3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 21
Summary
Tuesday marks the release of “Dillagence 2,” a Busta Rhymes album built entirely from unreleased J Dilla productions he had held for years.
Nearly 300 beats had been sent to Busta before Dilla’s 2006 death at age 32, but Busta had previously used only one or two per album rather than devote a full project to them.
The album adds new and archival collaborators, including Common, Big Sean and Lil Wayne—rapping on a Dilla beat for the first time—plus unreleased vocals from D’Angelo, who died last year.
Busta said the project is meant to honor both Dilla and D’Angelo, while spotlighting Dilla’s loose, unquantized production style and its lasting influence nearly two decades after his death.
Busta Rhymes held 300 beats for decades, but does releasing a posthumous J Dilla project in 2026 risk altering the producer's pristine legacy?
As unreleased D'Angelo vocals surface alongside decades-old beats, what other hidden hip-hop treasures are locked away in Busta Rhymes' massive private archive?
With Lil Wayne tackling Dilla's off-kilter rhythm for the first time, how will mainstream stars adapt to these legendary unreleased beats?