The Big Bang (by Busta Rhymes, Hip-hop)

Racist and sexist language, violent imagery, drug references, explicit sexuality, and -- great poetry with a generous helping of social consciousness, darn it. Despite the content and language, it's hard to dismiss THE BIG BANG as merely "inappropriate for teens," because Busta Rhymes' music is terrific in spite of the parts that may make you uncomfortable. Check out "Been Through the Storm," for example -- turning a melodic corner from hip-hop beats to soul crooning with string-section sweetening, A cameo by Stevie Wonder doesn't hurt, nor does Rick James' participation on "In the Ghetto" ("Sure we be takin' them chances/while we search for the answers we be smokin' them cancer sticks/police provoking...we dancin'/and we be dodging them bullets they be popping off at us").

Despite an amazing array of celebrity cameos (Missy Elliott, Q-Tip, LaToya Jackson, and Nas, to name a few), Busta Rhymes owns every track, stealing his own show with visceral, emotional vocals and instrumental arrangements that sneak up on the listener with one melodic surprise after another. An edited version is available, but there are so many edited words that it ends up sounding like nonsense. Consider this one instead, with a lot of discussion with your teens.

Released on: June 13, 2006
Label: Aftermath
Genre: Hip-hop
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes