He talks to EW about the circumstances that led to it and his decades-long fascination with apocalyptic themes.
Busta Rhymeshasn’t released an official studio album since 2012.
“I never completely go away,” he tells EW.
Credit: Flo Ngala
“I’ll always be on s— because I love to rhyme.
“It always has to have certain ingredients that separate it from everything else that’s going on.”
What have you been up to?
Busta Rhymes, performing in 1999.Chris Walter/WireImage
A new sound, or a particular avenue?
It’s not one thing.
But it’s a collective that brings you to that place.
As time passes, the album goes through so many changes.
You know what I’m saying?
You got to do some special s—.
So it’s instinct for you.
Yeah, it’s instinct s—.
Let’s talk about some of the features on the new album.
You have Kendrick, Rakim, Anderson .Paak…
The incomparable Mary J. Blige.
You two go back a while.
You were on her first record.
She’s my sister; she is the queen as far as I’m concerned.
There is none before her like her, and there will be none after her like her.
I love that woman beyond description.
God bless that woman, man.
Is the end of the world something you think about a lot?
[It’s] a lot harder to be led in the right direction.
That’s what I was alluding to… That’s pretty much the greatest challenge.
Only the creative part of that is what you’re free to control.
It’s a challenging process, but it’s a beautiful one.
As long as you did your part, you did what you were supposed to do.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
This story appears in the November issue ofEntertainment Weekly,on newsstands now orbuy it here.
