 |
| |
|
| |
Album Review
by SashaS
21-2-2002
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Busta Rhymes' 'Genesis' |
|
Busta Rhymes: 'Genesis'
(J Records)
Busta Rhymes drops his fifth instalment of beats’n’rhymes
Busta Rhymes, in case you lack this cognizance, has been writing a novel in music and ‘Genesis’ is its fifth chapter. “I’ve always wanted my albums to have some kind of connection,” Busta explains in the press release for the album. “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’.”
Point(s) taken and saluted because Rhymes-ter seems to have a knack to do things his rivals can only wish for. His mastery is dropping words that appear to matter, such case being the title track where rags-to-riches story gets re-logged as “Starving ‘til where my skin was suffocating my ribs/ Now we got interior decoratin’ my crib.” Its sound basis is spaced-out and minimal ambient-cum-industrial-noises that demonstrate the best that Busta goes where others dare not.
It’s the most extreme example in his arsenal of beats that are more eclectic than anything you’re able to hear around. Mr Rhymes’ multitude of guest-spots of frequency to rival Method Man and Redman, has obviously paid off. He incorporates so many of them on an album that makes all else sound static; an incredible force who delivers his messages in a throaty, sandpaper-finished vocal that ranges from a whisper to a growl, Tom Waits would certainly approve.
There is ‘old skool’ on ‘Shut ‘Em Down 2002’, a remodelling of the vintage Public Enemy track, ‘Betta Stay Up In Your House’ samples an old Curtis Mayfield tune to end up sounding nu-soul in the Jay-Z’s ‘The Blueprint’ mode. The modernity is brought in by The Neptunes on ‘As I Come Back’ and the awareness hi-jacking ‘What It Is’ with Kelis voicing it.
Guests, there are many and varied but top cast: P. Diddy on the cognac-celebratory ‘Pass The Courvoisier’, Mary J Blige on the sex-antics filled ‘There’s Only One’. The ubiquitous Dr Dre contributes three fine examples of his rapping baroque style with ‘Break Ya Neck’ combining Busta’s speedy word-spitting with a sample of The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ ‘Give It Away’. The most amazing thing is that it doesn’t end up sounding like a rap-rock crossover track.
It’s not all serious and there are humorous moments such as the J Records’ CEO Clive Davis phoning at the beginning (‘Intro’) to tell BR to “Keep it gutter, keep it grimy”. As if Busta would do it any other way on an album that is really on a demanding side with 20 cuts over 77 minutes. Still, trust the Rhymes-man when he claims that “Musically as well as lyrically ‘Genesis’ is my strongest record and honestly it came to fruition when folks need it the most.”
Busta Rhymes doesn’t bull shift.
8.3/10
SashaS
21-2-2002
Busta Rhymes’ album ‘Genesis’ is released 04 March 2002 on J Records/BMG
|
|
|
