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  Release Date: July 18, 2006
  Website: Busta Rhymes Website
  Label: Aftermath

Busta Rhymes “The Big Bang” Album Review
I know all the kids are hating on Busta these days, but he’s still my man. Especially when the photo on the back of his album shows him wearing a chain inscribed “Leader of the New School.”

Now most of the newer generation of hip-hoppers probably don’t know about Leaders of the New School, but they are the old-school group Busta came up with; part of the Native Tongues movement, a coalition of hip-hop groups including A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Black Sheep, that came out with hot hip-hop while spitting intelligent and conscious lyrics. It represented my favorite hip-hop when I was a kid.

I think it is important to know the history of hip-hop. You’ll never figure out where you’re going if you don’t understand where you came from. For those of you who don’t know about Leaders of the New School, and ultimately, the Native Tongues movement, you need to learn about them. Check out some of their music and read up. Regardless of how you feel about Busta, he is a big part of the evolution of hip-hop, and you gotta respect that.

Basically, I liked this album for three reasons: Dre’s beats, Busta’s continuing ability to spit (and I mean SPIT) lyrics, and the fact that it cost me $7.99. At the same time I bought three underground albums for an average of $16 a piece, I copped Busta for just under eight. Tell that to the cats who claim he’s in it just for the money, especially in light of the fact that they would have had no trouble selling this album for $16.

Therefore, I have added Busta Rhymes’ “The Big Bang” to my What’s Bumping section … check it out for other recommended hip-hop albums.