The guys so old, he got his nickname from Chuck D, but now that hes signed to Cash Money Records, Bustas probably going to be all over 2012, starting with a really fun guest verse on Raekwons Unexpected Victory mixtape.
The tracks called MTV Cribs and opens with the Wu-Tanger doing what he does best: describing scenes that overflow with detail in impressive, tongue-tying technical virtuosity. When Busta jumps in to welcome the listener by pointing out Christmas chandeliers lookin like satellite dishes from NASA, and caps the track by shouting Get up out my castle!, it really feels like you just watched an episode of Cribs condensed into two minutes and 45 seconds.
But, yeah, if youre into free hip-hop from quality artists, the new years been a lucrative harvest. Unexpected Victory hit the blogosphere recently, as did Das Racist emcee Himanshus (aka Heems) goofy and thoroughly enjoyable Nehru Jackets and Rick Ross characteristically grandiose Rich Forever (Father, please protect me from broke-ness and bitch-ass niggas, the former prison warden prays) and Talkin to the Holy Ghost in My Bugatti," both of which I recommend.
But if youve only got time for one free album from a viable hip-hop talent, go with Unexpected Victory. These tracks arent new topical ground for Chef, but it sounds like hes still very much in touch with his early-'90s crack-cooking Wu-Tang persona, although hes less a participant and more an observer, either rapping about rough-and-tumble stuff he wasnt necessarily party to (as on A Pinebox Story, where some poor kid gets pistol-whipped and robbed) or offering advice on how to build an empire in the hood.
The latters blueprinted nicely in This Shit Hard where one of the L.E.P. Bogus Boys shows off some serious acrobatics of pronunciation when he gleefully pulls raw organic blow, straight off the banana boat. The I can show you how to make a killin in the projects / All I need is the powder and Pyrex hook is the first on the whole album, and it slays.
Wu-Tang fans will be glad to hear a bunch of descending piano samples, and Rae doesnt drop a single half-baked verse here. Ranking up with Bustas in terms of guest verses is Capone and Noregas tag-team addition to Chupa Cabra. We even get a quality R&B jam with a terrific melody in the Altrina Renee-introducing track, Facetime.
Its refreshing to listen to a hip-hop album from a guy like Raekwon whos got nothing to prove. Unexpected Victorys success probably wasnt exactly unexpected, but its also certainly not unwelcome.