The Big Bang by Busta Rhymes

The Big Bang is the seventh studio album by American rapper Busta Rhymes. It was released on June 13, 2006, by Aftermath Entertainment, Flipmode Records and Interscope Records. Production for the album took place during 2005 to 2006 at several recording studios and was handled by Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, Mark Batson, DJ Scratch, J Dilla, Timbaland, Mr. Porter, will.i.am, Sha Money XL, JellyRoll, Black Jeruz, Nisan Stewart and DJ Green Lantern. The official cover artwork was revealed on May 7, 2006. The tracklisting was released on the 15th. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 making it Busta's first number one album, selling 209,000 copies in its first week, and certified gold by RIAA. The Big Bang is Busta Rhymes's first album without his signature dreadlocks he had for most of his career as he transitioned into a new look with a short Caesar haircut and a muscular physique. It is his only release under Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label. Full production of the album came from Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, will.i.am, Mr. Porter, Erick Sermon, Green Lantern, Timbaland, J Dilla and DJ Scratch. Featured guests include Nas, Stevie Wonder, Rick James, Kelis, Raekwon, Q-Tip, Missy Elliott, Marsha Ambrosius & LaToiya Williams. Five singles have been released for the album: "Touch It", "Touch It Remix", "I Love My Bitch", "New York Shit" and "In the Ghetto". Music videos were released for all of them. The finalized version of the "Touch It Remix", for which a video was shot, was not included on the final album. Busta Rhymes was really pleased with the album: "I would not have changed The Big Bang album for the world. It's still one of my if not the favorite album of mine from a lyrical standpoint, a conceptual standpoint and a musical standpoint." He praised the Dr. Dre produced song Legends of the Fall Off for the "gravediggin beat with the shovel in the dirt" calling it "unbelievable". He also praised You Can't Hold a Torch, Don't Get Carried Away and Gold Mine. He also said "The only thing I probably would have changed is I Love My Chick would not have been on that album. I probably would have put "I Love My Chick" on another album that it would have been more appropriate for." ℗ 2006 Aftermath Records