Busta Rhymes and the late producer J Dilla join forces on the newly released album "Dilligence II," offering a collaboration that blends traditional hip-hop elements with distinctive, off-kilter rhythms. The album showcases the interplay between Rhymes’ dynamic lyricism and Dilla’s pioneering beat-making style, which has influenced much of contemporary popular music.

The record features a range of tracks that highlight the artists’ unique strengths. On the song “Spazz,” Rhymes delivers a confident, if less rapid-fire, verse over an uneven, syncopated beat that reflects Dilla’s signature approach. The woodwind instrumentation on this track adds a different texture to Rhymes’ typical energetic delivery.

“Dilligence II” also includes the track “Talk Ya S---,” featuring Lil Wayne in his first collaboration over a Dilla production. The song exhibits a buoyant, playful energy as the artists navigate the layered instrumental. The album’s emotional core is found in “Royalty,” which features appearances from Dilla’s mother, Ma Dukes, as well as Rhymes’ children, CIE and Trillian, adding a personal dimension to the project.

A notable posthumous inclusion is “This Woman,” a collaboration with R&B singer D’Angelo, who passed away in October after a prolonged battle with cancer. The track originated from sessions between Dilla and D’Angelo more than two decades ago. The visuals for the song were directed by Hype Williams, known for his work on influential music videos in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including many of Rhymes’ earlier projects.

While the album does not pursue current trends or groundbreaking innovations, it serves as a testament to the enduring qualities of both artists’ legacies. "Dilligence II" balances a classic sound with a contemporary feel, likely appealing most to long-time fans of both Rhymes and Dilla. The album reaffirms Dilla’s impact on hip-hop production with his asymmetrical, humanized beat patterns, while allowing Rhymes to maintain his distinctive presence in the genre.