Total Devastation: The Best of Busta Rhymes

by Busta Rhymes

Overview

One of the most gifted and instantly recognizable rappers of the '90s, Busta Rhymes parlayed a madcap personality and seemingly inexhaustible energy into stardom during an era when hip-hop was dominated by gangstas and materialism. Busta's music sounded fairly distinctive -- herky-jerky funk laced with offbeat samples and eerie, apocalyptic production touches -- but the star of the show was his wildly off-kilter, dancehall-influenced flow, which was really like nothing else in rap. Still, despite many astounding individual moments, his albums were so sprawling that none really maintained their momentum from start to finish, making him an excellent candidate for a best-of. The 18 cuts collected on Rhino's chronologically arranged The Best of Busta Rhymes are chosen as well as one could hope, spanning all the singles and vitally necessary cuts from his four platinum solo albums (although diehards might find a personal favorite missing). There's also the hit non-LP reworking of "Turn It Up" (with new lyrics and a "Knight Rider" sample), plus two singles from the classic Leaders of the New School debut Future Without a Past. The leap in his technique from the LONS cuts to the brilliant "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" is startling, but the collection's true revelation is the way it brings Busta's versatility into its sharpest focus yet. There's plenty of his trademark mania, of course, but there are also softer collaborations with female singers, dance-oriented club tracks, and creepy, more subdued mood pieces. Since this is only Busta's best, things never fly off in too many different directions, and fans who might miss the out-of-control feel of his albums may also find it easier to realize that whatever Busta tries, his rhymes remain as dizzyingly intricate and witty as ever. The Best of Busta Rhymes paints as definitive a portrait as possible of one of rap's most electrifying talents, but, more than that, it's simply an irresistible listen. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	07/28/2009
Label:	Rhino Flashback
UPC:	0081227985332

Tracks

1. Case of the P.T.A.
2. Sobb Story
3. Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check
4. Everything Remains Raw
5. Do My Thing
6. It's a Party
7. Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
8. One
9. Turn It Up/Fire It Up
10. Dangerous
11. Rhymes Galore
12. Do the Bus a Bus
13. What's It Gonna Be
14. Gimme Some More
15. Party is Goin' On Over Here
16. Tear Da Roof Off
17. Get Out!!
18. Bladow!!

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Busta Rhymes   Primary Artist
Leaders of the New School   Primary Artist
Rampage   Primary Artist
Erykah Badu   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Janet Jackson   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Mystikal   Guest Artist
Zhane   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Rampage The Last Boy Scout   Featured Artist
Rachelle Weston   Vocals
Kenny Dickerson   Percussion
Antoinette Roberson   Vocals (Background)
Fabulous Fab   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Roger Munroe   Composer
Rufus Thomas   Composer
Rick St. Hillaire   Mixing,Engineer
Vinny Nicoletti   Engineer,Assistant Engineer,Mixing
Eduardo Lages   Assistant Engineer
Bryan Higgins   Composer
Tom Passetti   Assistant Engineer
Jin-Won Lee   Assistant Engineer
Darien Rapp   Assistant Engineer
Dominick Barbera   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Ben Arrindell   Mixing,Arranger,Engineer
Patrick Gordon   Engineer
Frank Loesser   Composer
Sir Mack Rice   Composer
Ted Paduck   Assistant Engineer
S. Scott   Composer
Swizz Beatz   Mixing,Arranger
Jimmy Spicer   Composer
Christopher Shaw   Engineer
Lawrence Smith   Composer
Leaders of the New School   Performer
Rich Tapper   Assistant Engineer
Jo Bridges   Composer
Lawrence Dermer   Composer
Easy Mo Bee   Arranger,Producer
Erykah Badu   Composer,Performer
Eric "Vietnam" Sadler   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Russell Simmons   Composer
Rockwilder   Producer
George Spivey   Composer
Kenny Dickerson   Mixing,Arranger
Jason Rea   Assistant Engineer
Robert Burnette   Engineer
Cory Hall   Assistant Engineer
James Jackson   Composer
Dominick Lamb   Composer
Jimmy Seals   Composer
Trevor Smith   Composer
Scott Storch   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Michael Mangini   Engineer
Kasseem Dean   Composer
Tom Nixon   Composer
Busta Rhymes   Mixing,Arranger,Producer
DJ Scratch   Mixing,Arranger,Producer
Mike Tocci   Assistant Engineer
Antoinette Roberson   Composer
Armando Colon   Producer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Stu Phillips   Composer
Mike Scielzi   Assistant Engineer
Glen Larson   Composer
Henry Stone   Composer
Spliff Star   Producer
Freddy Stonewall   Composer
Peter Darmi   Engineer
Rashad Smith   Composer,Producer
Renee Neufville   Composer
Nottz   Mixing,Producer
Darrell "Delite" Allamby   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Musician,Producer
Darrol Durant   Composer
Andy Blakelock   Engineer
Jaime Garcia   Assistant Engineer
Floyd Nixon   Assistant Engineer
Dave Raythatha   Assistant Engineer
Shamello   Producer
Ted Regnier   Assistant Engineer
Cut Monitor Milo   Producer
Mike Ifversen   Engineer