Revisiting Review '23: Earlier this year I was revisiting Busta's discography, but I stopped at 'The Big Bang' knowing that this was next which I originally had rated at 1/5! With the revisiting of Busta's work resumed, let's see if it's as bad as I remembered.
1. Wheel of Fortune ★★★
From the jump, this will catch the listener's attention with its operatic introduction. It's not that enjoyable to listen to, and is somewhat of a risk and unconventional choice from Busta that could be said on other tracks as well. It borrows from 'DeBarge's 'I Like It' for the hook and it's not great. It won't be the last time I'll mention a bad chorus throughout this review. The song is okay though, with some interesting production touches from DJ Scratch, but it would be considered filler on his best albums. The way Busta raps here reminds me of Slick Rick at times.
2. Give Em What They Askin For ★★☆
This time the chorus borrows from Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams'. Again, there is not a very enjoyable hook. Busta is of course an outstanding rapper, so he makes this average production okay during the verses.
3. Respect My Conglomerate ★★
With a better hook this would be okay, but Debby Coda just talks throughout the chorus with a less than appealing accent and tone that ruins the song. The production is late '00s all the way.
4. Shoot for the Moon ★★★☆
Coming into the middle of the chorus, tell me this doesn't sound like 'Compton' by The Game... "Where the cops is crooked, and them bitches is killas/And them niggas hold it down like black guerillas." Those lyrics enter my head every time. This is the first likeable song mainly because there is nothing annoying about it and the chorus is decent that contrasts nicely with the verses.
5. Hustler's Anthem '09 ★★★
And something about this make me think of 'I Love My Bitch' by Busta and Kelis. Interestingly, both of the soundalikes I've mentioned are produced by will.i.am. Another decent pop rap song.
6. Kill Dem ★★★☆
Busta brings out his Jamaican roots with the way he raps on this one. The chorus is in two parts, first with Busta and Tosh Alexander, and then Pharrell. I like the production.
7. Arab Money ★
And.........we're back to the wack choruses. Ron Browz gives us some Arabic in autotune. Again, once Busta hits on the verses, it's okay, but the chorus hurts the song as a whole and the production is once again very late '00s and poor.
8. I'm a Go and Get My... ★★
I like most of the production and there is some more risk taking with the chorus being somewhat unique inspired by the shopping scene in the film 'All About The Benjamins', but Mike Epps "Doo doo do do dooooooo" throughout the verses are unnecessary and annoying. And it also takes one minute to get into the song that limits its replayability for anyone who did like the song.
9. We Want In ★
More crap autotune choruses, again from Ron Browz. From the number of bad choruses on this album, I think this is my least favourite.
10. We Miss You ★☆
As above but not quite as bad. Another unlikeable chorus that seems to go on forever.
11. Sugar ★★
Finally some actual natural singing on a chorus. This is the obligatory sex track. Some of the lyrics are as cliche as it gets throughout the verses for this type of song. It's listenable, but not one to rush back to. "I wanna taste your body (yeah)/I wanna taste your face/Wanna taste your breasts/Taste below your waist (uh-huh)."
12. Don't Believe Em ★★★
Again, everything here is so '09. The triumphant beat from Cool & Dre, Akon on the hook and T.I. as a feature. There is nothing to dislike on this one, but it doesn't elevate itself to anything noteworthy for me.
13. Decision ★★★★
This is fairly easily the best song. It's full of talented artists, and Mr. Porter provides solid production that sounds like it would have fitted perfectly on 'The Big Bang'.
14. World Go Round ★☆
This dance-pop rap song samples 'Sweet Dreams' by the Eurythmics. It might get a club going, but I don't like it. It's a poor way to end the album after the improving couple of songs before it. At least the chorus doesn't ruin the song though.
After revisiting this, it's not as bad as I remembered. There are some decent moments and I like songs like 'Decision' more than I did previously. Half the songs though have something unlikeable about them with most of those things being bad choruses. Unfortunately Busta and his producers got caught up in some of the bad trends from the time this album was created that makes for too many bad moments across the 14 tracks.
Beats: ★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★★
Hooks: ★
Best Tracks: Shoot for the Moon, Hustler's Anthem '09, Don't Believe 'Em, Decision
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Original Review: This has some alright tracks but all in all it's another very disappointing album from Busta and after what I thought was an improving 'The Big Bang' came in '06 I expected more. The production throughout is fairly average but 'Wheel of Fortune', 'Respect My Conglomerate', 'Arab Money' and 'I'm a Go and Get My...' are all further ruined by featuring annoying chorus' which is a shame cause I actually don't mind the production and verses of 'I'm a Go and Get My...' or in the opening tracks case an annoying intro. If you listen to older Busta stuff, either his debut album or guest appearances around that time like 'Yeah' with Keith Murray or even really further on like 'Break Ya Neck' he really had as I wrote on The Big Bang review, "jack in the box attitude" which made the music more fun which I think suits him more than what he is doing on this disc. To the little I enjoyed now, 'Shoot for the Moon' ain't bad and is my pick from the disc, 'Hustler's Anthem '09' is a good pop rap tune, 'Kill Dem' ain't bad either with the Neptune production showing through, but again nothing groundbreaking, T.I. is enjoyable on 'Don't Believe 'Em' and 'Decision' is alright also but again nothing to put into a playlist. Overall, what's bad is unlistenable and what's okay-good is nothing you haven't heard before.
Best Tracks: Shoot for the Moon, Hustler's Anthem '09, Kill Dem, Don't Believe 'Em, Decision
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