Blockbusta
2023 studio album by Busta Rhymes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blockbusta (stylized in all caps) is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on November 24, 2023, through his own Conglomerate Entertainment label with distribution by Epic Records.[2] Busta Rhymes executive produced the album alongside Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Swizz Beatz.[3] It is his first studio album in over three years following 2020's Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God and features guest appearances from Quavo, Bia, Young Thug, Blxst, Yung Bleu, Coi Leray, DaBaby, T-Pain, Burna Boy, Swizz Beatz, Blackway, Jnr Choi, Chris Brown, Shenseea, Giggs, Kodak Black, Morray, Cie, Trillian, Rai, and Big Tigger.
| Blockbusta | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 24, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Hip-hop[1] | |||
| Length | 62:16 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Producers |
| |||
| Busta Rhymes chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Blockbusta | ||||
| ||||
The album was supposed to be supported by the Blockbusta Tour, set to begin on March 13, 2024 at the SF Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco, California, and end on April 21, 2024 at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, New York. The tour was later cancelled on March 8, 2024 with no explanation.[4]
Background
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 53/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [8] |
| American Songwriter | 2/5[9] |
| Clash | 6/10[10] |
| Evening Standard | [11] |
| HipHopDX | 3/5[12] |
| The i Paper | [13] |
| RapReviews | 4.5/10[1] |
Blockbusta received a score of 53 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on five critics' reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reception.[7]
AllMusic praised the album for containing plenty of "fun and excitement", but felt that many of the tracks were poorly executed, writing: "Busta Rhymes sounds like he's reaching for something different on almost every track and not quite grabbing ahold of any of it."[8] Robin Murray of Clash praised Busta Rhymes for stepping outside his comfort zone, writing that the album contained "moments of real bravery". However, he criticized the album for its lack of cohesion and Busta Rhymes' lack of chemistry with the album's guest artists.[10]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Statement" |
|
| 2:34 |
| 2. | "Remind 'Em" (featuring Quavo) |
| Fantom | 3:21 |
| 3. | "Beach Ball" (featuring Bia) |
| 2:24 | |
| 4. | "OK" (with Cool & Dre featuring Young Thug) |
| 4:06 | |
| 5. | "Could It Be You" (featuring Blxst and Yung Bleu) | 3:06 | ||
| 6. | "Luxury Life" (featuring Coi Leray) |
| 2:18 | |
| 7. | "Big Everything" (featuring DaBaby and T-Pain) |
| 4:01 | |
| 8. | "Roboshotta" (featuring Burna Boy) | Pharrell | 2:05 | |
| 9. | "Tings" |
| Pharrell | 3:07 |
| 10. | "The Return of Mansa Musa" (featuring Swizz Beatz and Blackway) |
| Swizz Beatz | 3:25 |
| 11. | "Stand Up" (featuring Jnr Choi) |
|
| 3:46 |
| 12. | "Open Wide" (featuring Chris Brown and Shenseea) |
| Anatii | 2:47 |
| 13. | "Hold Up" |
|
| 2:13 |
| 14. | "The Hive" (featuring Giggs) |
| Meed Beatz | 2:49 |
| 15. | "Homage" (featuring Kodak Black) |
| Wheezy Outta Here | 3:09 |
| 16. | "Legend" (featuring Morray) |
| Khozee | 3:52 |
| 17. | "Slide" |
| DJ Ted Smooth | 3:42 |
| 18. | "Legacy" (featuring Cie, Trillian, and Rai) |
|
| 4:12 |
| 19. | "If You Don't Know Now You Know Pt. 2" (featuring Big Tigger) | 5:19 | ||
| Total length: | 62:16 | |||
Notes
Personnel
Musicians
- Busta Rhymes – vocals
- Delanie Leyden – vocals (tracks 6, 11)
- Davine Tuch – keyboards (7)
- Andrew Potts Jr. – vocals (10)
- Chioma Eze – vocals (10)
- James T. Williams Jr. – vocals (10)
- Maryla Roy – vocals (10)
- Micah Houston – vocals (10)
- Ronny Mercedes – vocals (10)
- Sarah Chidebelu-Eze – vocals (10)
- Sugarlane Voices – vocals (10)
- Euglen Tanci – vocals (11)
- Fonz Figgaz – vocals (11)
- A.L. – vocals (11)
- HotBoii Johnny – vocals (11)
- FametheMovie – vocals (11)
- Punchline – vocals (11)
- Choco "GDubs" Reynoso – keyboards (17)
- Jamal Peoples – keyboards (17)
- Rai – keyboards (18)
Technical
- Master Plan – mastering
- Stan Greene – mastering (all tracks), mixing (1–9, 11, 13–19)
- Bainz – mixing, engineering (4)
- Rick St. Hilaire – mixing, engineering (10)
- Brian Stanley – mixing (12), engineering (2, 3, 12), vocal engineering (2)
- Gonzalo "GeeFlowCL" Contreras – mixing (18), engineering (10, 12)
- Delanie Leyden – engineering (1–9, 11–14, 16–19), engineering assistance (10)
- Dub Shakes – engineering (1, 7, 18, 19)
- Enoch Harris III – engineering, vocal engineering (3)
- Jodie Grayson Williams – engineering (4)
- Jeremy Biddle – engineering, vocal engineering (5)
- Blxst – engineering (5)
- Euglen Tanci – engineering (6, 11, 15, 19), engineering assistance (8, 17)
- Drü Oliver – engineering (6)
- Mike Larson – engineering (8)
- Patrizio "Teezio" Pigliapoco – engineering, vocal engineering (12)
- Serge Tsai – engineering, vocal engineering (14)
- Derek Garcia – engineering, vocal engineering (15)
- Treyonce Moore – engineering (16)
- Paul Joasil – engineering assistance (4)
- Sonny Charles – engineering assistance (4)
- Tristan Bott – engineering assistance (7)
- Michael Choi – engineering assistance (18)
- Wyatt Sayre – engineering assistance (18)
Charts
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (Official Charts)[14] | 27 |
| UK R&B Albums (Official Charts)[15] | 24 |
| US Billboard 200[16] | 42 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] | 10 |