ready for more smoke than someone cooking jollof rice. Wayne, meanwhile, sounds right at home, delivering one of those classic verses packed with punchlines, dynamic flows, and ridiculous confidence. Considering their history together, it makes sense that their chemistry feels so effortless here.

1. This Woman (Ft. D’Angelo) 

I strangely love when Busta Rhymes uses that creepy side of his voice on love songs like “This Woman.” You know the whispery, extra Cookie Monster-like delivery he likes to bust out? He puts it to good use here, using that unmistakable voice to admire every angle of his woman. Then you have the late D’Angelo bringing soulful, catchy vocals that make the song feel like something you want to keep gift-wrapped. J Dilla’s beautiful, gentle production is the perfect finishing touch.

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SONG BY SONG RATING

Ma Dukes Speaks Again (N/A)

How The Boss Will Deliver (Ft. Cie) (3.5/5)

Entry (Ft. La Reezy) (4/5)

Spazzz (4.5/5)

Back Pain, Chest Pain, Head Pain (3.5/5)

Royalty (Ft. Cie & Trillian) (4.5/5)

This Woman (Ft. D’ Angelo) (5/5)

Shoo (4.5/5)

Drugs (Ft. C.S. Armstrong) (4.5/5)

The Story of the Old Man (N/A)

Run Em Down (Ft. Jesse from WatchTheDuck) (4/5)

Lay Down (Ft. T3 from Slum Village) (3.5/5)

Wait 4 U (Ft. Big Sean & Honey Bxby) (4.5/5)

Kingpin [Knock Ya Head Off] (Ft. Anderson .Paak & Ludacris)

How You Want It (4/5)

Love & War (Ft. C.S. Armstrong & Talib Kweli)

Talk Ya Shit (Ft. Lil Wayne) (4.5/5)

What We Got In Common (Ft. Jon Batiste & Common) (4/5)

Ma Dukes & Dilla’s Closing Words (N/A)

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RGM RATING

(B)

J Dilla’s beats turn Busta Rhymes into a goddamn superhero.

There are two versions of Busta Rhymes I absolutely love: the competitive one and the deep-voiced Rico Suave. This project gives us a healthy dose of both, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Busta sounds incredibly sharp throughout, displaying ridiculous animation, strong combos, and enough flair to remind you that underneath all the charisma is a battle rapper who can still tear somebody apart. You can also hear how much he loves rapping over Dilla’s production. He sounds free, loose, and genuinely excited to be there.

Dilla’s production is obviously the other star of the show. Nobody blended boom-bap and soul with his level of effortless precision. These beats have everything: heart, knock, unique little details, and enough personality to keep you locked in. They give Busta a playground without ever taking the spotlight away from him.

The guest appearances are another major strength. I love seeing Busta reconnect with artists he already has chemistry with, like Ludacris, Lil Wayne, and Anderson .Paak, while also bringing in Dilla-associated favorites such as Talib Kweli, D’Angelo, Slum Village, and Common. Everyone understands the assignment. Some go bar-for-bar with Busta, while others complement his energy beautifully. The interludes are effective, too, and I enjoyed the lesser-known additions sprinkled throughout.

This album was incredibly refreshing. There’s just something about hearing Dilla production that makes me fall in love with hip-hop all over again. This is pure, dynamic, well-put-together hip-hop.

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