Music

Busta Rhymes Ignites Essence Festival with Explosive Remix of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”!

Over the weekend, Busta Rhymes electrified the 2024 Essence Festival in New Orleans with a jaw-dropping surprise. Just as he wrapped up his set, Busta threw the crowd into a frenzy by unveiling a remix of Kendrick Lamar’s fiery diss track “Not Like Us.” Adding his signature bars to the mix, Busta’s reimagined version had fans roaring with excitement.

The unexpected treat left festival-goers buzzing with anticipation for the full release. While it’s still unclear if Busta plans to officially drop the remix, his participation in the Kendrick-Drake lyrical feud has only added more fuel to the fire of one of the year’s most talked-about battles.

Despite the high-energy performance, Busta Rhymes had a moment of tension with the audience. Spotting some attendees seated and recording on their phones, he didn’t hold back his frustration. “A-yo, fk them camera phones, too. Let’s get back to interacting like humans. Put them weird-a devices down,” he exclaimed. “I ain’t from that era. Them sts don’t control the soul. Fk your phone.”

Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

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